John Carpenter Drops Hint on 'The Thing' Identity; Fan Solves Mystery

The allure of John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, lies in its deliberately ambiguous ending. For 43 years, fans have speculated about whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film’s titular monster at the conclusion. Carpenter intentionally left this mystery unresolved—until a recent revelation at a special 4K screening at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, where he hinted at a "giant hint" embedded within the film that could reveal the true identity of The Thing.

During the screening, Carpenter playfully suggested that he would disclose this crucial information to anyone who sent an undisclosed sum of money to his home. He also shared that even the actors were kept in the dark about who would ultimately turn into The Thing. "They had no clue," Carpenter 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, claiming to have uncovered the hint Carpenter mentioned. Russo pointed out that MacReady learns the creature can replicate at the cellular level, meaning they should only consume what they have personally handled. Yet, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs in the film's final scene. According to Russo, this action could suggest MacReady has forgotten this detail—or, more intriguingly, that he has already become The Thing. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter’s film masterfully ends without confirming this theory, preserving its enigmatic allure. However, Russo provides further evidence by analyzing the film's last line: "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" This line could be fitting if MacReady were already The Thing. Russo also speculates on the scene where MacReady kills The Thing, suggesting it might be "a BETTER imitation killing a POORER imitation because it had a better chance of infiltrating society upon rescue."

The 25 Best Horror Movies

26 Images

The fan community is divided on Russo’s theory. Some are convinced by his argument, while others believe Childs is the creature, citing his unexplained absence leading up to the final scene. One 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 ongoing debate, Carpenter’s ability to keep fans engaged and theorizing decades after the film's release is a testament to his storytelling genius. It's a delight to continue receiving these intriguing insights from the master of horror himself.