John Carpenter Hints at 'The Thing' Identity, Fan Solves Mystery

The ambiguity of the ending in John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has kept fans guessing for 43 years about whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film’s titular monster. Carpenter deliberately left this question unanswered, providing no 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 that there is a "giant hint" hidden in the middle of the film that reveals who ultimately turns into The Thing. He humorously added that he would disclose this secret to anyone who sent him an undisclosed amount of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also revealed that the actors themselves were kept in the dark about who would become The Thing. "They had no clue," he said. "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, suggesting he might have uncovered the hinted clue. Russo points out that MacReady learns the creature can replicate at a cellular level, implying that for safety, they should only consume items they've personally handled. Despite this knowledge, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's end. Russo theorizes that this act could indicate MacReady is The Thing, as sharing the bottle would allow the creature to infect Childs. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo explains. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter's film masterfully ends without confirming Russo's theory, preserving its mystique. However, Russo provides further evidence, noting the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" This line could be fitting if MacReady has already transformed into The Thing. Russo's thread also suggests an alternate interpretation of MacReady killing The Thing, proposing it might be "a BETTER imitation kill[ing] a POORER imitation because it had a better chance of infiltrating society upon rescue."

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While some fans are convinced by Russo's theory, others believe Childs is the true monster, citing his mysterious absence before the final scene. One fan noted, "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." 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, it's a testament to Carpenter's enduring ability to captivate and engage his audience, even decades after *The Thing*'s release. We're fortunate to continue receiving insights and reflections from this master of horror.