I just re-read the story “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell before watching this just because somebody called me out for not having seen this after my review of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Fair enough. But the movie opens in Anchorage, Alaska. WTF? The original story is in Antarctica. Kind of a key plot point. You just switching up the story right off the bat like that, eh? That’s, like, a complete 180!
“North” Pole US Air Force pilot Pat Hendry is called to the “North” Pole due to a recent developments, and for whatever reasons lets a local journalist tag along for some kicks, because, you know, what really goes on at the “North” pole, right? But before you can say Drowning Polar Bears, Holy Wowsers! There’s a UFO in the ice! That’s not really a spoiler, after all the title of the film is the thing from ANOTHER WORLD. I would say shenanigans ensue here, but with the spit-fire dialogue typical of a movie from the 50s, I must say it is full-on shenanigansville here. Do they make peace with Space Sasquatch? That dude does get pretty pissed after thawing out and like the first thing that happens is get shot. Next stop: Angryville in Frozentown.
I just enjoy the fact that despite being in the “North” Pole, hotshot pilot Hendry still has time to flirt with the base secretary even when shit is hitting the fan. Fucknut Scientist wearing a commie hat obviously wants to potentially sacrifice the camp for the Greater Good of alien knowledge. Space Sasquatch has other ideas. Bit of a letdown in comparison to original story, Carpenter’s version does an amazingly better job in accuracy and atmosphere. This? Nice for comparison, I guess. I’ll watch John Carpenter’s version again instead. Shit. I’ll even watch the 2011 version again. Maybe even in 3D, just because that’s more fitting.
