10 Small Details That Make John Carpenter's The Thing Perfect

10. The Gore's Origin

Whether you are new to The Thing or a lifelong fan, one thing will stand out immediately in the film: the level of gore that is shown.

The practical effects by Rob Bottin, who was 23 at the time of making the film, are both stunning and nightmarish. They incorporate both synthetic elements and pieces of real animals sourced from butchers and abattoirs.

Yes, there are real organs on show in some of those shots.

Along with this, mayonnaise, strawberry jam, foam latex and KY jelly were added to the various models and monstrosities shown to add further texture to them. For the infamous scene that featured Norris' chest exploding upward, revealing the spider-Thing to the audience, this was a shot that was completed in two takes. The first take was too like a fountain for Carpenter's liking, and everything had to be reset.

Another issue with this is that many of the elements that went into creating the shot also filled the room with noxious gases, which were hardly the best for the actors' and crews' health. This had to be done as quickly as possible and yet Bottin was still tasked with enduring up to a full day of reset for each take. The chemicals also created flammable gases, posing another issue when Carpenter wanted MacReady to incinerate The Thing.

All things considered, it is little wonder why Bottin was hospitalised with exhaustion on completing the film.