Body Snatchers: Parasitic Monsters in Film

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter's The Thing is a B-horror film and a remake of the lesser known 1951 Thing From Another World. In this film, a shapeshifting alien that is disguised as a sled dog infiltrates an American research station in Antarctica. The alien eventually transforms into a disturbing mass of flesh in the station's kennel, killing the other dogs, and is only stopped when it is torched by a flamethrower. An autopsy reveals that the alien can imitate any living tissue, and the researchers rightfully believe that there are other aliens infiltrating the station. The crew finds that any component of the alien can act independently of the whole, with disembodied heads and blood samples moving on their own and attacking researchers. The alien wants to escape Antarctica and reach a more populated area, so that it can reproduce and take over the planet.

The Thing is most well-known for its use of body horror, as the alien will often mutate into horrifying forms when its cover is blown in order to defend itself. This action is used to elicit disgust from the audience, as the creature's cruel intentions shift outward in a grotesque display. Body horror is frightening both because it is so disturbing visually, but also because it represents a loss of our bodily autonomy and identity. 

Similar to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing was conceptualized during the Cold War and, accordingly, the infiltration of body-snatching aliens represents fear of Communist infiltration in American society. The Thing, however, delves further into this fear by tackling the concept of mutually-assured destruction. As the number of uninfected researchers dwindles, they realize they must stop the alien at all costs, even if it means killing themselves in the process.

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