Using a dog as the initial carrier for the monster strikes me as especially brilliant – perhaps it was because I happened to catch a moment of Independence Day either immediately before or after viewing this film, and happened to remember the cheers when the dog survived the massive explosion/fireball/what have you – not so much enthusiasm for the humans. Watching the opening of The Thing, I had a similar reaction, instinctively hoping the dog would escape the gunfire. Dogs are an excellent symbol of trust, and the way Carpenter implements the animal into the company of the scientists is fascinating, setting off the chain of suspicion that effectively pervades the entire film. These are the sort of details that really have me admiring Carpenter lately.
Rumsey’s review
by Jenny Jediny | Source: Columbia TriStar DVD
30 Sep 2007 11:48 PM | Submit Comment
