The enduring mystery of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has captivated fans for over four decades. The film's ambiguous ending, where it remains unclear whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the titular monster, has been a topic of intense speculation. Carpenter masterfully kept the audience in suspense without providing any definitive clues—until recently.
During a special 4K screening of *The Thing* at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter shared with director Bong Joon Ho, known for *Parasite* and *Mickey 17*, that a "giant hint" embedded in the middle of the film could reveal who ultimately becomes The Thing. In a humorous twist, Carpenter suggested that he'd disclose this crucial information to anyone willing to send him an unspecified amount of money "in an envelope to my house."
Carpenter also revealed that even the actors were kept in the dark about the true identity of The Thing. "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, claiming to have identified the hinted clue. Russo pointed out that MacReady is informed that the creature can replicate at the cellular level, implying that for their safety, they should only consume items they've personally handled. Yet, at the film's conclusion, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs. This act, Russo theorizes, might indicate that MacReady, having forgotten the advice or being The Thing himself, seals Childs' fate. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo concluded. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."
Carpenter's genius lies in leaving the film's ending open to interpretation, but Russo offered additional evidence to support his theory. He highlighted the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" as particularly fitting if MacReady had already transformed. Russo's thread also suggests an alternative view 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 true monster. "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 where one stands on this debate, Russo's theory adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about *The Thing*. Carpenter's ability to continue engaging and surprising fans decades after the film's release is a testament to his storytelling prowess and the enduring allure of his work.
