Thing: The Musical aka Escape from the Shining Alien Thing from Beyond the Stars, The

As there was no Changelist, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this... it basically takes The Thing and turns it into an absurdist comedy. After skimming through and picking that up, I put off watching it for the right day, pulled out a couple beers to set the right vibe, and prepared for an evening of silly fun..... but I just didn't connect with it.

This is a fanedit that deserves the Paradigm Award, a real example of creativity and the power of fanediting. But as it's a comedy now, your enjoyment will vary largely based on your sense of humor. This just wasn't mine. I chuckled once or twice, but my most common reactions were just "Okaaay..." and "WTF..." I got the jokes it was going for, they just weren't funny to me. In particular, a couple of motifs are relied on and hit about a half dozen times, when they would've been funny if just used once or twice.

You know what I really dug about this? The OUTAKES. The file is worth getting for those alone, which made me laugh a lot. 20 minutes where BlueYoda really GOES for it, just complete non-sequitirs. I wished that would've more been the tone of the movie: complete disregard for narrative in favor of ridiculous send-up.

As is, the film esentially tells the same story of The Thing, only there are basically no moments of dread or horror because the tone is all off. The Thing is a stone-cold classic as-is, so the only way to do something fun with it is just complete irreverance. This came close for me, but needed to go farther in order to work.

That said, I can imagine this REALLY working for some people. It's executed almost flawlessly, so if your sense of humor matches, you'll be in for a treat.

I LOVED this edit! The image quality was beautiful. The cutting was superb and brimming with creativity. I really dug the Tarantino vibe and the Leone touches. The surprise cameos were great. The Wilford Brimley subplot is hilarious. The deleted scenes were brilliant. A really fun watch and inspiring as hell. Edits like this demonstrate what an art form fan editing can be.

The kind of furiously inventive fanediting art that makes you a bit ashamed that've only managed to trim few scenes here and there in your own uninspired projects. Despite all the crazy ideas and source hopping fun, there is a rigorous fidelity to the new concept and story, that lessor editors (such as myself) might've missed. There was a moment with a POV shot over MacReady's shoulder as he pilots his helicopter over the ice, where I thought "Hey this looks exactly like the same shot from 'The Empire Strikes Back'. I wonder if Blueyoda will use that for a giggle", then I thought, no that would be inconsistent with his new story, it would just be a joke for jokes sake. Instead Blueyoda piles on diabetes joke, after diabetes joke, using sound, visuals and FX to make the idea live. The funniest joke in the edit was on the included subtitle track "Nauls respectfully turns off the music". It was almost a spit-take for me. Thanks Blueyoda for a real blast!

This edit is amazing. ill admit ive only seen the thing 1 time awhile ago but i remembered the basics. this is like its own movie. it re writes the story in many places and it has so many easter eggs and laughible moments. i will say the only thing i was dissapointed about was i expected to see a scene from the shining when he was breaking down the door with an axe, otherwise i couldnt figure out why this edit has the shining in the name. but that doesnt take awhile from the movie at all

Where to even begin?

This edit feels almost grindhouse. This is a post-grindhouse horror comedy.

The edit is well worth your while. I love The Thing. It is one of my favourite films of all time. If you love The Thing, this edit doesn't ruin it. If you think the The Thing is too goofy, this edit plays all that up. So it works for everyone I think. The edit embraces the fact that it's an edit, using that to it's advantage in so many hilarious ways. Even reused footage is used in an almost 4th-wall-breaking way. The edit knows it is reusing footage and makes it funny.

The editor was able to blend in shots from other films like the Preditor, some Alien Xenos and Facehuggers. Even some Requiem for a Dream! The Jaws theme plays for first person shots. ET is running around in the snow too. Absolutely hysterical.

You pretty much always know who The Thing is and you laugh rather than cringe in horror. The editor clearly knows how to make a joke and does so continually throughout the edit in many elaborate and eloquent ways. I was laughing so much during this.

This fanedit flips all the mystery and turns The Thing into an intentionally goofy, Saturday afternoon schlockfest, in all the best ways.