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

John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has captivated audiences for 43 years with its enigmatic ending. The film leaves viewers pondering whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the titular monster. Carpenter deliberately left this mystery unsolved, providing 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 disclosed to director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" hidden in the middle of the film could reveal the true identity of The Thing at the movie's conclusion. In a playful twist, Carpenter added that he would share this secret with anyone willing to send an unspecified amount of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also shared that even the actors were kept in the dark about who would ultimately become The Thing. "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 film's hidden hint. Russo suggests that the key clue lies in the fact that MacReady is informed that The Thing can replicate at the cellular level, advising him to only consume items he has personally handled. Despite this critical knowledge, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs at the film's end. Russo posits that this act could indicate MacReady is already The Thing, suggesting that by sharing the bottle, "The Thing has won. It’s beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter's brilliance lies in leaving the film's conclusion open-ended, yet Russo provides further evidence to support his theory. He points to the film's final line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" as fitting if MacReady is indeed The Thing. Russo also speculates on the scene where MacReady seemingly kills The Thing, suggesting it might be "a BETTER imitation kill[ing] a POORER imitation because it had a better chance of infiltrating society upon rescue."

The 25 Best Horror Movies

26 Images

Russo's theory has sparked debate among fans. Some find it convincing, while others remain convinced that Childs is the creature. One fan noted, "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 continue surprising and engaging fans decades later is a testament to his mastery of horror storytelling. His insights and the theories they inspire keep *The Thing* a topic of fascination and discussion.