Movie review - "The Thing" (2011) **

Full marks for them trying to do something different by making this a prequel to the 1982 - but really it's the same old ingredients just less well done. We have another group of people on an isolated station in Antarctica who discover a mysterious creature that knocks them off one by one, there's an older scientist who is a bit creepy, and plenty of gross out make up effects. It even copies the best scene of the 1982 version - to wit, the one where the lead insists on testing all the characters.

There's no John Carpenter music, and they use a score which isn't as good - just to remind us of that they reprise the 1982 tune at the end, which was so much better. There's also two women in the cast which on one hand is good but I felt lessens the tension - having women around feels as though it would civilise everyone when we want them turning on each other and getting hysterical. The direction isn't as good, with not enough suspense or atmosphere. We have more make up and special effects (including the space ship) which is impressive - but what you want is mood and suspense. Well, that's what I want, anyway.

The acting is okay - I liked the Norwegian actors, it gave the film a point of difference. The lead female tries to be tough and Sigourney Weaver but I had trouble buying her as a scientist. Joel Edgerton suits a beanie but lacks the laid back charisma of Kurt Russell. The fact it's set in the 1980s is barely used at all apart from the occasional line of dialogue (e.g. "do you know what the football score is" in those pre internet days).