The overall message of The Thing emerges as distinctly hawkish. Reactionary or not, though, it's still a masterpiece.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
fresh:
The film has more frissons than most of today's mega-budget productions, simply because it has the grace to construct a meaningful situation and coherent characters.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
6 Jun 2007
rotten:
The resourcefulness shown in building the plot groundwork is lacking as the yarn gets into full swing. Cast members, headed by Margaret Sheridan and Kenneth Tobey, fail to communicate any real terror.