What Happened to The Thing Series: The Thing From Another World

Little Jimmy is back again with a retrospective look at all three The Thing movies.
Under the Australian Copyright Act of 1968, use of Copyright material is permitted for the purposes of research, study, criticism, review, parody and satire.

[@garytwitchett9359]

"THE THING" (1982) Still remains the most Frightening Sci Fi Horror ever made.

[@ronniepooch]

The Prequel wasn't that bad. I liked it. loved some of the ideas... (fillings in teeth, etc). The Thing (1982) is an absolute MASTERPIECE in Sci-Fi Horror cinema. One of my favorite films.

[@FirstLast-qb9iq]

+mrpixelptlk I was about to write the exact same comment

[@trufantom21]

+mrpixelptlk I totally agree with you...my favourite movie of all time.

[@pan3839]

mrpixelptlk you're from over seas, aren't you?

[@ronniepooch]

hi!. no, i'm from the states.

[@speedracer1945]

I thought they did a good job on the prequel and own it

[@richentertainment4824]

The Thing 1982 is one of my favourite movies and would also have to say that the Prequel wasn't bad at all.

[@thomasmead4642]

I agree I have no problem with the prequel. If this guy doesn't like it, go make a better movie.

[@rickibaran4273]

Absolutely and Some-THING is better than No-Thing.

[@RXdash78]

Fun fact: The original thing movie is what inspired Carpenter to do halloween. Large, hulking humanoid figure hunting people in the dark. Sound familiar?

[@Njbear7453]

RXdash78 Michael Myers wasn't a large hulking humanoid he was an average sized 21 year old kid.

[@pizzweak580]

+Breen Machine And yet he acts like a large, hulking humanoid creature. Have you watched ANY of the Halloween movies? The guy is hard to kill, and has much more durability than an average 21 year old

[@jackryan9183]

Without this wonderful film from 1951 (wow), there would be no "Alien" or even a "Jaws" in their present forms, as we know them today. This movie set the standard. Not only a great blend of horror & sci-fi, it's also a terrific cold war parable. A classic in every sense of the word. No wonder Carpenter loves it..

[@elfman5781]

I loved your review of the original movie. Especially your take on the dialog. The conversations seemed real, which made everything more personal.

[@ArtofLunatik]

I always had this theory that this creature was some sort of bio weapon.

[@ArtofLunatik]

Lol yeah...

[@dwightbrown7252]

Interesting idea.

[@jamesloucks2562]

I love how he says they barely showed us the monster so our imaginations did the work for us, while showing clips that clearly and openly show us what the monster looks like..... He is standing pretty much in the open in every one of the clips you showed, or at least for long enough to get a pretty good look. The Thing, no matter which version you're talking about...has NEVER been that kind of movie, sure it builds suspense for awhile, but when you see the Alien...you fucking see the Alien, they have never hidden it in shadow like the Cloverfield monster or Zenomorph from the original Alien.

[@StevenSmyth]

Let me preface by saying I like your review. It understands the movie and the dynamics of it extremely well. Just for clarification, let me get some things off of my chest. Christian Nyby is the credited director of The Thing... Howard Hawks told Peter Bogdonovich in an interview for his book "Who the Devil Made It?" that: "Chris Nyby had done an awfully good job as the cutter on Red River and he'd been a big help to us too, so I let him do it. He wanted to be a director and I had a deal with RKO that allowed me to do that. I was at rehearsals and helped them with the overlapping dialogue - but I thought Chris did a good job." Others on set at the time claim that Hawks did a lot of the day-to-day directing. OK, fine. The issue is, even back then, in order to get into the Director's Guild of America, you have to forward the DGA a deal memo or commercial project listing form. In other words, a bona fide job confirmed by a production company. As far as credit is concerned, Hawks probably didn't show up on daily call sheets. He is listed as the producer, he doesn't have to take any credit as the director, he was doing Nyby a favor. Nyby won the Oscar for best editing on Red River and did the editing for some other significant Hawks films. This is completely understandable in context, no one was saying Nyby COULDN'T have done it. Also, your complaint about it not resembling Campbell's novella in any significant way isn't a problem for me. Usually, a production company ties up the rights for a story so it can clear up any possible legal issues with a publishing company or creators who might claim similarities. The other issue is strictly budgetary. The original story relies the alien's ability to shape shift. How would you pull that off with practical or optical FX on a budget of $1.6 million (The Thing's actual ending budget in 1951 dollars) and make them look convincing with 1950's make up tech? The short answer is, you change the story to conform to the constraints of movie making at the time. I just wanted to clear that up. I'm going to watch your other reviews. Thanks for posting.

[@joeyricciardiello8910]

You're back! It's so good to hear from you again.

[@Malnaxe]

Psyched your back LittleJimmy835! your reviews and overviews are always thorough and to the point! Glad to see it's The Thing as well!

[@jjobie]

Glad to see you're back doing video series again. Cheers

[@nolanbarth52]

Glad your back! Your vids are fantastic

[@01MaverickTen10]

These videos are just great. Awesome job.

[@pushon10]

Yes! You're back!!!

[@EATIT41]

glad to have you back mate

[@BlackSmokeDemonOG]

Dude, I love all of your videos and I'm glad to see you do one of my favorite movies! Keep up the awesome work!

[@Bieth11]

Good to see you again i have missed your videos

[@HSGAutomotive]

It really bugs me that this channel doesn't have more subs. I absolutely love these "What happened to the..." franchise reviews, and have watched all of them probably 6 or 7 times over. There is a real shortage of intellectually stimulating content on KZbin that goes beyond the bare bones reviews that everyone does.

[@Crave88evarC]

+Hammer Studios Gaming These channels are true gems

[@VJelectro]

Finally, you're back!

[@jasuepastrana]

I glad your back

[@rolex4524]

Little Jimmy, thank you for this intelligent, insightful and spot-on review! I've seen this movie many times since childhood (the early 1960's and on), and you were accurate in all of your observations about the storyline and the production itself. I think we both agree that the chief reason this movie is still appreciated, is its suspense and more natural acting. It is truly a "Thriller", rather than a mostly visual science fiction movie (a quality that many viewers today, brought up on graphic "blood and gore" films, or movies that are 90% computer generated special effects, and 10% story and acting) do not appreciate. Thanks again!

[@flaviozx2395]

Im so glad I subscribed to your channel

[@TheWhitePachyderm]

An awesome review. You said all that can be said (that is important) about this movie and what makes it unique and a inspiration for future movies. Great work !

[@pan3839]

An F'EN classic and don't you forget it. I have this and forbidden planet on loop...I can't sleep with out them playing and the music is amazing. just two of my favorite bedtime movies.

[@stevesb97]

Your really good at this Jimmy, keep up the great work!

[@Barloq133IC2S]

Yay, I love your series' Jimmy, they inspired me to do a similar retrospective format on my blog. :)

[@stupid02]

great video and great work! i really like you in depth analyse, looking forward for more of your movie review/comment (specially those classic cult films)

[@Archman2312]

The 3rd movie was a lot better than I expected. I don't think it sucked at all. Nowhere near as good as the other films, but much better than people give it credit for.

[@JC57515]

Archman2312 The prequel was an excellent movie.

[@BobBelson]

Agreed , the flaws were in the character implausibility . Example , A female scientist called into the arctic freeze zone for her skill iwith a microscope is able to outrun and use local equipment better than the seasoned workmen who live there . Further She , when trapped in a small closet with the thing in betweenn her and the door , manages to somehow get around it at a high rate f speed , run out the door , then run all the way down the hall without working up a sweat ,Sje even warns a outoorsman type along the way who himself gets easily overtaken and killed. Ridiculous... However, there were other good points. the detailed way they kept the plot line as a carry over prequel true to the 1982 film was done with precision and accuracy . . ..

[@shakeelo1]

yess your back

[@nicholasdickens2801]

There have been 4 adaptations of Who Goes There. One was a Spanish horror that many overlook; Horror Express, starring Telly Savalis, Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Many don’t consider it an adaptation but the film makers said it was. Christopher Lee pointed it out and the director and producers reassured him it wasn’t a rip-off but was an adaptation.

[@George_Glass]

Interesting. I didn't know this.

[@18661873]

Good review. Lest we not forget the musical talent of Dimitri Tiomkin. He wrote the musical score for The Thing. He also won Oscars for The High and the Mighty and The Old Man and the Sea.

[@chuckyn100]

Ermaghad, you're back :D

[@gotchaman80]

One things for sure nobody is gonna be inspired by any of the crap movies coming out nowadays.

[@pizzweak580]

That is false, as not all movies made nowadays are crap.

[@cornjobb]

people using the word "nowadays" have identified themselves as old poops

[@GreaterGrievobeast55]

Even terrible works can inspire

[@georgegobin1839]

Avatar was a pretty good movie and part 2 comes out next year but most movies that come out nowadays object s*** compared to the the movies that came out on the '80s and '90s... Good time's even though I wasn't even born 😂

[@Leprechaunproduction]

I really enjoyed your reviews of the Alien and Predator series, which are arguably the most insightful critiques I've seen of the films. With that in mind, I'm really looking forward to seeing you look at all three Thing films!

[@RobinK]

Hi Jimmy! Welcome back!

[@RSEFX]

I'm really glad you point out how little THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD has to do with WHO GOES THERE. Maybe it should've just been credited as "inspired by...". Likewise, Carpenter's film maybe could've avoided the stigma of "re-make" by avoided that old-fashioned title "THE THING" altogether and simply called the film WHO GOES THERE, or something else appropriate. I see Carpenter's film as the first version of the Campbell story, and not as a remake. Thanks for the video. Please don't take my comments re:Hawks too harshly. I just think he maybe gets all the credit, when at least a great deal of it should be shared with Nyby.

[@lydonfergus]

Really enjoyed your Alien/Predator series reviews, so glad you're carrying on reviewing other films too

[@jackmackenzie2482]

This is one of my favorite movies. It’s on my DVR and. It’s going to stay there. I know many of the back stories. One in particular is that it’s was made in a hot time. The cold material was done in a freezer house in New Jersey. I agree with you about The Thing From 5:39 Another World. Hawke’s Quick Banter back and forth is Great!!

[@scottpandich3972]

The Thing From Another World is my favorite version.

[@Breakerblue]

Another job well done.

[@Frater_Tyskos]

john w. campbell obviously stole the story from lovecraft. he deserves all credits

[@macgooz667]

so glad he's back!

[@TheAngryMutha]

actually I liked the 2011 version....I thought it was pretty good.

[@nicholasdickens2801]

TheAngryMutha It is good. I think folk just beat on it because they’re expected to.

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

Hey Jimmy. Love your reviews. Really looking forward to your next review. Can you tell us when you think it will be done?

[@MrSeagull92]

Yes Jimmys back!

[@NatedogO33]

Jaws accidentally used the tactic of hiding the monster, making it scarier. The robot shark didn't work in salt water until the final days of shooting. Just like Star Wars, it became an accidental hit because of limitations. Speaking of Star Wars, I'll give you a free supply of Pizza Rolls if you did a what-happened-to series based on that one.

[@Rockysbeats]

jaws didnt employ the "keep the monster hidden" technique intentionally. it was a lucky accident

[@Salty-Tanky-McTriggerdn]

Awesome!!! :D

[@from1978]

Great point. I love the Carpenter version, Hawks version as well. Havent seen the 3rd. I'm subscribed, looking forward to more videos!

[@NightBazaar]

After frying the Thing, the crew sat down to enjoy a nice bowl of carrot soup.

[@TS-wg5pv]

The thing i didn't like about the 1951 The Thing is that everyone was so god damn calm and relaxed about the situation and barely anyone died. I mean, your base is under attack by a plant alien monster who feasts on blood and can produce more of its kind by planting seeds which can cause the extermination of humanity. Yet, everyone except the scientist who wants to talk with it is so friggin calm, drinking coffee, telling stories, joking about stuff, eating well cooked meals, even when the alien attacks nobody's really that worried. They even insult the alien thats trying to kill them. To me, it's really cringeworthy every time I watch the movie. It's still a good film but it dosn't hold a candle or is as serious as John Carpenter's The Thing.

[@robertgsmith5761]

You have to keep on mind that these military people are used to being at the edge of death from WW II. They treat the alien as just another enemy. The military exalts confidence in unknown confrontation, that's from their training. Building humor into their the superior officers deminor exaults confidence in subordinates, that's leadership.

[@guileniam]

They were in ww2 that's just how people behaved. In reality, being in that situation youre so used to extreme life/death situations that you're become mechanical and numb trying to keep any hint of normality even in the extreme conditions. So this alien was just another hurdle. In today's pissyfied age itd be good reason to panic but not for the war boys

[@brainblob343]

Well, 1) Hawks did consider a shape-shifter but decided it was too expensive (Ray Harryhassen and Willis O'Brien were, remarkably, both on the RKO payroll at the time and therefore available); 2) Hawks considered keeping the original small, blue alien for the Campbell story, but couldn't figure out how to make it scary enough; 3) James Arness supposedly went through 17 incarnations before Hawks gave up and said "Make him look like Frankenstein"; 4) Actually, the movie was supposedly test marketed and close-ups of the thing were removed because audiences of the day found them 'too scary'; 5) Smilarly, audiences in 1982 thought John Carpenter's thing was too gross, but time change and, as someone said, 'A generation raised on CSI, can't be grossed-out by The Thing'; 6) I can't help but wonder if John Carpenter -- instead of going back to the little blue alien from the novella -- decided to have his Things big and hard and something a man can't fight hand-to-hand because he preferred the alien for TTFAW.

[@Kansai_Ben]

HES BACK!

[@rossdude]

Very nice.

[@PopcornNightmares]

Nailed it!

[@CaptainSkeletor]

JIMMY IS BACK

[@martywood8603]

Little Jimmy, when listing movies based on 'Who Goes There' you left out 'Horror Express' which is, although very loosely, based on that story!

[@brainblob343]

Actually, the Campbell story is also the basis for a fourth (second chronologically) movie, Horror Express, which is 1) A so-so movie, except that; 2) It has Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, making it a good movie, but; 3) The wonderful Telly Savalas character makes it better than good, and; 4) If Lee and Cushing hadn't been in this movie, Savalas would surely have had the additional will power to have killed the monster himself; also, 5) The monster is an energy being who can't survive without a human host. Unlike the three Thing movies, this is the closest idea to the original Campbell monster not being able to remain in protoplasmic form for extended time and having only the options of the last thing it copied or its original form (four feet, 85 pounds).

[@mattydigs]

Dude... the 3rd one wasn't that bad, it was OK. chill.

[@TitoReni]

You forgot to say that, obviously, "Who Goes There" is strongly inspired by "At the Mountains of Madness" (H.P. Lovecraft). And this first movie is even more inspired by Lovecraft.

[@corycas7295]

I liked the prequel!

[@MatukaEdgi]

Waiting for next week video!

[@KanonHara]

I really don't see how the 1950s version can be compared to the other versions. The Thing 1982 is one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm going to go read the Novel now.

[@MrThelemonator]

amen practical effects are by far superior

[@ZBot316]

I hate the original filmmakers trashed the Carpenter remake, especially since that version was closer to the source material.

[@calebclutter6576]

Dude you make some really good reviews. Do you think that you could do a review for The fog? I wanted to hear your take on the series.Thx

[@btflash55]

Loved all the Film's but the first will always be my favorite! Terrified me as a child!

[@girrganflirganchrgan5815]

The Thing From Another World: 7/10 Good The Thing: 10/10 Up there with Alien and Terminator 2 The Thing Prequel: 2/10 We didn't need this!! ):

[@badtrekee4348]

The Thing from another world was the best one

[@mychannel-rg3dw]

it's a shame they don't release the color version on Blu-ray or dvd ..saw it once on KZbin and it worked. ..saw the 1982 the thing in the theater and it was awesome x2 got the thing 2011 in an Alabama truck stop for 5.00 I liked it ...

[@declanjames4802]

Tbh i kind of feel sorry for the thing, it spends ages terrorizing and being shot at by a bunch of people, then it has to run away from a helicopter, then it has to terrorize another group of people and get shot at again and then blown up, and all after just waking up from hibernating for 100s of 1000s of years, thats like being woken up in the morning and being forced to do a massive obstacle course with people throwing knives at you, and then doing it again, and dying the second time.

[@TheWayoftheSith]

ASFAIK there was a attempt to get hold of people associated with the prequel and pressure Universal Studios to release a workprint - haven't heard of anything since last year.

[@Shepard12Commander]

Yeah the video game timeline fits in with the movies

[@Shepard12Commander]

Finally!!

[@robertgsmith5761]

This movie is surpurb- ly frightening !

[@rob-jz9eo]

i like all 3 of them just wish they would do a modern day version like the game. kurt russel flying in to save the day would be a hoot

[@prepperstudios]

just saw it great movie

[@priestgoober5160]

The thing was on Halloween with Michael Myers on that TV sets on 1978

[@LordSmog]

Yeah! Cool!

[@PK-MegaLolCaT]

yes!!!

[@FunkMastaMegaFlex]

I honestly thought the game and this movie here had the best story lines out of all The Thing films/books.

[@GODZILLADRAGON111]

more please

[@sintintoe]

Yes, yes it is.

[@RSEFX]

It was directed by Nyby, with a lot of input from Hawks. Given the quality of the script by Hecht and Lederer, Nyby's training as an editor working for Hawks and the general idea of "let the dialogue overlap" (almost to the point of distraction, I say) it's not surprising that it looks like Hawks directed the film himself. Why are you crediting him for the dialogue and strong female characters? Hawks didn't write the script, and that's where those ideas originated. Yes, I'm sure the writers knew this is the kind of thing that Hawks wanted, but...again, he didn't actually write any of it to any extent. Just trying to be fair about it.

[@ThatGuyFromBRITAIN]

I really loved the prequel. At least it stays faithful to the original. They were originally going to use puppets and actually did ALL the filming using puppets, but universal didn't like them so overlaid them all with cgi. It could have been an 18 if the effects were scarier, but like the original it had some very disturbing scenes, and the story was good aswell.

[@SeanScottColony]

Props for Quote from Eternal Darkness.

[@apex2000]

"Who goes there?" Would make good title for a movie. Shame

[@samisunc]

The first viewing of it was not bad at all, but upon subsequent viewings I realized that many of the scenes in Carpenter's adaption were recreated in it, e,g; the scene in which they all stood around outside trying to think up a test which would show who was alien and who was not.

[@marcwalker3693]

I love the original thing just love it

[@manofaction2896]

I was so excited for the 2011 movie then I saw it and I only ever saw it once in theatres my brother liked it enough to buy it on dvd when it came out. I just think the prequel tried to hard and thats what hurt it most.

[@deee2055]

FYI ver.3 is direct remake of ver.2.....oddly enough its a modern remake that is actually a remake and worth seeing it even has a well know actor in it Trond Espan Siem :D as far as im conserned all 3 movies are good.... Sadly I haven't read the book :(

[@zooshipcaptain8531]

Sad that they didn't keep the tentacled monster first built by Goff Harper...

[@oxthekillerwulf4213]

It was also based off of the short story " at the mountain of madness" by H.P lovecraft.

[@asaenvolk]

I have seen that theory put forth, however the short story "at the mountain of madness" (1936) was barely known at the time. "Who goes there" (1938) could or could not have been inspired by it, but it has never been shown that Jhon W. Campbell Jr ever even had heard of the story. At the time H.P. Lovecraft was an unknown writer where as Campbell was considered to the dominate writer of the science fiction genera. So was it possible, yes, did it happen, we don't know, are the stories THAT similar, not really.

[@paulcoy9060]

I don't think Lovecraft was "unknown", but Campbell was a Science Fiction writer, Lovecraft wrote Horror. It would be like comparing someone well known in baseball with some one well known in hockey.

[@RaikenXion]

I dont think the third movie was all that bad, it pieced together and led up to everything we know of in Carpenters Thing quite nicely, It tried to capture the same tone and feel as the 80s version. I guess well for me what let dwn the 2011 prequel is mainly the cgi of the thing itself, it was alittle ropey in parts and more practical puppetry would have been better I think. Also the camera of it made it look too shiny like so many other films today.

[@user-xt7nu1ig3n]

HEY IM NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO REVIEW THE HALLOWEEN SEIES BUT WHAT DO OF THE 1ST 1?

[@RandomCelebs]

agreed

[@codafett]

Why do I feel like you're going to tear down the prequel like everyone else?

[@at3479]

Will you do a review of the videogame The Thing with this series ? It's sort of a sequel to Carpenter's film.

[@Slappap]

if you happen to get the chance please review the fog... both.. sorry i know the newer one is ick.. but it'd be nice for someone to point out why its so wrong. Also great review I've been avoiding watch this film on account of it's alien... but it seems like they tried to work with what they had.. and looks rather interesting.

[@MrThankyou07]

Yay