The enduring mystery of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, "The Thing," has captivated audiences for over four decades. The film's ambiguous ending, where fans are left to ponder whether R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David) turns into the titular monster, has been a topic of endless speculation. Carpenter deliberately left the ending open-ended, providing no definitive clues—until a recent revelation.
During a special 4K screening of "The Thing" at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter hinted to acclaimed director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" embedded in the middle of the film could reveal the true identity of The Thing at the film's conclusion. In a playful twist, Carpenter humorously suggested he would disclose this secret for an undisclosed sum of money sent to his home.
Carpenter also shared with the audience that even the actors were kept in the dark about who would ultimately transform into The Thing. "They had no clue," he said. "But they had to play it human, you see. The creature imitates perfectly. It could be one of us, it could be somebody in the audience, and there’s no way of telling. So I knew, they didn’t know."
Following the screening, indie director Joe Russo (not to be confused with the MCU's Joe Russo) shared his theory on X / Twitter, claiming to have uncovered the hint Carpenter mentioned. Russo pointed out that MacReady is informed that the creature can replicate at the cellular level, advising that they should only consume items they have personally handled to ensure safety. However, at the film's end, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs. Russo theorizes that this action suggests MacReady might already be The Thing, as sharing the bottle could mean the creature has successfully infiltrated its last obstacle. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."
The brilliance of Carpenter's film lies in its refusal to confirm these theories, maintaining its suspenseful ambiguity. Russo further supports his theory by analyzing the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" which he argues aligns perfectly with MacReady being The Thing. Additionally, Russo questions the scene where MacReady kills what appears to be The Thing, suggesting it could be a superior imitation eliminating a less effective one to better infiltrate society upon rescue.
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While some fans find Russo's theory compelling, others remain convinced that Childs is the one who becomes the creature. One fan commented, "I still think it’s Childs because we don’t know his whereabouts for a long time heading into the final scene. But Keith David will tell you he’s 100% not The Thing." Russo responded, "Carpenter said both actors don't know... Childs always felt like a red herring to me."
Regardless of where one stands on the theory, Carpenter's ability to continue sparking discussion and delighting fans decades later is a testament to his masterful storytelling. We're fortunate to still be uncovering pieces of his genius.
