John Carpenter says every fan theory about the ending of The Thing is wrong, and that the answer is hiding in plain sight.
“Every idea that people have is not the right one. I know the right one. It’s right in the movie too. There is a big clue. No one has guessed it,” Carpenter said when the Academy asked him about fan theories about the ending of The Thing.
Fans have debated that ending for over four decades. Is MacReady the Thing? Is Childs the Thing? Both of them? Neither?
People have their own theories, some of which are more plausible than others. According to Carpenter, they’re all wrong.
Carpenter gets asked about the ending of The Thing all the time. By saying everyone is wrong, he keeps people talking about the movie.
Still, some argue it’s better not knowing who the Thing is at the end, because that’s the entire point. It’s more haunting and effective that way.
