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, is its deliberately ambiguous ending. For 43 years, fans have speculated whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film's titular monster. Carpenter masterfully left audiences without clear answers—until recently.

At 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's a "giant hint" hidden in the middle of the film that points to the identity of The Thing at the end. In a humorous twist, Carpenter quipped that he'd reveal the secret to anyone willing to send him an undisclosed amount of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also disclosed that even the actors 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 about the hinted clue. Russo pointed out that MacReady is warned about the creature's ability to replicate at a cellular level, emphasizing the importance of consuming only items that have been in their sole possession. Yet, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's end. Russo suggests this could mean MacReady has forgotten this vital information, or more intriguingly, that MacReady himself is The Thing. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo posits. "It's beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

The genius of Carpenter's film lies in its refusal to confirm such theories, maintaining its mystique. Russo further supported his theory by referencing the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" This line could be especially fitting if MacReady has already turned into The Thing. Russo also suggested an alternative 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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The fanbase remains divided on Russo's theory. Some are convinced by the evidence presented, while others maintain that Childs is the true monster, citing his mysterious absence before the final scene. A fan remarked, "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 the debates, Carpenter's ability to keep fans engaged and theorizing decades later is a testament to his storytelling prowess. It's a delight to continue receiving these intriguing insights from the master of horror.