John Carpenter’sThe Thingis now a classic of sci-fi horror, but it has a lot to thank this other classic from 1958 for. The horror genre has a lot to thank John Carpenter for, especially the slasher genre. In 1978, Carpenter broughtHalloween, which was key in developing the slasher genre in the 1980s. Carpenter continued his work in the horror genre throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with original stories likeThe Fog, adaptations of other works likeChristine, and mixing other genres with horror as he did inThey Live.
In 1982, Carpenter returned to the sci-fi genre now with horror mixed in withThe Thing. Based on the 1938 novellaWho Goes There?by John W. Campbell Jr.,The Thingtook the audience to Antarctica to follow a group of American researchers, among them pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell). There, the team encounters an extraterrestrial life form that assimilates and imitates other organisms, triggering chaos and paranoia among the crew. After getting negative reviews during its initial release,The Thingis now a classic of sci-fi and horror, but it wouldn’t have happened without this 1958 classic.
John Carpenter’s The Thing Couldn’t Have Happened Without 1958’s The Blob
The Blob Is One Of The Most Influential Horror Movies
Carpenter’sThe Thingisn’t the only adaptation of the novella, but it is the most famous one. Although it’s now among the classics of horror and sci-fi horror and became one of the most influential movies of the genre, even a movie as important as Carpenter’sThe Thinghas a lot to thank other movies for, mostly 1958’sThe Blob. Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.,The Blobintroduces the audience to a carnivorous amoeboidal alienthat crashes to Earth inside a meteorite.
The Blob’s Origin & Powers Explained
In both the 1950s original and a 1980s remake, The Blob became the world’s hungriest jello mold, enveloping and eating anyone in its path.
The Blob envelops living beings, becoming larger and redderas it consumes more and more, but also turning more aggressive.The Blobfocuses on Steve (Steve McQueen), a teenager who sees the meteorite crash on Earth and the blob clinging to its first victim.The Blobgot a sequel in 1972 by Larry Hagman titledBeware! The Blob, though it was presented as a horror comedy.The Blobgot a remake in 1988 directed by Chuck Russell, and another one is currently in development.
The Blobwas Steve McQueen’s first leading role in a movie.
The Blobhas inspired many other (sometimes too similar) movies and has been referenced, parodied, and copied in many others. The opening scene ofKiller Klowns from Outer Spaceparallels that ofThe Blob, andThe Thinghas an identical shot of a body lying under a blanket on a gurney, with the blanket moving. Beyond that scene,The Thing’s strongest link toThe Blobis the latter paving the way for movies of its kindin the sci-fi genre, with destructive alien entities, graphic scenes, and many mysteries to solve.
The Blob’s Movie Legacy Is Clear Now, But The Movie Wasn’t As Popular Upon Release
The Blob Benefited From The Passage Of Time
John Carpenter’sThe Thingeven went through the same challenges during its release asThe Blob, as both were negatively received.The Blobgot negative reviews upon release, with critics pointing out its “phony” looks, the “terrible” acting, how the creature is dealt with at the end, and how disappointing the creature itself was as some of the movie’s biggest flaws. However,The Blobhas benefited from the passage of time and its legacy is now clear, despite not being a critical hit back in 1958.
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The Thing, 42 Years Later
John Carpenter’s The Thing is a sci-fi horror masterpiece that still holds up today – but there are a few minor flaws that stick out on rewatches.
The same happened toThe Thing, which critics called the “quintessential moron movie” of the decade, “junk”, “boring”, and “slow”, though some praised the performances of the cast, and the visual effects were both praised and hated.PerhapsThe BlobandThe Thingarrived at the wrong time, but their influence – of one on the other and others – is now undeniable.
The Thing
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
The Blob
The Blob is a science fiction horror film directed by Irvin Yeaworth. Released in 1958, it follows residents of a small American town as they contend with an amorphous, gelatinous alien entity that consumes everything in its path. Steve McQueen stars as a teenager who, along with his girlfriend, attempts to alert the town about the growing menace. The film has become a cult classic for its innovative use of practical effects.
