The Thing (BFI Modern Classics)
by Anne Billson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Anne BillsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-10-01
ISBN: 0851705669
Number of pages: 96
Publisher: British Film Institute
Book Reviews of The Thing (BFI Modern Classics)
Book Review: A breezy read, though not terribly deep
Summary: 4 Stars
Bilson is obviously a fan of the film. This isn't one of the more in-depth or scholarly analyses in the BFI series, but it does make a good companion piece to the film (and to the 1952 "The Thing From Another World" film version of the short story - "Who Goes There?" - that Carpenter's 1982 film is based on).
In a nutshell, Bilson asserts that the film critics who panned the film upon its initial release completely missed the boat and the point. This film was original in so many underappreciated ways, and it remains to this day a standard-bearer.
The author explores the idea that the titular Thing may as well be, for all intents and purpose, female. That, and that Carpenter and screenwriter Bill Lancaster were both very brave and correct to dodge conventional Hollywood wisdom by casting the film with all-male and mostly lesser-known actors, and that the timing of the making of the film thankfully preceeded the political-correctness period that now practically mandates a Rainbow Coalition of skin colors. Clearly, Carpenter was focused solely on the story, and kept all other interferences at bay.
One of my favorite assertions that Bilson makes, and I am certainly in agreement with her, is that if the AFI list of Greatest Film Quotes of All Time allowed for profanity, "The Thing" would be well-represented!
This isn't the most thought-provoking BFI entry, but it is affectionately written, for sure, without being kissy-kissy.
I still love this book series, however. I always ask for a BFI book for my birthday. Next BFI books up for me: "The Shawshank Redemption", "Crash", and "The Thin Red Line".
Stay tuned.
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