John W. Campbell Jr.’s story, WHO GOES THERE?, has been adapted in some way for the screen in many forms. Credited to director Christian Nyby, but rumored to have been really directed by producer Howard Hawks, this classic sci-fi film came out in the height of the Red Scare and dealt with creatures invading us from beyond. In addition, the film came soon after Roswell, when America was looking to the skies for possible alien invaders.
Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey, THE CANDIDATE) is called upon to investigate a strange crash site at a remote outpost in Alaska. Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite,1953’s THE WAR OF THE WORLDS) is in charge of scientific facility and Hendry has been having a fling with the doctor’s assistant Nikki (Margaret Sheridan, I, THE JURY). The crash is an alien spacecraft and reporter Scotty (Douglas Spencer, SHANE) is itching to get the story out. Even more remarkably, they find a creature frozen in the ice and bring it back to the station.
The Thing (James Arness, THEM!) ends up breaking free from the ice and begins preying on blood. It’s made out of plant matter and needs blood like a carrot needs water. After setting up its characters, the film develops a tense cat and mouse chase between the humans and the thing from another world. Making things worse, Hendry wants to kill the creature while Dr. Carrington wants to make contact with it so he can learn its secrets.
It’s the character conflicts that make the film even more interesting. Cornthwaite is wonderful as the archetypical scientist, who puts the progress of science above the lives of other humans. Hendry on the other hand is a dedicated solider and wants to preserve human life as much as possible. A strange dynamic in the film is the relationship between Hendry and Nikki. The sexual tension is obvious and it’s kind of kinky, especially for the 1950s.
The filmmakers develop a nice tension that drives the narrative and keeps use captivated. The film contains many of the same themes as INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, however that film had the perfect setting. John Carpenter’s remake followed the book more closely and has its own charms. THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD is just a classic example of solid genre filmmaking. As the final line states, “Watch the skies,” and in this film watch around the corner too, because you don’t know what can be lurking there.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
