The Thing (Blu-Ray)

The Thing (Blu-Ray)



So far in my voyage of Blu-Ray discovery, I've realised that many of the old classics can be improved upon by the High-Definition treatment (Commando). But to truly enjoy the format, you have to watch films that were specifically made for HD using High-Def equipment (The Dark Knight). Sometimes, as is the case with my previous review of Speed Racer, a film can go too far and result in a mess of colours and shapes.

So, as I review my fourth Blu-ray DVD, The Thing, it might come as a surprise to find that Blu-Ray is the worst thing to happen to John Carpenter's classic.

The action starts in the Antarctic with a dog trying to escape a sniper in a helicopter. The sniper starts throwing incendiary grenades just as the dog reaches an American research laboratory. A badly thrown grenade takes out the helicopter and the lovely little husky is saved. Awww.

But, this isn't any ordinary dog. The Americans discover, a little too late, that it is, in fact, an alien organism that imitates living tissue. The Dog, locked away with another group of Husky's bursts apart like a big mutant vagina and attacks the other dogs. Hard-as-nails helicopter pilot R.G. MacGready (Kurt Russell) manages to burn it alive before it can assimilate the poor beasts. Job Done?

Nope. Soon, it's imitating humans too, leaving the group distrustful of each other. Accusations are thrown and guns are pointed like in so many cold war influenced Sci-Fi movies. (It's of no surprise to find this is based on a 1950's cult film called 'The thing from outer space').

One by one the group are assimilated and killed by the remaining members, until only two remain.

Originally released on VHS (remember that?) in 1982, the film hasn't lost its impact. The story still draws you right into the action, using the old is he or isn't he an alien premise. With super cool RG MacGready to root for and some superb visual effects on show, what could be better than watching this in blistering HD, you may ask?

Well, the visual effects are great, but they work better with the grainy imperfect quality of VHS than on anything else. The pixel precise image only serves to show how unrealistic the effects actually were in the first place. When watching a head uproot itself from a body and sprouting legs, I should be laughing, but, instead, all I can focus on is the obvious latex FX.

But, wait, I'm not going to leave one of my favourite films reviewed negatively. Nuh-Uh. The Blu-Ray compensates for its blasphemy by providing a wealth of extras. Instead of an audio commentary track, you're given optional behind the scenes images played on a small screen over the film as you watch it. With talking head interviews with Carpenter and Russell too.
There, feel better?

Verdict 10/ 10
Bring back the video tape.