Film Reviews

The Thing (2011)

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
• Details: US/102mins 16

Smartly, the filmmakers here didn't attempt to remake a genuine classic, instead calling it a "prequel" and in fairness, living up to that claim. Granted, the John Carpenter version is actually a remake of a production from the 50s - but damn if it isn't a brilliant film. Comparatively, The 2011 Thing isn't a skidmark on the tighty whiteys of the 1982 film; that said, it is a well made, gory and enjoyable production in its own right.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is smart grad student, Kate, who is approached by Ulrich Thomsen's mysterious Dr. Sander Halvorson when an alien spacecraft is discovered near an Antarctic research site. Removing the creature from the ice, it soon wakes and chows down on one miscellaneous crew member and wreaks havoc on the base. Being so far from even a hint of civilisation, Kate and rugged helicopter pilot Carter (a typically watchable Joel Edgerton) attempt to keep their wits about them and stay alive. Not easy when you have a giant hungry mouth running around the place, devouring/mimicking folk. That indigestion must be horrific.
Somewhat unfairly slated by American critics, there's actually a fair bit of detail gone in to making this slick looking production work as a prequel. Granted, while the Carpenter flick was staggeringly innovative, as a direct link to that film, this newbie was never going to achieve the same effect - a template had already been set. While it also lacks on the tension front, it still works well as a companion piece - actually complementing its world.
Of course there are problems, and this hasn't been sitting on the shelf for over year for no reason. The supporting characters are never given enough meat to register and you can almost pick which ones are going to be picked off in order. That naturally causes proceedings to lack tension - something that was huge part of why its predecessor worked. Thomsen's portrayal of Halvorson also has a touch of pantomime about it; he's a little too obvious early on, and you've seen this type of driven-at-all-costs character too many times before. At one point you expect him to have a hook for a hand and an eye patch.
Solid work from Winstead and Edgerton, and some genuinely disgusting moments should keep genre fans entertained. Just don't expect Carpenter's classic to be rivalled.

Review by Mike Sheridan