It’s starting to get colder outside as we quickly reach the end of 2023. That means it’s the perfect time to revisit some of the frostiest horror films around. This includesJohn Carpenter’s The Thing. The 1982 horror film is widely beloved by genre fans. NowPinball Mhas unveiled their newest table based onThe Thingahead of the game’s launch on August 08, 2025.
The table is a complete love letter to Carpenter’s film withThe Thing’s iconic postersmack dab in the middle. The chilling winter blues and whites perfectly clash with the red flare lights trying to guide the player around the board.Kurt Russell’s R.J. MacReady,the Arctic research facility, and the helicopter from the film can all be seen around the haunting table. The table will also feature clips from the movie as well.
When talking about his excitement about the table, Zen Studios COOMel Kirksaid, “The ThingPinball is an authentic homage to the 1982 film, andfeatures original clips from the film itself.” Kirk would finish stating, “It gives long-time horror fans a go-to table in Pinball M, and completes our extraordinary line-up for launch.”The Thingis joining an impressive table selection which includesChucky,Dead by Daylight, andDuke Nukem.
‘The Thing’s Claustrophobic & Paranoid Atmosphere Helped Solidify Its Legacy
While there are so many things that makeThe Thingthe thrilling masterpiece that it is,the endless paranoia squeezed out of every inch of film is its deadliest accomplishment. To this day, it still remainsone of the scariest films in recent movie historythanks to Carpenter’s thick atmospheric direction drenched in uneasy claustrophobia. It also didn’t help that “The Thing” itself was so undefined. It could literally be anyone, any animal, or anything. That fear tapped into the themes of humans being our own worst enemies perfectly as this group of desperate researchers turned on each other in the name of survival. That’s even before taking the movie’smasterful practical effectsinto account.That’s why the film is such a great choice for a pinball table. There are so many small details and haunting pieces of scenery that Zen Studios brilliantly picked up on. While it’s not a full-fledgedDead Space-like original game based on the property like most horror fans have been hoping for, it’s a great way to celebrateone of Carpenter’s most beloved films.
The horror-centricPinball Mreleases on all major platforms including PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Thursday, November 30. You can pre-order the game onZen Studios’ website.
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
