FilmsThe ThingLike this

Films like The Thing.

The Thing (1982) reads as Heavy, steady, extreme horror / sci-fi, inventive in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Alien (1979) poster
1. Alien1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Hellraiser (1987) poster
2. Hellraiser1987

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Exorcist (1973) poster
3. The Exorcist1973

Keeps the white-knuckle intensity and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Zombie (1979) poster
4. Zombie1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Omen (1976) poster
5. The Omen1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a white-knuckle intensity.

The Exorcist III (1990) poster
6. The Exorcist III1990

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

City of the Living Dead (1980) poster
7. City of the Living Dead1980

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Rabid (1977) poster
8. Rabid1977

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Return of the Blind Dead (1973) poster
9. Return of the Blind Dead1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a white-knuckle intensity.

Pet Sematary (1989) poster
10. Pet Sematary1989

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the white-knuckle intensity; trades toward a intimate, personal stakes.

Return of the Evil Dead (1973) poster
11. Return of the Evil Dead1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a white-knuckle intensity.

Who Can Kill a Child? (1976) poster
12. Who Can Kill a Child?1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a heightened unreality.

These are The Thing’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →