There are sfx moments in The Thing which will forever hold their impact, will never really become dated. Not all of it (I personally don't like the alien's final appearance much), but the more subtle bits, certainly. Considering what is actually being depicted - a shapeshifting extraterrestrial organism of horrible contorting bio-plastic initiative & imagination - that's a remarkable feat. Most of the effects in the remake made nearly 30 years later are already more dated, and will look especially shit to future audiences.
When you factor that into the masterful atmosphere of tension, isolation and paranoia, and a few wonderful performances full of character and icy cool, you have to give it props. I don't consider it perfect, but it has plenty of perfect elements. And had you ever seen anything remotely like the most memorable events in it? I hadn't, and they defo stuck with me.
