Recent science fiction films often explore futuristic themes that still feel relevant to today’s world. However, long-running sci-fi franchises have developed in a unique way, building momentum over many years, a process exemplified by films like the one released in 2011.
This movie is a prequel to John Carpenter’s The Thing, showing what happened with the research team before the original film began. It follows them as they chase a dog that escapes and gets caught in a gunfight. While audiences never knew the fate of this earlier team, the 2011 prequel created its own story, but it didn’t quite capture the spirit of what makes a sci-fi prequel successful.
2011’s The Thing Tried to Surpass What Came and Struggled
Many people saw The Thing as a weak remake because its story was so similar to the original. However, it unexpectedly worked as a prequel, expanding on a story that previously felt complete. Unfortunately, later developments limited what the movie could achieve as a prequel and ultimately changed how prequels were viewed.
The 2011 film The Thing is well-known for its visual effects, which replaced some of the film’s original, physical effects. At the time, movies like Transformers and the early Marvel films showed how powerful these new effects could be. However, whether CGI improves a movie really depends on the specific film. The Thing was bold in its use of computer-generated imagery, but while visually impressive, the new effects didn’t quite capture the unique quality of the original practical effects.
The original film’s use of real-world effects helped make it memorable and kept the focus on the story. In contrast, the newer film feels more like a demonstration of what’s possible with special effects and its potential influence on science fiction. Despite this, the film isn’t actually poor quality. While it may not be as captivating, it’s a decent prequel that suggests sci-fi prequels are most effective when they enhance the original story rather than trying to surpass it.
Modern Sci-Fi Prequels Don’t Follow The Thing’s Structure
The movie The Thing tells a compelling and realistic story. While some backstory is included, it isn’t essential, though it’s enjoyable to have. However, the film prioritizes special effects over capturing the atmosphere of the original, missing an opportunity to create something equally great – or even better – through strong storytelling instead of simply relying on updated alien technology.
Films like Alien: Romulus demonstrate how strong a prequel can be. It stands on its own as a story, but cleverly builds upon the existing Alien universe, feeling like a natural extension of the franchise. While it pays homage to the original, it also introduces fresh elements, like the character of the Offspring. The movie effectively mixes practical effects with computer-generated imagery, creating a look that honors the series’ history while feeling modern. Importantly, the story expands on previous storylines from films like Prometheus and even the Alien video games.
These additions don’t necessarily need to surpass the original, but they have the potential to create something truly exceptional, worthy of being considered a classic. This is true of Prey, which successfully revisited the series’ roots while skillfully blending familiar elements with fresh ideas, both respecting the original and expanding upon it.
While not a flawless film, 2011’s The Thing serves as a cautionary tale. It demonstrates what happens when a promising concept is sidelined in favor of flashy new techniques that don’t fully capture the spirit of the original. It paved the way for successful sci-fi prequels like Prey and Alien: Romulus, and even after more than a decade, its story remains compelling and highlights its influence on the genre.
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2026-02-18 03:10