The Thing From Another World!

     Based on renowned sci-fi writer John W. Campbell's short story "Who Goes There?",  horror classic "The Thing From Another World" tells the story of a group of scientists and military personnel who discover an alien life form frozen under the ice in the Arctic.  Of course, being scientists, they take the alien back to their base to study.  And of course, the block of ice encasing the alien life form thaws, and the "Thing" sets off on a bloody rampage.

     "The Thing From Another World" was one of the first films to successfully mesh horror with sci-fi, and came at a time when the country was besieged with UFO sightings.  This film would become extremely influential and usher in a slew of UFO pictures, not to mention paving the way for such classics as "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "War Of The Worlds".  Let's not forget that in 1951 we were in the Cold War, so it's practically impossible not to read the film's subtext as an allegory to our fear of communism.  But most importantly, it's simply a great monster movie.

     "The Thing From Another World" is without a doubt one of the finest sci-fi/horror films ever made.  Its crisp b & w photography, smart dialogue, and top notch acting help seal the deal as well.  It's a nifty and claustrophobic monster mash that offers some low-budget but expertly crafted scares.  It's brilliant use of light and shadow, on top of the special effects, propel this far above the usual shlockfests of 50s sci-fi.  It's an amazing and influential film, and holds up great today- even with today's standards of shock and gore.  It honestly hasn't aged that much.  This fast-paced, brisk little chiller is a perfect flick for a cold, windy October night to curl up on the sofa to.  "The Thing From Another World" stars Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, and James Arness as the hulking Thing.