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

One of the enduring mysteries of John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, lies in its deliberately ambiguous ending. For 43 years, fans have debated whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film's titular monster. Carpenter masterfully left viewers in suspense, offering no definitive clues—until a recent revelation.

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 there is a "giant hint" within the film that points to who ultimately becomes The Thing. In a light-hearted moment, Carpenter jokingly added that he would disclose this secret to anyone willing to send him an undisclosed sum of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also revealed that the actors were kept in the dark about their characters' fates. "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 social media platform X/Twitter. Russo pointed out a pivotal scene where MacReady learns that The Thing can replicate at the cellular level, advising that individuals should only consume items they've personally handled. Yet, at the film's end, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs. Russo theorizes that this act suggests MacReady is The Thing, as sharing the bottle could mean The Thing has infiltrated its last obstacle. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo stated. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter’s film maintains its brilliance by concluding before confirming any of this. However, Russo provided further evidence by highlighting the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" This line aligns with the scenario if MacReady has indeed become The Thing. Russo's thread also suggests that the scene where MacReady kills The Thing might be a case of 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 find Russo's theory compelling, others remain convinced that Childs is the creature, citing his unexplained absence before the final scene. "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 argued. Russo responded, "Carpenter said both actors don't know... Childs always felt like a red herring to me."

Regardless of the debates, Carpenter's ability to keep fans engaged and theorizing decades later is a testament to his storytelling prowess. The ongoing discussions and revelations are a gift to fans, continuing to unravel the mystery of *The Thing*.