I was stationed in Key West, FL when they showed "The Thing" at the base movie house in 1951. I was a Sci-Fi nut even then and ate it up. (Still do.) I went a second time and turned around to watch the audience when the guys opened the door and the creature swiped at them.
It looked like a tsunami in reverse as the audience recoiled as if they were one person. GREAT!
The third time I brought a shipmate of mine who fancied himself a tough guy and pooh-poohed my enthusiasm for the film. I took him down to the fifth row from the screen, with all the kids. When that scene came up he shrunk/cringed in the seat and put his hands to his face. I bugged him for weeks after that. Life was good.
Wow! I was stationed there over 20 years later at an Army anti-aircraft battery.
Love the sci-fi, always have. Why good sci-fi isn’t being cranked out now that special effects are cheap is beyond me. Well, I know why (demographics and PC) but it doesn’t answer.