By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com

‘The Thing’

Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen

Rated R, 115 minutes

In 1982, director John Carpenter mesmerized audiences with his film “The Thing.” Almost 30 years later, Hollywood decided it was time for a remake — but instead they made a prequel dealing with the Norwegian scientists that pop up at the beginning of the original. It was an interesting idea, but it didn’t work. “The Thing” tries to be as scary and gory as its predecessor, but it fails miserably, especially in the special effects department. Although there are different characters and storylines, the film rips off the best part of the original without adding any originality. The second part of the film turns into an “Aliens” clone with a wannabe Ripley named Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) running around with a flamethrower, burning everything in sight. Although the idea seemed fresh, “The Thing” doesn’t pay off, leaving fans of the original with a bad taste in their collective mouths. CV

‘Prince of Darkness’

Directed by John Carpenter

1987, Rated R, 102 minutes

Iconic director John Carpenter burst on the scene with “Assault on Precinct 13” and “Halloween,” but his greatest run of movies came from 1981 to 1988 with “Escape from New York,” “The Thing,” “Christine,” “Starman,” “Big Trouble in Little China,” Prince of Darkness” and “They Live.” One of his most underrated films, “Prince of Darkness,” might also be one of his creepiest, as it features a number of people being possessed by Satan. “Big Trouble in Little China” stars Victor Wong and Dennis Dun, along with Donald Pleasance (“Halloween”), lead a research team to a local church where they find a swirling canister filled with an evil spirit. As the night goes on, more and more people become possessed, leaving the remaining few to not only fight off their friends but also stop Satan from crossing over. “Prince of Darkness” is a chilly and haunting tale of good vs. evil that will impress even the biggest horror fan. CV