Director: Mark L. Lester
Cast: David Keith*, Drew Barrymore, Freddie Jones, Heather Locklear
Have I Seen It Before: Never, although it feels like one of those movies I should have taken in by cable osmosis over the years.
Did I Like It: Even the most cursory glances at the history of this movie shows one that there is an alternate universe where The Thing (1982) was an absolute monster hit (which would have been a good thing, heh) and John Carpenter would have gone on to direct this movie.
And I’m not certain that would have improved things. Not to knock Carpenter (hallowed be his name) at the peak of his powers, but taking the one-two punch of a King story that doesn’t feel as if has a whole lot to it* and Dino De Laurentiis continuing a nearly unbroken trend of turning even potentially good movies into something less than they might otherwise have been. That statement will at least be given a somewhat thorough test in a couple of weeks when the remake comes to the surface. At least that one, I’m pleased to report, will have a John Carpenter score, so that’s at least something it will have going for it. Even a Tangerine Dream score is a pale substitute, and they do certainly feel like they’re going for something in that era of Carpenter’s musical output.
Here, though, ever performance is so pointedly self-conscious—with the possible exception of Martin Sheen who I would watch do anything—that I’m never afforded a moment of peace to even dream of suspending my disbelief. This certain goes for Barrymore, who a more talented director could have gotten a more engaging performance out of, but also goes for Keith, who never believes a moment of what’s happening around him (I don’t blame him), but also goes doubly for George C. Scott, who should have known better, if even only as a matter of taste.
* Not Keith David, for anyone who was getting inordinately excited.
* Others have told me it is actually one of his best. I believe them, and yet am not in a hurry to go track it down. (He types, in the very same instant that he stops the review to go look into a Kindle copy, and even then, deciding not go through with it.)