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

Part of the magic of John Carpenter’s legendary 1982 sci-fi horror film, The Thing, lies in its ambiguous ending. For 43 years, fans have speculated on whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, turns into the film’s central monster. Carpenter intentionally left the ending open-ended, providing no clues—until a recent revelation.

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" mid-film that indicates who becomes The Thing at the end. In a playful twist, Carpenter suggested he’d reveal this secret to anyone who sent him an undisclosed sum of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also disclosed that the actors were kept in the dark about the final transformation. "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) took to X / Twitter to share his theory on the hint. Russo pointed out that MacReady is warned about the creature’s ability to replicate at the cellular level, advising that they only consume items they've personally handled. Despite this, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's end. Russo suggests this act might indicate MacReady has forgotten the warning, or more likely, that he is The Thing. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo argues. "It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter’s film masterfully leaves these questions unanswered, preserving its mystique. Russo further supports his theory by analyzing the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" suggesting it aligns with MacReady already being The Thing. He also posits that the scene where MacReady kills The Thing could be an instance of "a BETTER imitation kill[ing] a POORER imitation" to better infiltrate society upon rescue.

The 25 Best Horror Movies

26 ImagesSome fans were swayed by Russo’s theory, while others remained convinced that Childs becomes the creature. One 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 debate, Russo’s theory adds an intriguing layer to the film’s mystery. Carpenter continues to captivate and engage fans decades later, offering fresh insights into his iconic work.