The Thing (1982 film)

The Thing (also known as John Carpenter's The Thing) is a 1982 science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter, written by Bill Lancaster, and starring Kurt Russell. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a parasitic extraterrestrial lifeform that assimilates other organisms and in turn imitates them. It infiltrates an Antarctic research station, taking the appearance of the researchers that it kills, and paranoia occurs within the group.
The screenplay was written in 1981 by Bill Lancaster, son of Burt Lancaster. The film’s musical score was composed by Ennio Morricone, a rare instance of Carpenter not scoring one of his own films. The film was shot near the small town of Stewart in northern British Columbia. The research station in the film was built by the film crew during summer, and the film shot in sub-freezing winter conditions. The only female presence in the film is the voice of a chess computer, voiced by Carpenter regular (and then-wife) Adrienne Barbeau, as well as the female contestants viewed on a videotaped episode of Let's Make a Deal.

Cast.

Wilford Brimley as Dr. Blair
Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady
Donald Moffat as Garry
Keith David as Childs
Charles Hallahan as Vance Norris
Richard Masur as Clark
David Clennon as Palmer
Richard Dysart as Doc Copper
Peter Maloney as George Bennings
T.K. Carter as Nauls
Norbert Weisser as Norwegian
Thomas G. Waites as Windows
Joel Polis as Fuchs


The Thing received nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films for Best Horror Film and Best Special Effects.