Name: The Thing
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
Released: 1982-06-25
Duration: 109 min
Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David

About the film

The Thing at a glance.

Screen Path places this 1982 film at stop 195 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

Principal cast

Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon and Keith David

Key craft credits

Dean Cundey (director of photography), Todd C. Ramsay (editor), Alan Howarth (original music composer), Ennio Morricone (original music composer) and John Carpenter (original music composer)

Director: John Carpenter
Release: 1982-06-25
Runtime: 109 minutes
Genres: Horror, Mystery and Science Fiction
Country: United States
Quiz: 20 questions

The Screen Path journey

Before. After. Remember.

The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.

01

Before you watch

Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.

Spoiler-free

02

After the film

Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.

Contains spoilers

03

Quiz yourself

Answer 20 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.

20 questions in this journey

Citizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.

Start the example →

Full cast

Kurt RussellCharacter: MacReady
Wilford BrimleyCharacter: Blair
T.K. CarterCharacter: Nauls
David ClennonCharacter: Palmer
Keith DavidCharacter: Childs
Richard DysartCharacter: Dr. Copper
Charles HallahanCharacter: Norris
Peter MaloneyCharacter: Bennings
Richard MasurCharacter: Clark
Donald MoffatCharacter: Garry
Joel PolisCharacter: Fuchs
Thomas G. WaitesCharacter: Windows

Full crew

John CarpenterCredits: Director, Original Music Composer
Bill LancasterCredits: Screenplay
David FosterCredits: Producer
Wilbur StarkCredits: Executive Producer
Ennio MorriconeCredits: Original Music Composer
Dean CundeyCredits: Director of Photography
Todd C. RamsayCredits: Editor
Anita DannCredits: Casting
John J. LloydCredits: Production Design
Henry LarrecqCredits: Art Direction
John M. DwyerCredits: Set Decoration
Albert WhitlockCredits: Visual Effects
Henry SchoesslerCredits: Visual Effects
Rob BottinCredits: Makeup Effects Designer, Makeup Effects
Ronald I. CaplanCredits: Costume Supervisor
Gilbert LoeCredits: Costume Supervisor
Trish KeatingCredits: Costume Supervisor
David R. AndersonCredits: Gaffer
Barton M. SusmanCredits: Leadman
David Lewis YewdallCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
Colin C. MouatCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
Warren Hamilton Jr.Credits: Sound Effects Editor
Steve MaslowCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Charles E. NippellCredits: Best Boy Electric
Raymond StellaCredits: Camera Operator
Cliff KohlweckCredits: Music Editor
Candy ArtmontCredits: Script Supervisor
Stuart CohenCredits: Co-Producer
Lawrence TurmanCredits: Producer
Larry FrancoCredits: Associate Producer, First Assistant Director
Ken DiazCredits: Makeup Effects
John ZemanskyCredits: Property Master
Christine WilsonCredits: Script Supervisor
Lawrence PerryCredits: Pilot
Ken StrainCredits: Pilot, Stunts
Cyrus BlockCredits: Camera Operator
Dave GordonCredits: Dolly Grip
Kris KrosskoveCredits: Dolly Grip
Dillard BrinsonCredits: Key Grip
Ronald WoodwardCredits: Key Grip
Alan HowarthCredits: Original Music Composer
Phyllis NewmanCredits: Makeup Artist
Ken ChaseCredits: Makeup Artist
John W. Campbell Jr.Credits: Novel
Anthony CecereCredits: Stunts
Kent HaysCredits: Stunts
Larry HoltCredits: Stunts
Melvin JonesCredits: Stunts
Eric ManskerCredits: Stunts
Denver MattsonCredits: Stunts
Clint RoweCredits: Stunts
Rock A. WalkerCredits: Stunts
Jerry WillsCredits: Stunts
Robert Latham BrownCredits: Production Manager
Jeffrey ChernovCredits: Second Assistant Director
Roy ArbogastCredits: Special Effects
Clyde E. BryanCredits: First Assistant Camera
Steve TateCredits: Second Assistant Camera
Kendrick SweetCredits: Sound Editor
Ernesto MasCredits: Assistant Sound Editor
John K. AdamsCredits: Foley Supervisor
Dick WarlockCredits: Stunt Coordinator
Dan AnglinCredits: Transportation Captain
Bob CornellCredits: Transportation Captain
Mark WalthourCredits: Gaffer
Richard A. GonzalesCredits: Swing
Joseph R. SavkoCredits: Swing
Milton WilsonCredits: Swing
Hans MetzCredits: Special Effects Assistant
John K. StirberCredits: Special Effects Assistant
Ray KinzerCredits: Grip
Michael R. GannonCredits: Assistant Property Master
Rocky CorsiniCredits: Craft Service
James CallanCredits: Painter
Mike PloogCredits: Production Illustrator
Mentor HuebnerCredits: Production Illustrator
Gary MeyerCredits: Production Illustrator
Ron MacInnesCredits: Production Assistant
Debbie CollierCredits: Production Secretary
Yervant BabasinCredits: Craft Service
George LawsonCredits: Driver
Graeme MurrayCredits: Set Decoration
Fitch CadyCredits: Unit Production Manager
Michael SteeleCredits: Second Assistant Director
Karen KaltonCredits: Production Secretary
Robin MounseyCredits: Technical Advisor
Paul R. PrinceCredits: First Assistant Camera
David GeddesCredits: Second Assistant Camera
Douglas PrussCredits: Second Assistant Camera
Lee RoutlyCredits: Special Effects
Michael A. CliffordCredits: Special Effects
Alois StrananCredits: Transportation Captain
Chris Helcermanas-BengeCredits: Still Photographer
James L. HurfordCredits: Best Boy Grip
Len WolfeCredits: Best Boy Electric
Spencer HydeCredits: Craft Service
Nate IrwinCredits: Pilot
Barrett J. ReidCredits: Generator Operator
Thomas MarshallCredits: Gaffer
Drew StruzanCredits: Art Designer
Debbie KennardCredits: Production Assistant