The Mad Scientist

We now come to a time-honored tradition of the horror genre, that of the "mad scientist." In the ‘51 film this part is played by the Nobel prize-winning Dr Arthur Carrington. In the ‘82 version, senior biologist Blair is the one who fills this role. As with the case of the heroes, these "mad scientists" are very different in the two films.

As Carrington learns of the creature’s nature, he develops such a high regard for it that one can perhaps describe his attitude as being worshipful. "It’s wiser than we are," he says, and it is "our superior, our superior in every way." He openly admires "the superiority of its brain." He goes on to say that "this creature is more powerful and more intelligent than we are." He views the Arness Thing as being primarily a source of knowledge, for "there are no enemies in science -- only phenomena to study." Even when faced with the apocalyptic potential of the creature, Carrington remains adamant in his cult-like esteem for the Arness Thing.

Like Carrington, Blair is able to quickly discover the nature of the alien organism. He always seems to be one step ahead of everyone else in understanding what the men are up against. Blair’s increasing knowledge of the Thing, however, leads to a very different result. Instead of being in awe of the creature and becoming its virtual disciple, he loudly bellows, "Oh, no!" and calls the Bottin Thing a "son of a bitch." When he calculates how quickly the organism could destroy the Earth, he doesn’t begin wondering in amazement at its "superiority." He instead quietly shakes his head in disgust. In short, Carrington loves the Thing but Blair hates it.

Interestingly enough, though the two scientists have completely opposite responses towards their alien antagonist, they are both willing to lose their lives along with the lives of their comrades -- but for entirely different motives. Carrington tells Hendry that "knowledge is more important than life" and that "we owe it to the brain of our species to stand here and die without destroying a source of wisdom." So, in a supreme act of worship, Carrington is willing to sacrifice himself to his newly discovered alien god, and he actively tries to convert the others to his cause. Blair is also willing to die, but instead of trying to proselytize the other men, he forces his convictions upon them by destroying all means of escape from Outpost 31. Both men seek the death of their research team. But whereas Carrington wants to save the monster from the Earth, Blair wants to protect the Earth from the monster. For Carrington, knowing is more important than being; for Blair, being is more important than knowing. Carrington is the modernist; Blair is the postmodernist. Carrington sees himself as a human sacrifice; Blair sees himself as a martyr.

The two Thing films show very different reactions towards their respective "mad scientists." Carrington and his fellow scientists are the objects of scorn. Hendry says, "They’re kids, most of them, like nine year olds drooling over a new fire engine." Carrington’s own secretary says that he’s "like a kid with a new toy" and that "he doesn’t think the way we do anyway." The theme is clear: scientists, even Nobel prize-winning ones, don’t have any common sense. They don’t think straight. Their studies can be childish, and like any child they need to get their fingers burned before learning not to play with fire.

In stark contrast are the reactions of the men in Outpost 31. Blair tries to make their deaths a certainty, even to the point of taking shots at them with a pistol. But the men show no anger, no malicious hostility, in return. MacReady does hit Blair in order to subdue him, but he doesn’t end up beating him to a pulp. Copper gently tells Blair that he’s being locked into the tool shed for his own protection. MacReady even puts his hand on Blair’s shoulder in a mild act of comfort and compassion.

In the end Carrington doesn’t get to communicate or intellectually bond with the creature he desires so much. His quest for knowledge ends in failure, even though he succeeds in maintaining his self -- something which he didn’t want. Blair, on the other hand, gets to know and join with the Thing in a way that he had always feared. It is Blair’s quest for self that ends in failure, even though he succeeds in increasing his knowledge -- something which Blair did not want. The object of Carrington’s affection ultimately rejects him; the object of Blair’s disdain ultimately accepts him. In this way, the paradox between the two men is complete.

In summary, Carrington is portrayed as a foolish man at best while Blair is depicted as a misguided man at worst. Carrington’s intentions are devilish; Blair’s are angelic. Carrington risks everything for the betterment of science; Blair risks everything for the betterment of humanity. It is the ‘82 Thing which squarely places the "mad scientist" into the superior light.

Next Section: Thematic Integration