This episode on The Deja Review, Mart & Trev head somewhere warm and cheerful… Antarctica, where the coffee’s frozen, the pay’s terrible, and your co-worker might secretly be an alien lasagne.
First up is The Thing from Another World (1951) — the brisk, no-nonsense sci-fi where a group of scientists discover a crashed UFO and immediately make the worst possible decisions in matching parkas. Mart loves the rapid-fire dialogue and old-school monster mayhem, while Trev notes that the alien basically “a very angry carrot with legs.” Still, it’s charming, tense, and feels like a workplace drama where HR would simply say, “Have you tried shooting it?”
Then they thaw out John Carpenter’s 1982 remake, where the paranoia is thicker than the snow and absolutely no one trusts anyone. Dogs explode, heads grow legs, and Kurt Russell solves most problems with a flamethrower. Both hosts adore it — the practical effects, the dread, the beard game — with Trev declaring “It's a fantastic film.” and Mart wondering if this is the worst team-building exercise in cinema history.
Expect heated debates that will even melt this ice and the shared conclusion that if your Antarctic job involves shape-shifting aliens, maybe just stay home.
Two long time friends, one podcast.
This is The Deja Review.
Enjoy the episode and remember to like, follow and tell your friends.
As always a massive thank you to Little Foil Fish for our theme tune - @LittleFoilFish
Mart & Trev
Subscribe to the Podcast - @TheDejaReview
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Holiday Plans
00:59 Overview of 'The Thing' (1951)
02:30 Film Synopsis and Initial Impressions
04:56 Creature Design and Special Effects Discussion
09:49 Character Dynamics and Military Influence
15:05 Themes of Isolation and Scientific Ethics
17:58 Transition to the Remake of 'The Thing'
18:56 Details of the 1982 Remake
19:51 Comparative Analysis of Original and Remake
25:07 Special Effects and Practical Techniques
29:47 Character Analysis and Plot Development
35:08 Final Thoughts on Both Films
37:33 Hilarious Errors in Body Horror Scenes
39:57 The Ambiguity of the Ending
42:51 The Impact of Special Effects on Horror
46:14 The Power of Soundtracks in Building Tension
49:11 John Carpenter's Influence and Legacy
54:59 The Debate: Original vs. Remake
57:07 5 to 1: Kurt Russell
01:12:11 Final Thoughts and Tributes
Keywords
The Thing, 1951, 1982, horror, sci-fi, remakes, special effects, John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, isolation