John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Keith David talk 1982’s ‘The Thing’
5-hour documentary The Thing Expanded up for pre-order
Recently inducted into National Film Registry, The Thing sputtered at the box office—but once it hit home video, its status exploded.
The 1982 classic monster movie The Thing—directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell and Keith David—is now going to be explored by a brand-new documentary that promises to be more than five hours long.
The movie, which was recently inducted into the National Film Registry, is the classic trapped-in-the-arctic-with-an-extraterrestrial-that-keeps-stealing-our-bodies monster movie that sputtered at the box office…
But once it hit home video, its cult status exploded.
Decades later, a brand-new documentary is in the works: CREATORVC is now working on a major documentary, The Thing Expanded. The doc will center on an in-depth analysis of The Thing led by none other than John Carpenter himself.
The documentary will feature memories, stories, facts, “rabbit-hole tangents” and theories about the 1982 film and its origins and influences that Carpenter fans demand—including discussion of the 2011 prequel, comic book sequels, the original John W. Campbell Jr. novella Who Goes There? and much more.
The Thing Expanded promises more than 30 interviews! In addition to director John Carpenter, they talk with the film’s stars, including Kurt Russell and Keith David.
Actually, they talked with all the film’s living cast members: Thomas G. Waites, David Clennon, Joel Polis, Richard Masur and Peter Maloney.
The interviews also include cinematographer Dean Cundey, editor Todd C. Ramsay, producers Stuart Cohen and Larry Franco, and several members of Rob Bottin’s special makeup effects team.
The Thing Expanded is available for pre-order now on Blu-ray and digital at TheThingExpanded.com. The last-chance pre-order for The Thing Expanded runs until March 24, 2026.
“Sitting down with Kurt Russell, the immortal Mac, for a two-hour-plus interview was truly the culmination of an extraordinary journey into an extraordinary film,” says writer-director Ian Nathan. “He was everything I knew he would be and more: funny, forthright, and full of anecdotes, as well as deep insight into both the film and, of course, John Carpenter.”
Nathan points out how The Thing is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
“Ignored, even derided on its release in 1982, with its recent selection for the National Film Registry, the enduring power of Carpenter’s signature movie is no longer in question. With the incredible contributions from John, Kurt, and everyone I interviewed, I like to think that with The Thing Expanded we have made the definitive statement on a masterpiece.”
In addition, doc will feature insights from several Hollywood veterans like Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, and more.
Order your limited edition collector’s item featuring your name in the credits + exclusive merch by midnight on March 24.
Follow the journey of The Thing Expanded:
Find 1982’s The Thing online
Related books
Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr.
The Thing (BFI Film Classics) by Anne Billson
The Thing: A History of a Franchiseby Phil Hore
The Things from Another Worldby John Gregory Betancourt
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About The Thing (1982)
Based on the 1938 John W. Campbell Jr. novella Who Goes There?, the 1982 science fiction horror movie The Thing was directed by John Carpenter.
More faithful to the novella than the earlier adaptation, 1951’s The Thing from Another World, the 1982 movie The Thing tells the story of a group of American researchers in Antarctica who encounter an extraterrestrial life-form that assimilates—then imitates—other organisms. The group, overcome by paranoia, soon learn they can no longer trust each other. Because any of them could be the Thing.
The film stars Kurt Russell, with Keith David, A. Wilford Brimley, T. K. Carter, David Clennon, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, Joel Polis, and Thomas G. Waites.
On its release to theaters in 1982—as a more dramatic counterpoint to the other recent alien invasion movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial—The Thing got mixed reviews and low box office receipts.
But once the movie came out on home video, it began to build a following. Now recognized as one of the best science fiction and horror movies ever, The Thing has led to more stories and ben referenced in even more. This includes games, comics, and books, and even a (questionable) prequel movie (with the same name) in 2011.
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New documentary The Thing Expanded explores the history of the 1982 horror classic—with more than 30 interviews! In-depth analysis will feature memories, facts, and theories about the movie.