3. The Thing (1982)
While not set in space, everything about this film feels like an alien planet. John Carpenter’s The Thing earns its place on this list for its exploration of isolation, paranoia, and an alien threat in one of the most inhospitable environments imaginable—Antarctica.
The story follows a group of scientists who encounter an alien organism that can assimilate and mimic any living being it comes into contact with.
The horror in The Thing comes from the uncertainty of who is human and who is the alien in disguise, leading to intense paranoia and mistrust among the characters. The practical effects, which were groundbreaking at the time, remain some of the most gruesome and terrifying in cinema history.
The film’s cold, barren setting mirrors the emotional desolation and fear of the characters as they are systematically hunted by an unseen enemy.
Though set on Earth, the film’s themes and tone are closely aligned with those of space horror, making it a terrifying experience akin to being trapped on an alien planet.
