“The Thing” a prequel that works

Remakes of classic horror films are often met with a large amount of skepticism and resistance. “The Thing”

Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton and Ulrich Thomsen

Directed by: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

Film studio: Universal Pictures

Grade: B+

Remakes of classic horror films are often met with a large amount of skepticism and resistance.

The 2009 disaster that was “Friday the 13th” serves as a testament to this fact. It’s a good thing, then, that Universal Pictures’ latest horror franchise reboot “The Thing” isn’t simply a remake — or a re-anything — of the 1982 or 1951 films.

Instead, this movie is a prequel to the events of the 1982 film. The events that take place in this version explain the story of John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” Die-hard horror fans can rest easy knowing that the original movies have been left untouched.

This latest version, however, makes a case for its inclusion in the classic canon of films. The movie begins with an arctic expedition led by Norwegian scientist Dr. Sander Halversen (Ulrich Thomsen), during which a large vehicle — ostensibly belonging to a mysterious creature — is discovered. After enlisting the help of Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an American paleontologist, the team successfully unearths “The Thing.”

While celebrating the discovery of the first-ever alien life form, things go awry. After The Thing’s frozen body escapes the basement of the research facility, it claims the lives of several members of the research team. The remaining scientists deduce that The Thing exudes some sort of virus that can replicate human beings and — like any virus — it must be quarantined.

The 1982 John Carpenter film is often lauded for being incredibly effective in heightening the audience’s feeling of suspense. Director Matthijs van Heijningen must be an ardent student of Carpenter, as he uses a number of the same tactics to create this tension. In certain scenes only a small beam of light is visible, making the inevitable emergence of The Thing all the more terrifying.

The entire film feels like an early 1980s alien movie, relying heavily on old-fashioned camera and lighting tricks to create an atmosphere of dread. This is not to say that the film refrains from employing the technology that the new millennium has to offer. The scenes in which The Thing is shown are freakishly vivid and terrifying, pushing the boundaries of CGI and imagination to frighten the audience.

Winstead of “Scott Pilgrim” fame plays Kate — the film’s heroine — magnificently, showing off her versatility as an actress. Strong performances are also given by Danish actor Thomsen and Australian Joel Edgerton.

A big-budget horror film that doesn’t rely on 3-D gimmicks or overdone special effects is hard to come by these days. “The Thing” gives hope to those who still believe in good, old-fashioned filmmaking.