It reduces things to nothing more than a highlight reel of terror, none of it particularly scary even if what is being presented is done so with a fair amount of skill.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 27, 2012

This isn't the real Thing; keep it at bay.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 2, 2011

Whatever good intentions were behind this prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 classic, the sloppy execution renders them moot.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 1, 2011

It's curious that a movie about a shape-shifting, person-imitating alien lifeform should itself feel like a mutant hybrid: half-prequel, half-remake, never sure which end to cosy up to.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 1, 2011

Nary an original bone in this monster's body, but effective nonethleless.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 1, 2011

Efficient enough for newcomers perhaps, but never that chilling, and the predictably dull CGI underlines how far movie magic has regressed in the past couple of decades.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 29, 2011

By no means the finessed work of a Carpenter; more an enthusiastic DIY expert who read the instructions once and reckons he can manage.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 28, 2011

Hopefully we'll never tire of the visual splendour inherent in seeing human faces tear themselves apart.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 18, 2011

Nowhere close to the caliber of Carpenter's version, but visually stimulating, creepy and well paced enough to get your heart pumping.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 15, 2011

The line between homage and apery is a fine one, and The Thing teeters on it at times.

Full Review | Oct 14, 2011

"It's big on the grotesquery but short on genuine scares."

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Oct 14, 2011

It's not rocket science, but The Thing does offer solid cheap thrills for the slick gore crowd, proving once again: Horror doesn't have to be horrible.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Oct 14, 2011

John Carpenter should approve of this reasonably respectful and tough-minded prequel to his 1982 The Thing.

Full Review | Oct 14, 2011

It's no great thing, just a better Thing than expected.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 14, 2011

It's the horror equivalent of one of those cheap, straight-to-video animated sequels that Disney's always putting out: same title, same story, none of the inspiration.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Oct 14, 2011

There is absolutely nothing in this prequel/remake that improves on the first film or negates it in any way.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 14, 2011

The geographical isolation still produces shivers, but the repeated motif no longer resonates.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 14, 2011

In terms of scares, this old-fashioned "Thing" is better than most new things.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 14, 2011

This movie is basically a sno-cone "Alien" or "Predator" and we've seen nearly a dozen of those.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 14, 2011

Here's the thing about the new "The Thing." It isn't as satisfying as the old "The Thing." And it's nowhere near as enthralling as the vintage "Thing," which inspired every other "Thing" to follow.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 14, 2011