T.K. Carter died on January 9, 2026, at the age of 69. His body was found inside his home in Duarte, California. According to police, there is no suspicion of foul play, but the cause of death has not been determined yet (via THR).
For fans of horror, of course, Carter is perhaps best known as Nauls in John Carpenter’s masterpiece The Thing. His naturalistic turn helped to make the interplay between that film’s characters ring true, which contributed just as much to its paranoia and tension as all of Rob Bottin’s then-ground-breaking makeup FX. Here are five more horror movies every The Thing fan should immediately check out.
1. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Philip Kaufman directed this remake of the film, wherein Donald Sutherland is cast in the role of a health inspector in San Francisco who concludes that people have been replaced by pod-produced doubles. Starring Brooke Adams and Jeff Goldblum.
TitleDirectorRelease Date (USA)IMDb RatingRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)Invasion of the Body SnatchersPhilip KaufmanDecember 22, 19787.4/1093%
Any member of society can be infected. The trust breaks down, paranoia spreads, and the final solution is not a consolation but a cold knockout.
Where to watch: Prime Video
2. Alien (1979)
Alien is directed by Ridley Scott, with the crew members of Nostromo responding to a distress signal, only to find themselves facing a deadly creature. Sigourney Weaver stars as Ripley as the rest of the crew starts to realize what’s happening. They realize that they are indeed on the same ship as the creature.
TitleDirectorRelease Date (USA)IMDb RatingRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)AlienRidley ScottMay 25, 19798.5/1093%
If you liked isolation and fear in The Thing, Alien will tap that same spot.
Where to watch: Prime Video (Rent)
3. The Fly (1986)
Jeff Goldblum in The Fly (1986) | Credits: Brooksfilms
The Fly, directed by David Cronenberg, features Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, a scientist with a terrible experience in teleportation. The journalist in The Fly, played by Geena Davis, observes everything that happens to Seth.
TitleDirectorRelease Date (USA)IMDb RatingRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)The FlyDavid CronenbergAugust 15, 19867.6/1094%
Fans who enjoy watching The Thing would enjoy this movie because the terror is not experienced right away. It seeps in. This means that the process of transformations in this movie, just like in The Thing movie, is tragic and uncomfortable.
Where to watch: Apple TV
4. Annihilation (2018)
Directed by Alex Garland and starring Natalie Portman, Annihilation portrays the story of a group of scientific researchers who explore the strange region known as “The Shimmer,” in which the laws of science begin to fall apart.
TitleDirectorRelease Date (USA)IMDb RatingRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)AnnihilationAlex GarlandFebruary 23, 20186.8/1088%
The threat is never fully explained, the characters’ motives blur together, and the film begins to question what identity actually means.
Where to watch: Apple TV
5. Prince of Darkness (1987)
A still from Prince of Darkness | Credits: Alive Films and Larry Franco Productions
Prince of Darkness is a horror film directed by John Carpenter. A scientist and a priest investigated a container that holds a green liquid that is buried in an LA church. The movie cast includes Donald Pleasence and Victor Wong. The bizarre storyline in this movie is balanced by serious acting.
TitleDirectorRelease Date (USA)IMDb RatingRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)Prince of DarknessJohn CarpenterOctober 23, 19876.7/1062%
Most The Thing enthusiasts will enjoy this film because Carpenter has “a bleak outlook.” Science doesn’t work, questions aren’t answered, and danger is cosmic and overwhelming.
Where to watch: Apple TV (Rent)
Which one will you be watching first? Let us know in the comments!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
