Das Ding

There was a lotta fear in the 50's. Commies, atomic war, alien invasion, usually a metaphor re 'the red menace' as the commie threat was called.

I'm sure much was engendered to counter the threat, to allay any fears. In other words, it must be nonsense or the precursor of the 'tin hat' crowd. It was smoke and mirrors. OTOH, fear did run a merry race. Both approaches can be useful to enemies of Freedom.

There was (and is) a threat and sometimes films reflected the fact. Such is the case with The Thing From Another World. Remember that often a message can be gotten across in scifi better than, say 'The Red Menace', etc. I did rather enjoy Big Jim McClain with John Wayne and James Arness. That flick, though simplistic did point out that there was an apparat working hard on many levels to destroy the US.

Instead of the shapeshifting mutant that assimilates flesh (like some congresscritters?) in the original story, we have a creature based on vegetable life (like liberal sheeple). It is relentless carrying 'seeds' under its nails. As well, a whole creature can grow from a body part. These 'things' need blood to grow and live of course (like the irs -s-).

It crashes at a remote Arctic location, near a research facility. The 'saucer' blows up (self destruct?) but they manage to haul the pilot back. Accidentally thawed, our intrepid 'carrot' (nickname the Army guys give it) seeks blood and to colonize (overtly subversive).

The Army Air guys and most of the scientists devise ways to kill it. Shooting, fire (good scene) and finally electrocution are tried. Atempt three does the trick and the thing is destroyed, long with a severed arm and 'babies' that crave blood. For the time and budget, not bad sfx.

What I'm particularly aiming at is the determination of the humans to destroy such a virulent threat. They didn't run around going, 'What am I gonna do?'. It was life and death. They stuck to the fight til they won.

Also of interest is the liberal scientist played by Robert Cornthwaite. Of course, he wanted to study the creature, commenting how much wiser and advanced it was. Yep, just like the libs now, this reflected back on those who adore communism, how much better we'd be with a socialist matrix. Near the end he tried to reason with it. In response, the thing brained him. How like communism/fascism etc then and now.

All consuming government that seeks total domination, treating us as cattle. The Thing gets its point across. Little did some think there would be such rot from within.

How opposite of the Day The Earth Stood Still. Klaatu was a fascist official attempting to subdue the earth with robot police. That sounds familiar too n'est pas? We must bow to authority is the theme, since we cannot figure ourselves out.

Not the Thing. The lesson is WE decide our destiny. WE fight. If the threat is lethal, we become moreso. Survival or extinction. Which will we choose?

I suggest we heed the words of the reporter Scotty at the end and 'watch the skies' (now more at watch ourselves and the enemy). And devise ways to stop the real thing. It has spread way too far. Find its vulnerabilities. Truth, deny it sustenance, fight.

You all know the drill. The real thing wants us to be scared, give up, submit. Deny the enemy and stop the threat by facing it and never giving up.