The Thing (1982)

Rangos Giant Cinema is bringing John Carpenter's The Thing back to the big screen on Friday, October 23, at 7 PM. It's a special screening presented by the Kamin Science Center, and it comes with an introduction by the Horror Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh, so you'll get a bit of context before the movie kicks off.

If you've never seen it, The Thing is a 1982 classic that's earned its reputation as one of the best alien horror movies ever made. It's set in Antarctica, where a team of researchers is hunted by a shapeshifting alien that can look like any one of them. Carpenter spends as much time on the paranoia as he does on the creature—the whole point is that you can't tell who's still human and who's an imitation. The organizers describe it as so immersive that you might find yourself glancing at the person in the seat next to you for signs that they're not who they seem.

Seeing it at Rangos is a different experience than watching it at home. The cinema is built for scale: a 71-by-39-foot Certified Giant Screen, two Christie laser-illuminated 4K projectors, and a Dolby Atmos surround sound system powered by 49 speakers. It's earned the nickname 'Mother of All Theaters' for a reason, and it's the kind of setup that makes the isolation and the tension of the Antarctic setting feel a lot closer. The theater shows a mix of Hollywood features, classics, educational films, and 3D experiences.

The screening is part of the Kamin Science Center, formerly the Carnegie Science Center, which is Pittsburgh's most visited museum. Beyond the cinema, it's five floors of interactive exhibits, a multi-level all-electric kart track, and a real Cold War-era submarine you can tour. Tickets are $12, or $10 for Carnegie Museums members. The movie starts at 7 PM on Friday, October 23, at Rangos Giant Cinema, 1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.