43 Years Later: The Thing’s Shocking Ending Finally Unveiled?

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John Carpenter’s “The Thing” is one of the most cherished and timeless horror movies ever produced, still generating debate and admiration more than 40 years after its premiere. However, this classic film also left a lingering enigma regarding its finale – it was unclear whether R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David) had been turned into ‘the thing’.

On March 22nd, at an exclusive 4K showing of The Thing at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles, John Carpenter conversed with Bong Joon Ho and hinted that there was a significant secret hidden within the movie that viewers had yet to uncover. This revelation sparked a flurry of internet discussions and multiple re-watches of the film. Now, one fan believes they’ve found the solution.

How the Ending of ‘The Thing’ May Have Been Solved 43 Years After Its Release

Following the revelation, independent horror director Joe Russo shared his own theory. Russo remarked, “Approximately halfway through THE THING, Fuchs tells MacReady that The Thing can replicate at a cellular level, suggesting they consume food from cans and prepare their own meals.” He continued, stating that this detail was not widely recognized upon the film’s release but now, considering it as one of Carpenter’s supposed “major clues,” it implies that MacReady is actually the one infected at the end of the movie.

At the movie’s finale, MacReady disregards the warning against revealing secrets, instead offering his drink to Childs as Keith David ominously states, “Let’s just… stay here for a bit, see what happens.” Whether it was a mistake on their parts, it appears that MacReady might have been infected and had spread the infection to Childs, suggesting that ‘the creature’ had triumphed over both characters. However, there remains debate about this ending, with some questioning Russo’s interpretation, possibly reflecting John Carpenter’s intended ambiguity.

How Does This Theory Stack Up Against ‘The Thing’ Video Game Theory?

In 2024, the updated version of the 2002 video game based on “The Thing” earned John Carpenter’s approval and is widely seen as an extension of the film’s storyline by many. This has led some to believe that the mystery of who or what “the thing” is has been partially resolved. Significantly, in this version, players find that Childs has succumbed to hypothermia, with MacReady conspicuously absent. This suggests strongly that MacReady himself may have been infected.

With the latest fan speculation, this new revelation adds an intriguing twist as it suggests that MacReady might indeed be ‘The Thing.’ However, Russo’s theory takes a different angle by proposing that he transformed Childs into one of the monsters, while the game hints at Childs’ human demise. Of course, Carpenter has kept the truth under wraps, even admitting that the actors themselves are unaware. We may never get a definitive answer from Carpenter, but we seem to be closer than ever to understanding the fate of MacReady and Childs, or perhaps we’ve already found the solution and are just waiting for confirmation. You can rent ‘The Thing’ on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play.

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2025-03-30 05:01