The enigmatic ending of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, "The Thing," has captivated fans for 43 years, leaving them to ponder whether R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David) transforms into the film's titular monster. Carpenter masterfully left the conclusion open-ended, offering no clear answers—until a recent revelation at a special 4K screening of the film at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22. During the event, Carpenter hinted to director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" buried in the middle of the film could reveal who ultimately becomes The Thing. He playfully added that he would disclose this secret to anyone willing to send an undisclosed sum of money to his home in an envelope.
Carpenter also shared that even the actors were kept in the dark about their characters' fates. "They had no clue," he confessed, emphasizing the need for them to portray their roles as human. "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 (distinct from the MCU's Joe Russo) took to X / Twitter to share his interpretation of the hinted clue. Russo posits that the key lies in the film's detail about the creature's ability to replicate at the cellular level, necessitating that characters only consume items they've personally handled. Despite this knowledge, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs in the film's final moments. Russo theorizes that this act could suggest MacReady has already transformed into The Thing, as sharing the bottle could mean the creature's victory over its last, most skeptical adversary. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts, suggesting that The Thing has successfully infiltrated and defeated its final threat.
Carpenter's film masterfully avoids confirming this theory, maintaining its ambiguous charm. However, Russo further supports his claim by analyzing the film's last line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" He suggests this line suits the scenario if MacReady is already The Thing. Russo also questions the scene where MacReady seemingly kills The Thing, proposing that viewers might have witnessed a superior imitation eliminating a less effective one to better infiltrate society upon rescue.
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The theory has sparked debate among fans. Some find it compelling, while others hold onto the belief that Childs is the real monster, citing his unexplained absence before the final scene. "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," a fan commented. Russo countered, "Carpenter said both actors don't know... Childs always felt like a red herring to me."
Regardless of the debate, Russo's theory offers a fascinating perspective on Carpenter's enduring mystery. The filmmaker continues to surprise and engage fans decades later, enriching the legacy of "The Thing" with each new insight.
