The Thing from Another World

Director(s) - Christian Nyby (The Twilight Zone, The Six Million Dollar Man) and Howard Hawks (Land of the Pharaohs, Monkey Business)
Starring - Margaret Sheridan (Pride of the Bluegrass, City Detective), Kenneth Tobey (Innerspace, Airplane!), and Robert Cornthwaite (The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The War of the Worlds)
Release Date - 1951
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "It creeps... it crawls... it strikes without warning!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Some movies get released and go on to become classic among the genres.  Over the years you can count hundreds, if not thousands, of movies that would considered essential viewing for horror fans.  However, not all of those films has shaped movie history.  In 1951 the horror sci-fi mash up The Thing from Another World was released.  The movie was your typical b-movie hit but the horror and sci-fi melting together created something very unique.  Though it was not the first to combine both genres it was still wildly popular and gained momentum for others to follow.  The film, along with the John Carpenter helmed remake, is still considered two of the best sci-fi horror films to be released.  Sometime ago Warner Brothers released the original classic on blu as part of their Archive Collection series and was kind enough to send one my way.  

     The film follows a military outpost in the artic conducting research uncovers a extraterrestrial ship submerged in the ice.  When they try to free it they accidentally destroy it but soon find a being from another world trapped under the ice nearby.  They cut the ice out and take the frozen being back to their compound to await further orders.  While there they don't realize it but the ice is melting the beast within is soon about to break free and wreak havoc on every living creature there before moving on to somewhere else on Earth.
     I had watched this one several times during my teen years but it has been sometime since I last tossed it in.  Hell, almost 20 years if I'm being honest and I still enjoy it today just as much as I did then.  Sure, it is a product of it's time but it is still a charming and bleak horror tale with sci-fi ties.  The acting in this one is decent but by today's standards it is a little cheesy.  Hell, several of the scenes leave me in stitches from laughing.  The unintentional humor and cheesy dialogue is funny but that doesn't take away from the atmosphere and tone the film establishes.  The story for this one is a little wore out by the 2020 but in 1951 it was something rather new and exciting.  I really enjoy the story even though there is some parts that is a little far fetched and goofy.  Regardless, fans of classic horror and sci-fi will love the story it brings to the table.  Finally, those of you looking for the fun and cheesy sci-fi effects from the drive-in era will be rather disappointed.  No blood and gore here either.  We do get some make-up effects that are cool and rather legendary in terms of what they are but nothing memorable aside from the creature.  Overall, The Thing from Another World blu looks decent but has room for some improvement.  The features are extremely underwhelming as well considering how much of an impact this had on the genre.  However, collectors will still want to grab this one for their collection.