Old sci-fi films are a mixed bag for me. While there are some that are really thought provoking and well done (The Day the Earth Stood Still) there are countless others that deserve the ribbing they get from the MST3K cast. It's difficult to find a gem in the genre of sci-fi films from the 50s and 60s, but there are a few that are worth a look."The Thing from Another World" is one of those gems. While it's often overlooked now due the superior John Carpenter remake "The Thing", it's a film that's enjoyable. The film takes place at the North Pole, where a team of Air Force supply personnel investigate a reported UFO crash. They find the wreckage, but to their surprise it has a survivor who's hell bent on destroying all of them. The crew locks themselves up in a station and attempts to keep the alien from entering and killing them all.
While the film really doesn't have a deep antagonist, it has great mood. The alien is a cross between Frankenstein's monster and Jaws from the 007 films and at times is genuinely scary. The editing is better than I expected. Sure it has it's corny moments and the dialogue is not high caliber, but the film does hold up well, mostly due to it's atmosphere. Plus fans of the remake can see the elements Carpenter borrowed to make "The Thing" such a success. Howard Hawkes was a very talented director and it shows in this piece.
Thanks to Tad for submitting this. Wanna see a film reviewed by Wiwille? Drop me an email or comment and you'll see it soon on One Bad Apple. Rules are posted here.
"All-time classic sci-fi still packs creepy wallop." - Steve Crum
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