The enigmatic conclusion of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, The Thing, has left fans pondering for 43 years about the fates of R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, and Childs, played by Keith David. Carpenter masterfully kept the ending ambiguous, offering no definitive clues—until a recent revelation. During a special 4K screening at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter hinted to director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" within the film points to who ultimately transforms into The Thing. In a humorous twist, he suggested that he'd share this secret for an undisclosed sum sent 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. "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) took to X / Twitter to share his theory on the hinted clue. Russo pointed out that MacReady is informed of the creature's ability to replicate at the cellular level, suggesting they only consume items they've personally handled. Yet, at the film's end, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs. This could imply MacReady forgot the warning, but Russo theorizes it's more likely that MacReady has become The Thing. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."
Carpenter's genius lies in leaving these possibilities open-ended. Russo further supports his theory by referencing the film's final line—"Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?"—which he believes aligns perfectly with MacReady being The Thing. Russo also suggests an alternate interpretation of a key scene: "Did you see that OR… did you watch a BETTER imitation kill a POORER imitation because it had a better chance of infiltrating society upon rescue?"
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While some fans found Russo's theory compelling, others remained convinced that Childs is the one who turns 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 where one stands on the theory, Carpenter's ability to keep fans engaged and discussing his work decades later is a testament to his storytelling prowess. His ongoing revelations continue to captivate and intrigue his audience.
