Despite it's title, this is not a remake the 1982 John Carpenter cult classic, which was itself a kind of remake of the 1950s film "The Thing From Another World", and both of which were adaptations of the Joseph Campbell story "Who Goes There?" In Antarctica, 1982, a young American paleontologist (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is summoned by a Norwegian research team to investigate a strange craft buried in the ice and the frozen body of the occupant discovered a short distance away. Of course, before long the occupant is defrosted and turns out to be a malevolent shape-shifting alien intent on duplicating and/or killing anyone who it can get it's tentacles on.
This is an entertaining blend of science-fiction and horror, which manages to be strong and effective. It has echoes of both the earlier films and fans of the 1982 version will probably enjoy picking up on little details which are taken from that film.
It has an effectively claustrophobic and paranoid atmosphere. The problem is that there is not really much new. It doesn't stint on the flesh tearing transformations which were such a hallmark of the 1982 version, but they don't have the same impact that they had in the previous film. Personally I found the film enjoyable for it's atmosphere and genuine tension, especially towards the end.
It's well-cast with Mary Elizabeth Winstead making a strong and engaging lead.
This is an entertaining blend of science-fiction and horror, which manages to be strong and effective. It has echoes of both the earlier films and fans of the 1982 version will probably enjoy picking up on little details which are taken from that film.
It has an effectively claustrophobic and paranoid atmosphere. The problem is that there is not really much new. It doesn't stint on the flesh tearing transformations which were such a hallmark of the 1982 version, but they don't have the same impact that they had in the previous film. Personally I found the film enjoyable for it's atmosphere and genuine tension, especially towards the end.
It's well-cast with Mary Elizabeth Winstead making a strong and engaging lead.