John Carpenter's Epic Clapback to Critics of The Thing 41 Years Ago

Article Overview

John Carpenter responds to critics of The Thing from 1982, jokingly suggesting he would like to spend 5 minutes alone with each one in a locked room.

Originally criticized by reviewers for its lack of depth in character development and excessive depiction of violence, The Thing has now garnered the reputation of being an esteemed masterpiece within the horror genre.

Having left a profound influence on the world of cinema, The Thing has served as an inspiration for numerous directors and has even resulted in an episode of The X-Files, sparking rumors of a potential continuation.

John Carpenter, director of The Thing, has a message for those who gave this movie a negative review upon its release in 1982. The plot centers around a research team in Antarctica, being hunted by a shape-shifting alien that mimics its victims. The Thing is widely celebrated as a cult classic in the horror genre today and remains one of Carpenter's most renowned works, alongside Halloween. During an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Carpenter shares his response to the critics of The Thing from back in 1982. Colbert asks the esteemed director what he would like to convey to those who criticized his now-iconic film.

Carpenter jokingly responded that he would “just want to spend 5 minutes with each one in a room, a locked room.” Check out the full quote from Carpenter below:

“I just want to spend 5 minutes with each one [critic] in a room, a locked room. Just the two of us. 5 minutes is all I ask, then I’ll be happy.”

How The Thing’s Reception Evolved Over Time

The Thing faced initial criticism upon its release in 1982. Many critics disparaged the film for its perceived shallow characterization and excessive reliance on graphic and disturbing scenes. During an interview with Carpenter, Colbert suggested that the simultaneous release of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra Terrestrial that year may have hindered The Thing's reception. Colbert proposed that audiences at the time preferred friendly and benevolent aliens, ones with a glowing heart light who could heal and communicate with home.

Fortunately, Carpenter's film, The Thing, has stood the test of time and is now widely regarded as a masterpiece. As audiences became more receptive to graphic violence, they began to appreciate the brilliant psychological horror of The Thing. The characters in the film not only faced the harsh challenges of the Antarctic environment but also engaged in a mental struggle, trying to determine who among them was still human and who had fallen prey to the alien entity.

Since its release forty years ago, The Thing has served as a significant source of inspiration for numerous directors and their creations. One notable example is the infamous episode titled "Ice" in season 1 of The X-Files, which loosely derived from The Thing. Although The Thing's reception has encountered some ups and downs, both critics and audiences have ultimately embraced it to such an extent that rumors of a possible sequel, The Thing 2, have emerged. Hopefully, Carpenter won't find it necessary to resort to extreme measures, such as locking anyone in a room, to gauge the reception of future The Thing movies.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have a few thoughts on John Carpenter's response to critics of The Thing. Firstly, I can understand his frustration with the negative reviews the film received upon its release. The Thing is now considered a classic, but it was initially met with criticism for its lack of character development and excessive violence.

However, I also think Carpenter's response is a bit extreme. While it's understandable that he would want to defend his work, suggesting that he wants to spend 5 minutes alone with each critic in a locked room is a bit over the top.

Overall, I think The Thing is a great movie, and Carpenter's response to critics is understandable, although a bit extreme. I'm glad that the film has been able to find an audience over time and is now considered a classic.