10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies From The '80s
2. The Thing
In John Carpenter's The Thing, a group of Antarctic explorers turn on one another after they discover there is a shapeshifting alien among them. Many horror fans are aware the film tanked at the box office, (which is a depressingly common fate for many of the director's features).
However, you'd be surprised to learn that critics absolutely hated the movie. Whether it was the dialogue, story, acting, or characters, critics seemed to have a problem with everything. They even the special effects, stating they looked faked. (Did they watch the same movie!?)
Nowadays, things are very different. The film is now considered a masterpiece, mainly because of Robert Bottin's astounding SFX. Even after 40 years, many cinephiles still consider The Thing to have the greatest practical effects in movie history.
There is no question that the animatronics and puppetry steal the show but that shouldn't take away from everyone else involved. Kurt Russell and the rest of the actors are exceptional in their roles, conveying the paranoia and terror of their characters perfectly. The director so meticulous at maintaining atmosphere and building tension, you can see why The Thing is regularly perceived as his greatest film.