The Thing 1982 - Blog Posts
THE THING (1982) dir. John Carpenter
“I don’t know what the hell’s in there, but it’s weird and pissed off, whatever it is.”
I (and probably a lot of other people) found the garlic test scene in Sinners reminiscent of the blood test scene in John Carpenter's The Thing but I just thought of another scene in Sinners that reminded me of Carpenter's 1982 horror classic. Spoilers for both The Thing and Sinners btw.
When we are first introduced to the vampire Remmick he is being hunted by Choctaw vampire hunters. He seeks shelter with an American couple who offer him protection from his pursuers. The lead hunter warns them of Remmick but is ignored. Remmick then kills the couple and assimilates them into his vampire hivemind.
The Thing opens with the Thing (in the disguise of a dog) being hunted by Norwegian researchers. The Thing seeks shelter with a group of American researchers who protect it from its pursuers. One of the Norwegians tries to the Americans of the Thing but he isn't understood and is ignored. The Thing then kills the Americans and assimilates them into it.
In both movies a creature pretending to be something it isn't (a human and a dog) is being hunted by a group of non-English speakers. The creature seeks shelter with, and is offered protection by, a group of Americans. The non-English speakers attempt to warn the Americans of the creature but are ignored. The creature then kills the Americans and makes them one with it. The non-English speakers who were hunting the creature are also never seen again after their introductory scene (the Norwegians are killed when they try to kill the Thing and the Choctaw just leave the moment the Sun goes down).
Coincidence? Maybe, but I wouldn't blame Ryan Coogler for taking inspiration from The Thing. Both movies are amazing and I love them.
Edit: Another user pointed this out to me and I really thought I should mention that there's a distinct difference between why the Norwegians are ignored and why the Choctaw are ignored. In The Thing the Norwegian's warning is ignored due to a language barrier. None of the Americans speak Norwegian and the Norwegians can't speak English, so they don't understand what he is saying. Meanwhile in Sinners the lead Choctaw warns the wife of the danger of Remmick in English but she willingly ignores him because the couple are Klan members (or at least the husband is), of course she's not going to listen to a group of Native Americans especially after a white guy told her that they raped and murdered his wife.
In The Thing it's a misunderstanding between two groups who don't speak eachothers language that causes the warning to be ignored but in Sinners it's because of the couples racist beliefs and preconceptions of Native Americans.
Godzilla vs John Carpenter the thing
Art by... I don't know who is the artist. need help, please!
Edit 1: thanks to @catzy88 for the information, an anonymous Japanese fan who made this art and posted it on a Japanese imageboard. if you want to see this there is a link down in the reply.
fun fact: Do you know that John Carpenter himself directed a Godzilla vs Gorgo fan film, I am going to let that sink in...
And here is another one...
Godzilla-thing!
Art by the one. And only. Matt Frank.
Please support the official artist.
body horror in a the thing esque manner warning
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