In many ways Antarctica is the last great terrestrial frontier. It may be thoroughly mapped and explored but the inhospitable nature of its weather, atmosphere and terrain to humans has still prevented anyone choosing to try and reside there permanently. This fact allows The Thing From Another World, John Carpenter's seminal remake The Thing, and its lesser 2012 pre-bootquel to be opened up to allegorical reading, with the eponymous Thing being emblematic of the conflict between man, nature and the elements, the very factors which have thus far prevented the colonisation of Antarctica. On the other hand The Thing is a scary ass horror flick about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a predatory parasitic shapeshifting alien. Definitely the kind of film to make you feel the sense of isolation and definitely not the kind of film to be watched on your lonesome, but then even if you do happen to have a pal to watch it with... Can they really be trusted?
As well as the odd article, I apply my "special mind" to scriptwriting for Comics, Films and Games... Oh and I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wild flow'rs, I put on women's clothing, and hang around in bars.
Follow me on Twitter @DrRobertOtnik
