The enduring mystery surrounding the ending of John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has captivated fans for 43 years. The film leaves viewers pondering whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film's titular monster. Carpenter deliberately crafted this ambiguity, leaving no clues—until recently. During a special 4K screening at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter revealed to director Bong Joon Ho that there's a "giant hint" embedded in the middle of the film that could indicate who turns into The Thing at the end. In a playful twist, Carpenter added that he would disclose this secret to anyone who sent an undisclosed sum of money to his home.
Carpenter also shared that even the actors were kept in the dark about the outcome. "They had no clue," he confessed. "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. Russo pointed out that MacReady learns about the creature's ability to replicate at the cellular level, suggesting that they should only consume what they've personally touched. Yet, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's end. Russo posits that this could mean MacReady is The Thing, as sharing the bottle would allow the creature to win by infecting Childs. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."
The beauty of Carpenter’s film lies in its unresolved ending, but Russo provided further support for his theory. He highlighted the final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" suggesting it's fitting if MacReady is already The Thing. Russo's thread also questions the scene where MacReady kills The Thing, proposing it might be a better imitation killing a poorer one to improve its chances of infiltrating society upon rescue.
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Fan reactions to Russo's theory were mixed. Some found it compelling, while others maintained that Childs was the more likely candidate to turn into The Thing. "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 responded, "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 *The Thing*. John Carpenter's ability to continue engaging and surprising fans decades after the film's release is a testament to his storytelling prowess, and we're fortunate to still glean insights from his genius.
