Huh I think its kinda clever, since the alien in "The thing" is also a shapeshifter like creature. (Not sure if nue's ability is considered true shapeshifting but close enough for the joke here.)
Because a crossover between an old horror movie and a bunch of cutesy anime girls isn't the first thing that comes to ones mind.
It's not that old, it came out the same year as Macross. By the way, Do You Remember Love?
Double Spoiler
Houjuu Nue
”Danmaku X from a Wandering Star”
”遊星よりの弾幕X” is a parody of ”遊星よりの物体X”, the Japanese title of ”The Thing from Another World”.