Part of the allure of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror masterpiece, The Thing, is its deliberately ambiguous ending. For 43 years, fans have speculated whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, portrayed by Keith David, transforms into the film’s titular monster. Carpenter intentionally kept fans in suspense without providing any clear indications—until a recent revelation.
At a special 4K screening of The Thing at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter disclosed to director Bong Joon Ho that there is a "giant hint" hidden within the middle of the film that hints at who ultimately becomes The Thing. In a playful jab, he added that he'd reveal this coveted information to anyone who sent him an undisclosed amount of money "in an envelope to my house."
Carpenter also shared with the audience that even the actors were left in the dark about the final transformation. "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 about the hint. Russo pointed out that MacReady is informed that the creature can replicate at the cellular level, suggesting that for their safety, they should only consume food or drink that they alone have touched. Despite this knowledge, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's conclusion. Russo theorizes that this action suggests MacReady might be The Thing, as sharing the drink could mean he has already been compromised. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."
The genius of Carpenter’s film lies in its unresolved ending, leaving these theories open to interpretation. Russo further supported his hypothesis by analyzing the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" This line could be particularly fitting if MacReady has already transformed into The Thing. Additionally, Russo suggested an alternate reading of the scene where MacReady destroys The Thing: "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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The fanbase is divided on Russo's theory. Some are convinced, while others hold firm to the belief that Childs is the one who turns into the creature. "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," one fan commented. Russo responded, "Carpenter said both actors don't know... Childs always felt like a red herring to me."
Regardless of which theory one subscribes to, the discussion around The Thing continues to captivate and engage fans. Carpenter's ability to keep audiences guessing and delighting in new insights even decades later is a testament to the film's enduring legacy.
