# Which was better, Alien (1979) or The Thing (1982)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-better-alien-1979-or-the-thing-1982/691521>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 24, 2014, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-better-alien-1979-or-the-thing-1982/691521 "2014-06-24T10:35:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-better-alien-1979-or-the-thing-1982/691521/101 "2014-06-29T08:47:36Z")

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> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> I’ve got the distinction. But it’s not clear to me that THing-ified people don’t know that they’re Things. The Thing might just be a really good actor.

That’s why I said it was a question.

> [@](#):
>
> And whether they turn into hiseous monsters is irrelevant to this.

Well, the post you were responding to was specifically talking about people turning into monsters before they act against the rest of the characters. That’s why I was so confused about your response, where you said it was a standard feature of a stories like that.

Incidentally, **MichaelEmouse** , you forgot someone: Wilford Brimley. At the end, when they go into the shack where they locked him up and find the ship he was building, he kills Donald Moffat by sticking his fingers through his face. Mint so,ething that’s normal behavior for his character. Although I understand this is something Brimley can do in real life.

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**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-better-alien-1979-or-the-thing-1982/691521/102 "2014-06-29T09:27:42Z")

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> [@Miller](#):
>
> Incidentally, **MichaelEmouse** , you forgot someone: Wilford Brimley. At the end, when they go into the shack where they locked him up and find the ship he was building, he kills Donald Moffat by sticking his fingers through his face. Mint so,ething that’s normal behavior for his character. Although I understand this is something Brimley can do in real life.

You’re right, 2:17 in a sequence that’s a little reminiscent of the Alien mouth-raping spider/insect/vagina/skeleton hand:

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/geaxPxNWL4M/maxresdefault.jpg "The Thing (1982) - Movie Death Count") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geaxPxNWL4M)

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-better-alien-1979-or-the-thing-1982/691521/103 "2014-06-29T14:11:01Z")

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> [@Miller](#):
>
> That’s why I said it was a question.
> 
> Well, the post you were responding to was specifically talking about people turning into monsters before they act against the rest of the characters. That’s why I was so confused about your response, where you said it was a standard feature of a stories like that.
> 
> .

But I was responding to a post that was responding to mine. I don’t see why you think I should share their interpretation of the movie.

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