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

The mystique surrounding the ending of John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has captivated fans for 43 years. The ambiguity of whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film's titular monster has been a topic of endless speculation. Carpenter deliberately left the ending open-ended, offering no clues—until a recent revelation at a special 4K screening at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, where he hinted to director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" exists in the middle of the film, pointing to who ultimately becomes The Thing. In a playful twist, Carpenter quipped that he'd disclose this secret to anyone who sent him an undisclosed amount of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also shared with the audience that even the actors were kept in the dark about their characters' fates. "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) took to X / Twitter to share his theory on the hinted clue. Russo pointed out that MacReady learns about the creature's ability to replicate at the cellular level, suggesting that for safety, individuals should consume only what they've personally handled. Yet, at the film's end, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs. This act, Russo theorizes, could imply that MacReady, having forgotten the rule, 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 brilliance of Carpenter’s film lies in its unresolved ending, leaving room for such theories. Russo further supports his theory with the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" which he suggests fits perfectly if MacReady is already The Thing. He also proposes an alternative view of a scene where MacReady kills The Thing: "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, while others argue in favor of Childs being The Thing, citing his unexplained absence leading up to the final scene. A fan commented, "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 differing opinions, Russo's theory offers a compelling perspective on one of cinema's most enigmatic endings. Carpenter continues to engage and intrigue fans decades later, and we're fortunate to still receive tidbits of his insights.