Vince Gilligan Says the 1982 “Thing” Beats Its Own Predecessor

Vince Gilligan, famous for shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, recently shared his thoughts on a classic sci‑fi horror film that was released 44 years ago. He highlighted why the 1982 movie “The Thing” is superior to the earlier version made in 1951. Gilligan first became interested in the story when he was a fan of director John Carpenter’s work. The 1982 film follows a group of scientists in Antarctica who face an alien creature that can imitate any living thing. The original 1951 film, based on a 1938 novella, also told this tale but with a different tone. In a Letterboxd video, Gilligan explained that the older film’s main flaw was its cast of heroic army men who didn’t react with fear, even when the monster attacked. He liked how the newer film shows ordinary people terrified and scrambling to survive, making them more believable.He praised the 1982 movie as “head and shoulders better” than its predecessor, pointing out that the actors were more relatable. Gilligan compared the lead actor Kurt Russell to his own actors on Pluribus, noting that they all bring a strong presence to their roles. The 1982 film remains highly regarded, earning a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82% critic rating. The earlier film actually has a slightly higher critic score, but it is less popular with general viewers. Gilligan sees parallels between “The Thing” and his Apple TV series Pluribus. In both stories, an alien threat turns people into a collective mind, and the heroes are not military experts but flawed civilians who must confront the danger. His comments underline how a modern remake can improve upon an older version by adding depth and realism to characters, even in the horror genre.