0:52 Jed had incredible focus. He hits all his marks, didn't get distracted, didn't wag his tail, didn't look at the camera at all. A good boy and a good actor. :)
I can’t find the commentary now but apparently they shot the hallway scene in one take. Jed was really great at acting subtly “wrong”, not quite like the way you think a dog should act. The way he glances into the first room he passes and then pausing before entering the second, closing his mouth & changing his expression just a bit to look a touch more menacing without using any aggression indicators of a dog. There’s human actors who can’t pull off that level of subtly. Great dog.
As an owner of a primitive breed, that's part of it! Since Jed is a wolfdog, he has a level of Intelligence higher than most modern breeds have. A lot of the "off" movements are just from him having a more calmer, deliberate way he goes about things. People tend to not be used to that kind of behaviour in dogs, since "Primitive" breeds like the Malamute (which jed was mixed with) tend to have more of an emotional/mental "presence". My dog actually acts a lot like this, it almost makes you think they act more human than not sometimes.
The scariest thing about the Thing for me is how it never breaks character, even when no one is watching. Its fully committed to being just a normal dog, even when its completely alone.
It breaks my heart when Clark hears Childs say that Blair killed the rest of the dogs, and books it back to the kennels. Especially seeing him absolutely quaking with grief when he finds their bodies. I understand his mindset, dogs are such pure, unconditionally loving creatures by nature and that's why Clark cared about them more than about other people.
1:25 This might be my favorite shot of the whole movie, and it's so simple. The thing staring completely stone cold out at the helicopter. It's literally assessing the situation, and it looks so... frozen. It's really extremely well done how they cut between this and the helicopter a few times. In my opinion one of the most terrifying parts of the movie just seeing how unnatural it acts. Look at how the desk lamp is shaking but the dog is completely still
Jed was a wolf Malamute rescue. In addition to “The Thing,” he was in several Disney movies. The “White Fang” movies, “Journey of Nattie Gann,” and others.
I love how The Thing is actually unnerving even for dogs. He just came, sat, and looked. The dogs are not especially alerted as the Thing, even by smell, is at the time 100% a dog. But they feel something is off, and they start looking at it. It perfectly knows what it's doing. And the fact that this fuckery can build and drive interstellar ships is making them even more terrifying.
Rest in peace Jed the wolf dog 1977 to 1995 thank you so much for doing a wonderful performance as The Thing (1982) you will forever be remembered as a legendary dog actor as well amen.
Honestly... one of the creepiest parts of this movie. It's truly like the dog has an intelligent alien thing inside of it. I loved the parts with this dog.
Excellent direction by John also, Jed the Dog was a really great actor here so damn creepy and unsettling. It’s like the creature knew MacReady was a threat and was seriously deciding if it was worth it to reveal itself
The menace is very human-like, which coming from a dog is honesty terrifying. And it was completely done through acting by the dog, no makeup or special effects. Amazing animal.
The dog (Jed) did an amazing job coming off like an alien. It's peak subtle animal acting that really sells that there is something off about that dog. Watching the movie and knowing that this is no dog but a plotting alien creature makes it terrifying seeing how it stalks them, studies their behaviour and acts stealthily thinking about when to strike. The moment you pinpoint also came off as absolutely creepy to me. The dog looking at MacReady and them having no idea that what they are looking at is absolutely no dog and the dog looking back at MacReady plotting against them and thinking of whether they know it is no dog or not is just unsettling as all hell. What makes it even more terrifying is that the dog alien is absolutely motionless....it just stands there with those yellow eyes staring back at MacReady. It wouldve spooked me the hell out if I was him. I have absolutely never ever seen a dog in a movie act its part so well.
For me it's 1:25 but you're totally right this is also terrifying part of what I love about 1:25 is how the desk lamp is shaking but the wolf is completely still, that's a super smart decision by the director
Honestly, I get the impression it was actually planning to eat the cast, or at least considering the possibility. It's behaving like a predator rather than a pet. Just stalking around, making as little noise as possible, watching and waiting...
Trivia: The dog was already a thing at the end of the 2011 prequel, but at the start of the original, the crew of Outpost 31 were not aware, as they did not understand Norwegian, so they adopted the dog, leading to the repetition of the Thule event in the original.
I don't think the dog bit him. Bennings was probably shocked the dog went past his legs under the table. It happens in some food outlets that include seats outside and pet animals tend to walk in between people's legs randomly or attention for food.
You can tell that the creature is more intelligent and calculating due to the events of the Prequel. That’s at least one thing I loved the prequel did it gave more context to the creature
The 1918-1920 flu pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza epidemic or by the common misnomer Spanish flu, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus.U55
I'm watching Now and I desperate was looking this scene to comment. Oh my god! The dog watching they bringing The dead creature from The other camp. It's watching The helicopter and The transfer as If It knows that by bringing that, It's might get in trouble! Did you notice this?!
I bet if they’d hadn’t have done any blood tests, maybe the alien would’ve been able to be negotiated with when in human form. It could’ve just be being instinctual and scared of people.
