WHO KILLED WHO in John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

[@radiochango]

You left out an important detail from Blair's notes that debunk your debunking. He said that the cells are not dead and can infect others. Meaning that while the creature as a whole was dead, not all the cells were. He could have gotten infected with the eraser.

[@ZackCherry]

I see this comment pop up a lot but I made this video almost two years ago, so my memory on the context is hazy. However this is not an omission of facts on my part, If I recall, I’m merely referencing that Blair documented this in his initial findings, before the kennel incident took place. McReady and the group torched the kennel thing, so in reference to the dog, there are no living cells left as they thoroughly incinerated it. What they bright back from the Norwegian camp on the other hand is still alive, and that’s what assimilates Bennings. McReady even mentions upon its discovery how the Norwegian camp thing was burnt up in a hurry, implying that they didn’t do a sufficient job in destroying it completely. After Bennings dies, they proceed to burn everything else at the camp, which in theory would have wiped out the thing for good, but by that point the infection had already spread to at least Norris and Palmer.

[@radiochango]

@@ZackCherry except that the Kennel things remains were torched, yes, but not charred. This might be an stretch here but by the looks the carcass the inside of it was untouched, the innards were fine, just think how cooked meat looks. Anyway it's an interesting conversation

[@robertjoseph2535]

Watch the scene when they first take the blanket off of split face on the exam table. Blair gets some of it on his right hand, wipes his hand off on the blanket some, then, he puts that hand right up to his mouth and nose. Slow assimilation starting with that???

[@nightblaze2033]

I watched that scene with Blair and the eraser. Tho it looks like it, the eraser actually doesn’t touch the dog thing, hence touching the eraser with his lips doesn’t infect him. Not sure about the wiping thing tho.

[@ngenglee149]

@@ZackCherry But they extinguished the kennel thing in a haste if you recall.

[@GLORIOUSCHONK]

My favorite theory to the ending is arguably the most morbid and awful, in which neither Childs nor Mac is The Thing. They both freeze to death as the base burns.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Far as I’m concerned, that’s not even a theory. It’s just what happened. lol

[@dobson.]

Too bad it's been debunked by Carpenter "One of the two is The Thing"

[@naderzein2435]

That's actually the brightest ending because it means they beat the thing. If one or both of them are infected that means the thing will just start infecting people again once the rescue team comes in to see what happened at the camp.

[@targitausrithux2320]

@@dobson. I have never seen someone source this quote

[@TimmySquibs]

Based on the comics that’s not what happens and Mac lives

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

There was one detail that was overlooked. When Blair was locked up and drugged he took the quarantine well and continued to warn Mac, as he suspected Clark to be infected. Due to Clark being closest to the dog. When Mac goes to ask Blair to see if he saw Fuchs, Blair was eerily calm and asking to come back into the main outpost. The real Blair wouldn't want to be anywhere near them because he would suspect they were infected. I didn't notice that until re-watching it.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Well? There was a hangman's noose in there!

[@guitarsandcars2586]

Good job catching that. That's a pretty overlooked detail, just like the detail of how Michael drops the keys when he sees his buddy being assimilated, proven that someone snatched those keys before anyone noticed to get into the blood.

[@Bob.Roberts]

This was partially explained in a roundabout way: Blair may have felt something was wrong after he was infected via a food drop off, so he attempted to hang himself. After the assimilation was complete, it no longer cared about the noose hanging there, regardless of how conspicuous it was. I believe this actually tipped MacCready off, the noose being there but yet Blair being so calm and composed, and definitely not seeming like he wanted to kill himself. The host said as much, alluding to the odd behavior Blair was exhibiting, while not stating it explicitly. One thing the host did Not mention however is how even through up until almost the final showdown, it was believed that the Thing always ripped through clothing during assimilation, this is not true. Gary is assimilated, face-first, fusing with Blair's right hand. He is not killed at this time. As the massive explosion rips through the complex, 3 distinct voices are heard crying out: the Blair Thing, Gary, and Nauls. This is a detail pointed out by Rob Ager, on his channel covering the same movie. Because of this, I believe the Thing was using the ripped clothing idea as a way of spreading paranoia and mistrust among the station crew.

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

@@Bob.Roberts In terms of the clothing yes and no. It often depends on which Thing is doing the deed. For example The Dog Thing only has to do small stuff like spread it's cells through discarded fur and saliva. Basically being pet or licking the target would do the trick. Whereas someone like Bennings got stripped when Splitface took him. As seen when Windows witnessed him getting assimilated. He was half nude and when he was running to try to flee the group, he was seen putting a winter Jacket on, despite the Real Bennings already having a jacket on. And of course it also accounts for those that get exposed and burst out. Palmer's arms and head were changing the most so naturally the sleeves of his clothes would have been ripped up from the arms transforming.

[@ZacksRockingLifestyle]

@@Shanethefilmmaker I imagine every hair suddenly jumping off of a dog-thing and coming after the cast, thus ending the movie in minutes lol Also interesting is how nobody sneezed during the film. A sneeze at the right moment would have caused several infections, not to mention all the microbes that come out through regular respiration.

[@cybernautadventurer]

One thing I noticed about The Thing: anyone who we know was infected appeared as very kind-natured, passive, and really disliking conflict. Like the kind of person who would either fade into the background or appear to be on the side of the humans. Even Blair later in the movie you'll notice had a complete switch of personality: he went from being very aggressive and paranoid to very calm, prosocial and soothing. This was no doubt a trick employed by the Thing to avoid attracting attention to itself, to the point that it would even turn on other infected 'things' to save its own skin. So if someone seemed really nice and passive.. chances are they were infected.

[@codyschwarz5155]

That’s incredibly flawed tho because Garry, Clark, Doc and Windows were constantly framed and they are seen in the beginning to be nice, calm and passive.

[@TheRealRusDaddy]

Just like ttt when your a terrorist if your teammate gets found out you might have to throw them under the bus to finish killing everyone else without being found out as easy

[@Vampirecronicler]

I'd argue then that Childs was human, since when Mac asks him where he's been, he's very vague about it, which shows that child doesn't fully trust Mac in that moment

[@notster7114]

disagree, palmer was still starting conflicts and being controversial after being infected

[@samuellinn]

Guilty peoples usually act more passive and avoid conflicts, good catch

[@JxTime333]

I love the little hidden fact, that the Norwegian guy in the beginning was saying to the US People "The Dog is a Alien", but no one understood him and shoot him, because he was shooting on a "innocent" dog.

[@Hiarren]

Because he (accidentally) shot Bennings.

[@JxTime333]

@@Hiarren ah yes true.

[@danielmcgillis270]

Hay sweeds!

[@redrobsanthem9206]

Unfortunately it probably wouldn’t have helped if they understood him since he crazily chases the normal looking dog and shoots one of them in the knee

[@Ragitsu]

@@redrobsanthem9206 I would believe him.

[@bigtasty6066]

It's been almost 40 years and we're still trying to figure this movie out, I love it

[@joethekinghawk7514]

The ambiguity and lose ends is what make the "Thing" a cult icon.

[@nickperez915]

You can’t figure it out, it wasn’t made with a clear answer to everything

[@amuroray9115]

John Carpenter left it up to the viewer. Games and comics have switched back and forth between who’s the thing. The PS2 game which had Carpenter’s blessing, had Child’s die and MacReady live. Implying he might be one. But he was flying the helicopter at the end. In these old comics I read, Neither are the Thing. But later on Child’s does get transformed into the Thing

[@charliemartin-k7m]

I still wonder its true form and where its from.

[@EvilNecroid]

it reminds me of how people to this day still dont understand the blaire witch project

[@itsdantaylor]

Upon re-watching the movie, people always gush about the practical effects (and they are AMAZING) but rewatching this you GOT to give it up for the Dog trainer and the dog. Never have I seen an animal act so Purposefully in a movie like it has in this.

[@cat-sd5cr]

SAME!!!!! I finally watched this movie fully for the first time just a minute ago and I also realized this. The training was so good.

[@pemo2676]

this is heavily praised in the director's commentary - that dog is fantastic

[@hibiscuspetals02]

The dog's name is Jed and he was a fairly well known animal actor back in the day. Jed was part wolf, and extremely intelligent, so he doesn't wag his tail during scenes like most dog actors do (because they're very happy to be doing what they're trained for). He also seemed to have this weird understanding of the context behind some of his scenes, like in the famous hallway one he was only trained to walk down the hallway, his mannerisms of stopping and looking around, the eerily quiet gait, that was all him!! He was also heavily praised for almost never looking at the camera or at his handler. This got really long but I'm just fascinated by him!!

[@pemo2676]

@@hibiscuspetals02 it lends well that the wolf parts of Jed reflects what The Thing plausibly is - a wild animal trying to survive in a weird human environment. there's intelligence there, and also "domestication" - social understanding, blending to the human environment (the dog bits). a perfect dog

[@neilwilliams2907]

@@hibiscuspetals02 Apparently his name isn't Jed, but that's what people know him by.

[@mst3k54]

Even as a kid, since the first time I watched this amazing movie, there was no debate nor a doubt in my mind that Mac & Childs were both human at the end. The bleakness of them both surviving such an unspeakable nightmare simply to freeze to death anyway with both of them thinking that outcome is probably for the best is the whole point.

[@marccamp6376]

So true :0

[@bloodchilde]

I also feel that this is true, ever since I first watched it. Childs and McReady are the strongest characters in the movie. In the end they were both so exhausted that they just didn't care anymore. In that whole bleakness at the end, they kept the pride of not succumbing to fear and took victory in the fact that they were both able to choose their own fate.

[@pdung1211]

Well, if you still have doubts, there are a comic series called the thing from another world which is a direct sequel to this

[@EmeraldEsmerelda]

If child’s had been the thing I doubt he would have approached Mac, I think it would have just buried itself in the snow. Child’s approaching Mac just seemed like a normal dude not wanting to die alone.

[@dbfan199]

As much as this does make sense. On twitter John Carpter was asked if one of them was a thing. and his response was yes. he didn't say who though.

[@Werewolf_Korra]

I always have theorized that Childs was human because A) it's Keith David and B) the actor himself expressed disappointment that so many people say he's the Thing. I mean, isn't that the most cynical, bleak ending of all? Two normal men, freezing to death, unsure if they're even human?

[@Chuck_EL]

I understand Keith's feelings I meant despite Carpenter himself ,and the screen writer said they're both human at the end , they still push that theory..it's due to the comic that is semi canon to the film...but Carpenter referred to it as a alternate time line and not canon to his film I don't get it either why insist on that theory? It be more bittersweet to see two humans die due to the cold but they ended up saving billions by their self sacrificing as you mentioned

[@steveclem7873]

jurmozNoSuchGordseepza!!?..

[@Donkehy-puncharello]

They could of played the blood game again. If they really wanted to know.

[@XanVicious]

@@Chuck_EL if Child’s was the thing, I’m sure it would’ve assimilated McReady. If anything to help it keep it alive for just that much longer.

[@cawareyoudoin7379]

I think at that point it's a pretty heroic ending, actually. To be absolutely sure that there is no possibility of the infection spreading to the entire world, they die, knowing they did the right thing.

[@captainhostile101]

One detail I found while re-watching. When the group is being blood tested by Mac, there is a closeup shot to every member's face, and while everyone just looks calmly as Mac is speaking to them, Palmer takes a deep inner breath as if the Thing knew what was coming, and was stressed about it.

[@groovyhat9282]

Which is interesting because it shouldn't have to breathe.

[@Jackrazorus]

Except they all kinda seem stressed when the test is happening. They are also all relieved when their test comes negative (or positive? not the thing, is what I am saying).

[@salvatronprime9882]

@@groovyhat9282 why wouldn't it need to breathe? it's never suggested that the thing can live without oxygen.

[@justc1re617]

In that scene specifically each character that is a human has a light or shine in their eye when they are shown as their blood gets tested. Palmer was the only one who didn't have a light in his eye

[@groovyhat9282]

@@salvatronprime9882 There's a video suggesting that it may not need to breathe as Childs's breath can't be seen during the ending.

[@BobExcalibur]

A lot of the assumptions made in this analysis depend on Macready's observation that the Thing always tears through clothing during the assimilation process. We know that when Blair-Thing attack's Garry its able to seal his mouth by melding the flesh of its hand with Garry's face, and judging from ht fact that Garry isn't able to thrash around or resist effectively at that point it seems that the assimilation was starting. This leaves open the possibility that The Thing can in fact assimilate without having to damage clothing at all. Whether it knew how to do this from the beginning or learned how to do so during the events of the film is further ambiguous. Personally I prefer the latter theory because it implies that the Thing is adapting its strategy at the same time that Macready is, making the events of the film more of a chess game.

[@garysmith3037]

With the Thing using tentacles, it's also possible that a tentacle grew out of his palm and went down Garry's throat.....like a facehugger, which might have hindered his ability to fight back, as well as assimilating him faster.

[@tonydebruin1052]

Windows started turning after Palmer ate his face. Windows did not lose a shred of clothing.

[@amuroray9115]

I’m pretty sure MacReady’s assumption that “it always tears through clothes” is instantly debunked in the film considering most of the characters are assimilated and they seem to be wearing the same clothes. Not to mention, tearing through your clothes is loud as hell and tAkes a lot of effort. The other survivors definitely would have heard multiple people tearing through their clothes at least some point in the night.

[@coreyallen2957]

I wonder what Garry looked like when Blair detached his hand 🖐 from Garry’s face??!!! Or did he just totally consume Garry?.....did both of they’re clothes shred? Because they didn’t show Garry or Naul’s body parts connected to the Blair-monster when it came from beneath the floor boards.

[@plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009]

The Thing can infect when it passes too much time with anyone Like the dog going straight to someone and licking him A single cell can infect someone and changes the person in a peaceful way

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

I like to think that when someone is assimilated, they are still fully conscious and unaware of their state unless the parasite overrides them. That seems way creepier to me, having no idea you're infected until your face splits open and tentacles come out.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

That take fear up to a whole another level.. You dont realize that you are thing until your body parts discombobulate and you lose all humanity.

[@truskiz5703]

@@joethekinghawk7514 this is easily the only horror movie I’ll find actually horrifying and this theory just adds to the creepiness

[@joethekinghawk7514]

@@truskiz5703 I agree.

[@steveclem7873]

itsAblueCircuitPCB?ok.?leevENgooleezOotElseHung!

[@xxrocketshark216xx4]

Alot of the plot points in the movie wouldnt really make sense that way though, since the Things rely a lot on sabotage and subterfuge they commit *while* in human form. You would also have to be pretty fucking stupid to not remember being infected. Unless it was a slow infection through a single cell, I mean. But every infection we see onscreen involves a violent attack on the victim of some kind. I doubt they'd forget that.

[@JamesThomasJeans]

The film's producer has confirmed that patient zero was supposed to be Palmer. They shot the scene with Palmer's actor multiple times, in multiple way, but his shadow was just too distinct, so they brought in Dick Warlock. Now, you could always decide that it was Norris instead -- either way works -- but it was, initially, intended to be Palmer. The same producer also said that the sound of the keys falling out of Windows' hands was intentionally amped WAY up in the audio mix to draw attention to it. Since Palmer never shows up in the scene where Blair is destroying the radio equipment, it's safe to assume he was the one who destroyed the blood while Blair was going apeshit.

[@RezValla]

I don’t noris was infected as early as people say. I think the food ref is there to indicate slow assimilation from inside. His heart attack is the point that he goes from being mostly noris to mostly thing.

[@oleopathic]

Good analysis.

[@Michael-hc2vs]

Not possible because he smokes a joint with Childs. Just because Palmer was the initial plan, doesn’t mean it was the last in the Final Cut

[@oleopathic]

Was Blair providing the distraction while Palmer knocked out the blood bank? Can several Thing cooperate ?

[@BioGoji-zm5ph]

@@oleopathic It's possible that Palmer thing just took advantage of Blair's actions while the opportunity was there.

[@johnlawrence7422]

Good breakdown. I disagree in part though. The Thing is intelligent. In every way (except for tiny pieces of it reacting to pain), it shows the ability to think and plan. The dog watches the helicopter come and go, and it knows what is happening when they unload the split-face body. If the Thing were able to infect with just a few cells, then dog-Thing should have just wandered around the base, licking people, shedding its hair on the couch, etc. There's no reason for it to ever reveal itself. While the men were afraid of the possibility that a tiny particle (or a few cells) are enough to infect, that fear is unfounded. The Thing would have behaved very differently if that were a possible method of infection. Also, Childs is human at the end. Since the Thing is logical, once the camp is burning down it has zero reason to approach MacReady. Let the human freeze to death, and just wait for the inevitable investigation team to show up and take all the frozen bodies back to civilization. Definitely don't approach the guy who just had a bunch of dynamite. The only reason to approach Mac is if you're a human and you don't want to die alone.

[@jeffreyriley8742]

The book "Who Goes There?" has a happy ending but the creature's intention (before being stopped) is to take the space ship it's building as Blair and fly to civilization, thus soon infecting everyone.

[@greenherb3229]

@@jeffreyriley8742 But the ending is still ambiguous because Garry (?) was seen shooting at an albatross that might've been infected.

[@jeffreyriley8742]

@@greenherb3229 I don't remember him shooting at an albatross. He became a Thing eventually.

[@greenherb3229]

@@jeffreyriley8742 that was in the comic adaptaion named Starstream, if I remember correctly, Garry was human in the book

[@jeffreyriley8742]

@@greenherb3229 Now, Garry eventually became a Thing in the book.

[@IotaOmicron825]

I can't believe I never noticed the sound of Windows dropping the keys when he finds Bennings being assimilated. Also, I believe you're right about Blair with the pencil. If I remember right, it was said that was just a mistake on the actor's part, though it would be a good clue if intentional. Very nice work here.

[@steves1015]

But the thing can form weird and wonderful shapes.. it doesn’t even necessarily need the keys to reach that blood and slice it open. Just a small enough gap to get a tentacle in.

[@blakethesnake6686]

@@steves1015 That depends on scientists knowing the inner-workings of a lock, which isn't that unlikely all things considered

[@GP.Records]

I think it is a mistake because it is way out of character for a scientist like Blair to make a mistake like that. Even for a normal human it's kinda laughable. Imagine you're dissecting the grossest thing you've ever seen- would you put the tools anywhere near your mouth?

[@johnscoone9310]

If you watch carefully, Blair's bare forearm touches the dog-thing during the autopsy. He may have been infected there. If so, the assimilation process would have started at that point, and eventually it would have taken him over from the inside. I have a theory that the thing had an aversion to alcohol, which may explain why Clark was never infected, and also why Bennings wasn't even though the dog was jumping up and down licking him. Mac, who was drunk throughout the movie, was never assimilated, and I believe a clue is when he poured his drink down the Chess Master to kill it, a metaphor for killing the thing. If you notice, there was a bottle of vodka shown on Blair's desk. My theory is that Blair realized he had infected himself, but at the same time figured out that maybe Clark wasn't assimilated because he was also probably drunk at the time, however Blair was too far gone at this point. Instead of driving the thing from his body, it merely drove him insane.

[@Backonos]

@@blakethesnake6686 he is talking about sliding into the gap of the freezer door.

[@princeramblerose]

the thought that Blair could have known he was being assimilated after being infected from the meal sabotage is terrifying, imagine trying to end yourself to save your friends but being just too late to do the deed

[@joethekinghawk7514]

Blair knew.

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

Unless he was going to burn himself alive not sure it would have mattered anyways

[@Crocalu]

Interesting take, I assumed that the noose was just his backup plan, just in case of an emergency, but it's possible that he indeed tried to stop his assimilation but was too late and the noose hangs these like a warning sign while he's saying he's all ready to return to the group. Or, the Thing really tried to persuade the others through compassion by implying to the others that he's going to hang himself if he's kept in isolation much longer, putting emotional pressure on them

[@mabiniss2]

But didn't he have a revolver? Why would he bother trying to hang himself the moment he was being assimilated?

[@Backonos]

I think he killed himself then got assimilated

[@unequivocalsuffering2734]

It’s cool how the dog can be seen having intelligent movements, and how it plots out its moves.

[@jasperzanovich2504]

That makes it super creepy but I think it's mostly due to the dog starring at it's handler for the next direction.

[@TheRusty]

@@jasperzanovich2504 Maybe. But siberian huskies just... do shit like that. Honestly being a husky, the entire base should have been alarmed by the fact the animal wasn't constantly going "AUGHWOWOWOOOOOOOOHUUUUUUROWOWOWOOOOOOAUGHWAWAWAOOO" the way actual huskies do, lol

[@jasperzanovich2504]

@@TheRusty MAybe, never have interacted with one. The scene I mean especially is when they put him in the kennel. He stares straight ahead even when he lies down. And when he wlks through the door in the hallway where he most likely turns the first of the team. Maybe it's jsut the camera works but the way he moved made my skin crawl. Slow and deliberate, like he was stalking.

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

I believe the dog was some sort of wolf-dog and just sort of naturally acted rather un-doglike

[@Chippppppppppp]

@@TheRusty lmao I wish this was Reddit so I can give you an award for your comment

[@RenegadesRift]

If this film can still hold up to inspection after 40 years then it's a very special film.

[@KumaoftheForest]

I prefer this kind of horror, no CGI, the gore looks REAL and creepy

[@jerryrose9472]

From what I understand the common issue is that practical effects don't look as impressive on modern high definition cameras as it did the now dated technology that was used to create the classic examples we're all so fond of. While more independent leaning film makers will gladly lean into this dated aesthetic for stylistic purposes most major studios putting out big mainstream modern horror films know that style doesn't sell tickets and at the end of the day they know they have to compete with big flashy cinema experiences to turn a profit. In a nutshell most people don't care how the effects are achieved, so why would you spend more time, money, and resources to intentionally make your movie look dated when most people don't want to pay to see a movie that looks dated.

[@nilasmp6907]

I have no idea why people hate CGI. CGI can be impressive if enough time is given. Best result can be achieved if both are mixed which the prequel/sequel wanted to do.

[@west1875]

@@nilasmp6907 sadly they basically cut out all the amazing practical effects.

[@blakeharris58]

Because IT IS!!! That shit is real, even if it looks fake. Plastic and ink actually exist, pixels don't.

[@theredcinder7437]

While i agree to a point cgi if given enough effort or mixed with practical effects can look just as good or better as practical, if u need an example look at the demogorgons from stranger things or grand moff tarkin/ young leia from rogue one

[@ValensBellator]

I never found the ending weird that they shared a drink and such. To me, it was two guys who were exhausted and no longer felt any reason to keep their paranoid defenses up and just wanted to enjoy a quiet moment as their world ends.

[@blueboigaming5189]

40 years later and the effects are still mind blowing.

[@MintyDreams]

Practical effects are always fun

[@BlondeMcGuinn]

My favorite practical effects in any movie.

[@Novasky2007]

Shut up you making me feel sooooo old

[@Bogeyman.78]

Shows how good they where, watched the prequel few days ago, cgi didn't look as good as first movie

[@Phoebe5448]

And in the Terminator!

[@Phoebe5448]

My personal theory is that neither Childs or Macready are the Thing. It's more hopeful that the two survived, but also it's rather bleak since it means that they'll still freeze to death before the rescue team ever arrives. But it means for now, the Thing has been thwarted, and it ties in with the game that there might be some hope yet. But that doesn't still mean the Thing isn't still in the Antarctic. Waiting.

[@obd3256]

Yes, that always scared me the most about the ending... Even a single cell could take over an entire organism! Just blowing it to pieces wouldn't burn every bit. Surely, a single cell (and likely many bits) blew off and froze in the ice... The Thing lives on! And, its only a matter of time.

[@kck-kck879]

*Antarctic

[@Phoebe5448]

@@kck-kck879 whoops! Thanks.

[@kck-kck879]

@@Phoebe5448Anytime

[@danielgiovanniello7217]

@@obd3256 Yeah, but the cells wouldn't survive for very long, as cells have a remarkably short lifespan It's full organisms that would be able to hibernate for a few millennia

[@personman2454]

With the gasoline bottle thing too, you can see Mac actually reach for him to drink it anyways. He never did on screen, but right as Childs showed up you could see him slowly beginning to take a swig. Look at Mac 20:19. He’s very clearly reaching to take a swig from the drink, and he hadn’t even seen Childs yet, so it wasn’t a trick. So unless Mac was about to take a swig of gasoline, that’s just normal alcohol.

[@jonacoproduction3513]

Good eye

[@krodmandoon3479]

Who doesn't enjoy a good swig of petrol every now and again?

[@personman2454]

@@krodmandoon3479 Oh I do. It’s pretty tasty.

[@goofygoober779]

Unless he already saw him coming way before or heard footsteps approaching and acted accordingly very human, by beginning to take a swig but not actually doing it. Could be a symbolic gesture for pretending to be something but not actually going all the way or as in this case not actually being human.

[@personman2454]

@@goofygoober779 That’s a good point, but I dunno I guess my optimistic outlook on endings like that has me hoping that it really is just that Childs is human at the end. It’d be nice for the ending to have at least a little hope left.

[@daxterjoenes9700]

I always figured the whole fillings thing was taken into mind in the original movie because the first time you see Blair as the audience knows he’s infected, he stopped wearing his glasses, while the time before in the noose he was still wearing them. I figured it was because they were destroyed during assimilation

[@ak_nora]

I wouldn't say the fillings idea specifically was deliberate, but it is a way to tell the audience Blair was infected because he exhibits different behaviour, by taking off his glasses he always wore. That would also sort of debunk the weak heart theory, because if Blair had poor eyesight, and the Thing doesn't need the glasses to see clearly, then it means the Thing doesn't replicate everything perfect, just the necessary appearance to look like its host externally.

[@mysteriousdoge1298]

@@ak_nora It was said in the sequal that was mantioned iin this video too that the thing can't replicate things like glasses.

[@ak_nora]

@@mysteriousdoge1298 it was after the fact, this lore was never explained nor shown in the 1982 movie, and was most likely not intended to be in.

[@mysteriousdoge1298]

@@ak_nora Even if that's true you have no idea if Blair see well or not without the glasses as the thiing cause it's not like you know how bad Blairs eyes were, it's not like you have to be completely bliind to wear glasses, maybe he just couldn't read letters properly without them but could walk and do things without any problems so the fact that he was able to kill someone without glasses does not debunk anything (you mantioned the weak heart theory)

[@Jackrazorus]

@@ak_nora Except Blair is still wearing glasses in the "noose" scene. The blood test pretty much happens right after that and once the blood tests are over, the Blair is the only thing left. Which means when MacReady goes check on Blair and sees the noose, Blair had to be infected already.

[@fromgreattobrilliant922]

What I love about this film is when subtle things happen to indicate someone getting infected, it's not necessarily used with a close up. The subtlest of objects that could possibly be spreading the infection are shown in wide angles and not event in the forefront of the frame. The audience is focused on something else in the frame and not even looking at the subtle objects. That makes it more interesting and realistic (in terms of a spreading infection, of course).

[@jdiegoskinny]

your “who did what” series make it way more fun to go back and rewatch these movies! keep up the great work! :)

[@ZackCherry]

thank you 🙏

[@diegod7936]

Bro give me my name back

[@jacksonkent69]

@@ZackCherry Wait John Carpenter himself said that someone was infected at the end. Right? Or am I just imagining this? BTW love your who did what.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

@@jacksonkent69 Carpenter has said a lot of things. He has said that multiple pieces of media regarding the thing are canon, he's gone back on that to say they're not, he's said a lot of contradictory statements because the point of the movie is that it's vague. You decide what happened. Your head canon is what counts

[@who2807]

I did not do what

[@VorticieFilms]

I’m absolutely floored you didn’t talk about the most GLARING problem in the movie: the tainted blood test. They used the same scalpel to cut open their fingers without even properly washing/cleaning it. Windows wiped it on his pants, but that was it. That could really open up a can of worms….or, tentacles.

[@01What10]

I've always thought about this. In the book, they point out that after each cut they would sterilize the scalpel. They DEFINITELY don't do that in the movie!

[@sadplatinum6786]

I think a sequel comic even makes reference to this with Mac recommending the blood test to a new group of potentially infected people, only for one of them to point out the blood test’s main flaw (sharing the scalpel) as a way of explaining why they don’t do that

[@VorticieFilms]

@@01What10 They totally should have!!

[@VorticieFilms]

@@sadplatinum6786 That’s interesting, I didn’t even know there was a comic. Glad others noticed this though!!

[@Chuck_EL]

​@@VorticieFilms technically we only see McCready, Nauls and Windows using the scalpel everyone else got the the blood taken out through needles in the tv version

[@kevint1719]

The novelisation by Alan Dean Foster, which is based on an earlier draft of the screenplay than the shooting script, has a different and interesting take. In the book The Thing transfers its consciousness from the dog into Blair quite early in the story and the other people it infects are just puppets designed to distract the humans while Blair / The Thing builds its escape craft.

[@ChickBalboa]

Alan Dean Foster is the *man* when it comes to sci-fi novelizations.

[@justvin7214]

I found that book soon after seeing the film for the first time and really enjoyed it.

[@angewomon143]

So are u suggesting when Blair is chopping away at the electronics he is actually looking for parts that will get him off of the ground and into space?

[@mecurian485]

I think Blaire was infected quite early, and he was aware of what was happening to him. The cellular computer model he was looking at was his own. He didn't tell anyone because he was afraid.

[@techelitesareadisease8816]

Kind of interesting to think the Thing is just trying to gtfo and couldn't care less about Earth's population.

[@emdogg6439]

This is my all time fav horror movie and I can’t believe I missed the implications of the dog-thing licking Benning’s face, excellent catch, dude

[@baileykellogg9140]

Same here man, knew every other thing he said but I never caught on to that.

[@GP.Records]

That part has no bearing, because Bennings gets infected in a direct and obvious manner. I think it's simply the "dog actor" legitimately licking the Bennings actor irl. Like without thinking cause obviously the dog doesn't realize it's in a movie 🤣 there would also be no need for Bennings to be infected here, given that we saw it happen later. You dont need to assimilate someone who is "already infected"

[@emdogg6439]

@@GP.Records Good point, I was responding to the observation the guy who made this video brought up. You are totally correct about how Bennings couldn't have got infected through a dog lick due to the split-face thing assimilating him later on. It could be possible that the lick just introduced a little part of the Thing in his system, but maybe not enough to finish the job like the hentai hug he got later on did. Just of theory I guess but it's fun to think of different scenarios regarding this movie.

[@martinsorenson1055]

@@emdogg6439 It doesn't make sense to me since they establish the Thing will only assimilate when it is alone with someone... and there is the dog with all those guys surrounding him, trying to lick Bennings.

[@Chuck_EL]

​@@martinsorenson1055 i think it's the thing trying to seem like a "good" dog

[@martinsorenson1055]

The tearing of the clothes is something I think the screenwriters didn't thoroughly think through - they wanted it to establish mystery as well as paranoia. They wanted to give everyone a reason to turn against MacReady at that point in the story while also giving us a sense of unease as with the longjohns. They kind of drop that whole premise in the second half of the script, as with Windows and Garry.

[@BadCompanyGeneral]

Neither of them had fully assimilated though. Windows had just been infected and was burned before he could burst and same goes for Garry. He as being assimilated off screen and we only see him being dragged away by Blair-Thing, as Blair-Thing is infecting him.

[@stoopybutt1085]

I know you comment is a year old by I figured I should still explain why Windows and Garrys clothes aren't torn up after they're infected and the answer is pretty clear, its because they're not assimilated with no one else around. When the kennel thing is absorbing the other dogs, it uses tentacles to bring the dogs in and absorbs them but when done to humans, the tentacles shred through the person's clothes. When Palmer thing is revealed, he doesn't try to abosrb anyone which means no tentacles come out (besides one which grabs onto Windows) which means that no clothes are going to be shredded. When Blair thing attacks Garry, he is technically alone but 100% within proximity of Mac and Nauls to yell out to them if Blair thing simplified revelaed itself and went for the abosrb tactic rather than the fuse tactic which yet again needs no tentacles to come out and shred any clothes. Let me break it down. Infection through being aborbed- Thing unleashes tentacles which grabs onto the victum and shreds there clothes (Norris, Plamer, Bennings, and the dogs die this way) Infection through DNA- Blood or salava is tranferred from the thing to a victum which requires no tentacles which means no clothes are to be shredded (Blair and Windows die this way) Infection through fusing- The thing simply attaches itself to a victum which fuses the two together into one mass (Blair, Garry, Nauls, and splitface are all products of this) Now I may have read your comment wrong and you perfectly understand all this and were just simply wishing that the second half of the movie continued to have more mystery around the long john paranoia, but since you claim that the writers didn't thoroughly think through the long johns being torn up, I'm just going to assume you didn't understand why Windows and Garry's long johns weren't torn up.

[@martinsorenson1055]

@@stoopybutt1085 You put a lot more thought into this than I certainly had! I was just commenting based on a quick conversation I had with the writer of the film back in 1985 or so. That always stuck with me.

[@zachmcnamara4376]

Fun Fact: MacReady is right to call the computer a "cheating bitch" When you see the moves laid out on the chess board, that wasn't a checkmate. MacReady was in a very shitty spot, piece-wise but he definitely wasn't in checkmate

[@tenzek4635]

It was a forced checkmate in 2, with black playing Qh4 and forcing white to block with Qh2. Black's bishop is hitting h2, so queen takes queen is mate.

[@obd3256]

LoL MacReady called the computer a Cheap Bitch, not a cheating bitch.

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

Did something similar happen with HAL in 2001?

[@balls_down_ya_throat456]

How come Mac never tells the guys about Fuchs data about eating from their own meals? Then at the end he gives Child’s the bottle to drink?

[@alejandrobernal9200]

@@balls_down_ya_throat456 Well he figures that there’s no way a Thing Childs would even approach him. Remember the reason Thing Blair cuts the power is that it wants to freeze and wait for the rescue team in spring. It would have no reason to approach a dead man walking.

[@NexusProductions-rz1sv]

Dick Warlock is the absolute greatest name to ever exist.

[@Spencer3712]

Most people upon hearing it would assume it’s a porn name.

[@fumanpoo4725]

You never met Dirk Diggler...

[@NexusProductions-rz1sv]

@@fumanpoo4725 That's not even a seventh as cool you damned fool!

[@erikhesjedal3569]

The German metal band Accept has a vocalist named Udo Dirkschneider. That's high up there too

[@NexusProductions-rz1sv]

@@erikhesjedal3569 is that a German pun my uneducated English ass doesn't get?

[@jessehutchings]

I could barely keep up with all the crazy tricks and twists of this movie. It's a total masterpiece of cinema. Great science fiction film, great horror, great murder mystery, great action movie, great use of an animal actor, amazing practical effects, the list just goes on and on .. it does everything.

[@KlLLER6]

finally someone talks about the insanely good performance of that Husky. Always gives me chills watching that dog walk around or look out of that window with that dead stare. He definitely earned the sausage he was looking at

[@Phoebe5448]

​@KlLLER6 I think in the commentary the husky they used was a wolf hybrid and his wolf instincts made him more unnerving and intelligent. Cute doggo.

[@L.Reeves]

And then the 2012 version is the cinematic equivalent of 2 hours of fart noises

[@Xplainn93]

My order: - Lars’s dog (as proven by the ending of The Thing 2011) - Norris - Palmer - Bennings - Blaire - Windows - Garry - Nauls If the video game is taken as canon, Childs isn’t The Thing and MacReady is still human (or at least we think). If the comics are taken as canon, Childs is The Thing and MacReady is still human.

[@haroldgage7347]

Well in the comics he only becomes the thing at the end of the second comic

[@Xplainn93]

@@haroldgage7347 Good point, but since The Thing will remain inactive around a group of people unless threatened, it could be likely that Childs could’ve been assimilated already. Then again, one of the cleanup dudes turned into The Thing just after touching one of the corpses, so you never know.

[@haroldgage7347]

@@Xplainn93 yeah i think the thing assimilated him just before the submarine blew up

[@Xplainn93]

@@haroldgage7347 Same.

[@yunglink992]

@@Xplainn93 I haven't read the comics, but if Macready and Childs were alone at the end and he was a thing, then he probably would've just assimilated him immediately. Also, I think for the purpose of discussing just the standalone movie spinoffs shouldn't really pervade the discussion, the work should be looked at as a standalone, since it wasn't created with the spinoffs in mind.

[@peterdanior4538]

I think they were both human at the end & people arguing about whether they were Things or not is just an extension of the paranoia atmosphere the movie was going for. You aren't supposed to trust anybody, so even with the Thing dead, but the paranoia surviving, is the perfect ending for the movie. Also you can't use any character "mistakes" as evidence as they are freezing in the snow & quite sure they will die, so like you said, they probably stopped caring.

[@michelleponzio]

The issue with that is the fact that Carpenter has stated one of them is the Thing.

[@cl8804]

Given his behavior, I think that it's incredibly illogical for Childs not to be infected.

[@peterdanior4538]

@@cl8804 What behavior exactly?

[@wongyikai2126]

@@peterdanior4538 well, they were told not to share food or drinks and to prepare their own meals. Yet at the end of the scene, childs readily accepts the bottle from mcready and even drinks from it, lips touching the bottle, everything. Not only that, he seemed so unfazed by the giant fire engulfing the camp and gave a half-hearted answer “thought I saw Blair” when asked where he went. The casual drinking from Mcready’s bottle is a huge red flag to me that he’s definitely assimilated. He already questioned and doubted Mcready so much since the beginning, why suddenly trust him now to accept the drink offer? The real Childs would’ve rejected Mcready’s drink offer because he’d have still been paranoid about the whole situation. The earring theory doesn’t hold up anymore because in the prequel, Carter thing got found out due to his wrong placement of the earring. Since The thing gathers memories from its past hosts, i assume the thing learnt from its mistakes and took note of child’s earring location, placing it back on its ear to avoid detection.

[@peterdanior4538]

@@wongyikai2126 But at this point he would also know that he is going to freeze to death, so would not taking the drink have changed the outcome?

[@pinstripe4254]

For some reason it’s never occurred to me that multiple people can be infected. I thought it was all one organism. I guess it makes sense considering they literally describe it as an infection

[@casualwoomy]

This movie is the reason why I always keep a flamethrower on my person 24/7

[@joethekinghawk7514]

I dont blame you, but like childs said, " you'll have to go to sleep sometime".

[@whoalookout8578]

I don't feel like Norris was hurting from his weak heart, I feel like he was slowly being assimilated, whether he was aware or not. Of course that's just my opinion.

[@whoalookout8578]

@hanako5ever Yeah, but it's okay he was making a new one

[@DrGandW]

@hanako5ever I don’t know whether it’s reasonable to say slow assimilation puts any stress on the body, since it happens on a cellular level and the Thing cells just pick up where the old cell left off. I guess it’s possible that Thing cells failed to communicate properly with the still human cells to cause the heart attack.

[@fuckTrump-v7j]

Gotta disagree. The reason he had a heart attack was because the creature imitates its host so well it actually duplicated Norris's naturally weakened heart.

[@whoalookout8578]

@@fuckTrump-v7j All good to disagree, man. The reason I stated this and kept it as my opinion is; 1: no one has really said Norris has a naturally weakened heart, it's just him wincing in a pain a couple of times before dying. I think it's just the likely assumption because we as humans associate that with signs of a heart attack. Only, Norris wasn't human in those moments. 2: We have never seen the exact moment when complete assimilation occurs. Or maybe we did with Norris? I'm certainly not saying I'm right, but you can see how I thought it could be a plausible theory.

[@fuzzybuddybay]

Yeah I always felt like he was being turned slowly. I don't remember anyone including him saying anything about having a bad heart. I mean why would he be in the most remote place in earth if he's got a bad heart ?

[@detpak]

I've always seen the ending as Childs and MacReady both survived, and had an unknown ending. If Childs were the Thing, and walked up on MacReady at the end knowing an enemy was still alive,why didn't it attempt to assimilate him, or even roast him, he did the advantage in both cases, he was holding the flame thrower and McReady was weaponless.

[@nibiru2026]

Considering the thing's game from 2002 which john carpenter himself said it was canon childs died due to the cold which means he wasn't a thing as Mac lived and even helped our character

[@MichaelJordanGoat2324]

Mac had a flamethrower hidden in his jacket in the original script. Childs didn’t attack him because he knew it was over for Mac. If he revealed himself they’re would be chance for Mac to kill him. He instead waited it out while Mac Freezed to death because he was human. “The fire has the camp warm right now, that won’t last for long though” - Childs

[@nemtudom5074]

The good thing about John Carpenter's style, is that it gives you enough information to tell who's infected in the current scene, but not enough for you to know when they got infected, how, and who are about to be infected next Its awesome

[@SandyofCthulhu]

If the Thing could easily infect with a drop of saliva or blood, I think it is highly unlikely all the rest of the movie would have happened the same way. It would just have wiped some tiny bits of living snot here and there and gotten everyone. As you point out, no one in the film gets infected this way, so while no doubt it's possible, it seems really unlikely - perhaps it has such a limited success rate that the Thing avoids it except as a last resort. Also the assumption that Blair wasn't forcibly taken is based on the idea that Blair only has one set of long johns, which seems doubtful. Also the computer simulation calls the infected images "cells" but they are clearly intended to be complete beings - dog, human, etc.

[@AwesomeMooseSmile]

Something I realized about Blair is that he always has his glasses on throughout the movie except for the finale, which is the only time we know for a fact that hes assimilated, so that gave me a theory that he doesn't need glasses when assimilated, so he could have been assimilated via contaminated food we see him eating, and maybe he was asking to be let back in because he realized he's vulnerable to be attacked without anyone realizing. Then again, Palmer and Norris were both accounted for when they were trying to find Fuchs so they couldn't have unlocked the door, and it must have taken a long time to build the underground area and ship so IDK.

[@guyverjay1289]

Problem with your theory is that thing replicates a person right down to their genetic defects hence why Norris thing still has a dodgy heart. So blair things eye sight would be the same as human blair

[@counterfeit1148]

​@@guyverjay1289 But it clearly can modify itself

[@collinbelshee3141]

I don’t think Blaire touched the carcass with the eraser, simply because if you look closely, the eraser seemingly hovers, rather than actually touch it with the eraser.

[@jonathangrafton4016]

He touched it on accident.

[@lulubelle0318]

If the eraser did make contact, the shadow wouldn't be as noticeable as it was.

[@ForeverLaxx]

Even if it did touch, it was an error the actor made. You just have to pretend it didn't happen because it wasn't supposed to.

[@macabweu7682]

Exactly, it doesn't come into contact. Just by looking at it.

[@macabweu7682]

@@jonathangrafton4016 He didn't though, the carcass is not touched.

[@MariusRiley]

: If Split-Face could have been still viable/alive enough to infect again after being burned and frozen, then the Kennel-Thing could've been viable/alive enough to infect again. The Kennel-Thing was torched and quickly hit with fire extinguishers, and so it's distinctly possible/likely that its tissues deeper within, the stuff that Blair was reaching into, was heated but not cooked/killed. Just a thought.

[@RaKeLN.]

I agree, if I remember correctly, Split-Face is the one that assimilated Bennings in the storeroom.

[@steveclem7873]

KeysNilMuvafukaJurmo!

[@MattFreemanPhD]

Yes. The “mystery” of Blair’s assimilation is that he was infected by working with the Kennel-Thing but it’s just … very slow-acting.

[@jamienorrell8787]

Agreed. All it takes is one cell. Just one. And it finds a small nick anywhere? Done.

[@satellizard346]

I also think it's important to note that it's implied in some texts that someone who's been assimilated might not even realize they're a thing. So as for Blaire and Norris being infected early on, they probably still act mostly normal because the thing hasn't fully taken over yet, or even because the imitation is so perfect that it thinks it's human.

[@dragonballradiant2744]

I don’t think he offered Childs the drink because it was gasoline. I think he was doing what he did with the Computer at the start. I think Childs would no alcohol is a source of infection, so when he drinks the alcohol Macready smiles because he failed his test

[@FireKobra]

the Thing would refuse if Childs would refuse. The Thing doesn't delete the personality

[@FireKobra]

@Xavier The Great what?

[@FireKobra]

@Xavier The Great It changes a little bit, but don't delete it. It kills for obvious reasons. You eliminate an potential opponent to survive which is the main goal of the thing. Divide and conquer.

[@potatoabunai5868]

@@FireKobra the thing has shown to be able to make mistake while trying to copy the host’s personality in the sequel when it wears the earing on the wrong side, cuz there is a hidden meaning behind which side you are wearing the earing, so if the thing can perfectly copy the host’s personality it will surely know which side to wear the earing. We can assume that the thing can study people behavior but it can’t remember every single detail in the host’s life since it will be a huge amount of useless info to remember

[@nativepredator8803]

@Xavier The Great it never kills at random it kills to survive. Never in the movie did it kill just to kill

[@lml6791]

I read somewhere that Carpenter was forced to write a "happy" ending where MacReady is saved by incoming personal and is revealed human via the blood test. To my knowledge, Childs wasn't in this scene with the insinuation being that MacReady burned him out of paranoia. While this ending was (thankfully) dropped, it adds an extra dark element about MacReady never really being able to trust anyone again. I do prefer the theatrical ending but this does give it an interesting angle to look at the ending to one of the greatest horror films ever.

[@akaiyoru2681]

Happy ending is not always the most fitting ending

[@jedibensilvr5078]

I think that's what makes the ending so special. The MacReady we see throughout the rest of the movie definitely would have killed Childs without question. However, it is his human fear of dying alone that makes him choose to trust Childs and give him a drink. To him, it doesn't matter if he is the Thing or not. Whatever he is, it beats dying alone.

[@bokboonetwothreeeightfive2295]

If you take the final scene and imagine that the two characters are both Things at this point, it makes a lot of sense. At first it's like they're testing eachother to see if either are still human, then childs asks macreedy what to do next and macreedy says, "why don't we wait here and see what happens". I feel like he's suggesting that they wait to be frozen so that their bodies can be discovered at a later date as there is nothing more they can do now. The Thing was frozen in ice before the events of the movie so maybe it's deciding to freeze again and have a second chance at assimilating mankind.

[@toothysmile5614]

if childs was infected then he would have never returned to see anything. if the thing wanted to freeze it would have been out in the snow

[@jedibensilvr5078]

That goes against everything I every thought about the ending, but I do have to say that's a fucking killer ending. The way you explain it makes a lot of sense.

[@GOPA90]

If we apply Chekov's Gun theory, there is considerable circumstancial evidence pointing that Childs is a Thing at the end. 1) The chess computer in the beginning of the movie that cheated to win the chess game and Macready's response of pouring scotch into "the cheating bitch" perfectly presages an ending where MacReady "pours" scotch into his conquering antagonist. If Childs is not a Thing, the inclusion of the chess computer scene makes less sense. 2) The scene of Childs nodding off on watch before MacReady startles him was filmed for a reason. It strongly suggests he is not as alert as he should be and the consequences are implied shortly afterwards with .... 3) ...the pan shot from the generator room to the open door by Child's guard post. This shows us several things. A) Childs is gone from his post. B) The generator room is nearby, and as we learn later Blair is in the generator room so we can deduce he could have surprised Childs in his exhausted state, and... C) ...the door is wide open. In 40 below plus temperatures, this suggests something is not quite right. 4) We see through Naul's eyes Childs running into a 40 below blizzard alone after what he claims is The Thing. We do not see anyone but Childs, and we are left with the curious juxtaposition of his explanation against his reaction earlier in the movie when he refused to let MacReady in despite several people backing him up. A few seconds later... 5) ...the generator goes out. Unless Childs was hallucinating this is a very strong indicator the explanation Childs later offers of running after Blair is a lie. 6) The assimilation of Gary shows us the Thing is adapting and that it could have easily assimilated Childs without destroying his clothes. 7) When MacReady offers Childs the bottle of JB scotch and Childs accepts, the admonition of Fuchs against sharing food/drink comes to mind. The most likely interpretation of Macready's chuckle seems to be that he suspects Childs failed his test. 8) Ennio Morricone's theme music for the Thing that is used throughout the movie for scenes with the Thing kicks in just as Childs drinks the scotch. 9) John Carpenter has stated one of the two survivors at the end was a Thing. Now I've heard plenty of alternative explanations for many of these points, and they are to be sure, in isolation, perfectly plausible. But taking the points above as a whole, and remembering the Chekov's Gun principle, it is hard to conclude anything other than Childs is a Thing at the end of the movie.

[@damjanp7920]

A very "pleasent" read. Sorry, I had to Jokes aside, I agree with your conclusion

[@malepatternbaldness.]

Yeah I actually really like these points. Most of the others I've seen that point to Childs being a thing include things like his breath isn't as foggy as Mac's in the final scene or the drink that Mac gives him may actually be a molotov cocktail or something equally as indigestible. And those are both fine and good but your points are far more convincing imo bc they draw more on the plot and have actual set up. Great comment dude.

[@acey6991]

although this is great, i think canonically they are both human at the end.

[@malepatternbaldness.]

@@acey6991 I mean, Carpenter did say that one of the two was a thing...

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen4737]

It really doesn’t matter imo he did it to get people talking he probably didn’t know himself if child’s was a thing or not he’s not really going to confirm it either way anyways

[@bishonenprincess4360]

I've always believed that the saliva theory was just that... an unconfirmed theory. That added with the fact that the actors have confirmed that certain scenes where they come in contact with something in their mouth (such as the pencil scene with Blair) were unintentional makes it too iffy of a theory to have a definite belief on how exactly the time line occurred. I think at the end of the day, we're not meant to know. We can figure out part of the puzzle, but there are intentionally pieces left missing or distorted.

[@chadnorris8257]

I always assumed he got infected when he dug his hands through Split Face, who we later learn was still active. And he just acted normally for a long time until he could get a vehicle running to leave the place. I guess a sabotaged meal would make sense too.

[@squampton]

So you're saying that saliva from a bottle could transmit the infection, but the body of a dead 'thing' cannot? Would that mean that saliva is only contagious while the 'thing' is still alive? Seems flimsy. Great video though!

[@SpecsWitched]

Gonna say a entity is a hive mind, and the saliva upon being seperated is a new entity made temporarily until it dies out of age or temperature, that's why a dead thing can't infect but saliva can.

[@Hubert_Cumberdale_]

They way I have always understood it is that unless it's burned to ash parts of it is still alive.

[@InarusLynx]

I think this is feasible as how Blair eventually becomes the thing. If it's spreading like a virus then that explains how he would have been infected early in his imprisonment. Him eating contaminated food would have taken a while to spread throughout his body even with exponential growth.

[@Dravianpn02]

Fuchs tells Macready that blair found out the cells weren't dead yet. That was AFTER the eraser mouth scene and right before Blair loses it.

[@InarusLynx]

@@Dravianpn02 the only thing that doesn't make sense is why he wouldn't say something because he should have realize he's already dead because it's in him.

[@minepine23]

I love the practical effects, and this is also just an extremely dreadful movie that blankets you with a sense of hopelessness, I love it so much

[@casesoutherland4175]

21:59 I've had that exact same theory the whole time and I firmly believe that Childs is human at the end because of it! The real threat at the end of the movie is the oncoming hypothermia that the two men will succumb to if rescue doesn't arrive.

[@TheNoble117]

I know he didn’t mention any of the tie in media, but the 2005 videogame sequel has childs die by freezing to death as a human.

[@Hibernicus1968]

I used to think that the Norris Thing was an example of the third type of assimilation mentioned here: infection by a small particle of the Thing's tissue, that would gradually convert the host from within. I figured Norris had been exposed at some point, and his collapse occurred when a critical mass of his body had been assimilated, that the assimilation was still continuing (at a geometric rate -- i.e. it proceeds faster and faster as more of his body is converted into alien Thing cells), and by the time Copper tries to use the defibrilator on him, his body is completely or almost completely converted, and he's just playing dead at that point. Then I realized that that explanation doesn't work. The reason it doesn't, is that if it did, there is _no reason whatever_ for the Thing to risk violent attack and assimilation the way we saw it do over and over again. After all, violent assimilation is risky: it attracts attention from the other humans, and they intervene to destroy the Thing each time. They burned the dog Thing, the Bennings Thing, The Norris Thing, the Palmer Thing, the Windows Thing -- the Thing was never able to complete an assimilation that way before it was attacked and destroyed (though not completely destroyed of course, as some other part of the Thing always survived to try again on another victim). We can assume that the same thing happened at the Norwegian base, because the dog Thing fled from a destroyed base full of dead people it had _not_ successfully assimilated. (The real reason Norris collapsed, I have read, is that the Thing does indeed replicate a victim perfectly -- so perfectly in this case that it replicated Norris' heart disease and in his human form, had a heart attack. Though not really being human, the Thing didn't die from this the way a human would.) So if gradual assimilation is a viable option, why would it keep trying again and again -- and failing again and again -- to attack victim and assimilate them violently? The answer can only be because it is _not_ a viable option. This doesn't mean that the Thing cannot assimilate people that way. It probably can. It just means that it cannot possibly do it in a short enough time frame for it to be a viable method -- in other words, such a slow, gradual assimilation would take so long that the victim can't conceivably stay isolated from other people long enough for them not to notice what is happening. The one possible exception to this though could be Blair. As noted in the video, he can bee seen prodding the half-burnt Thing carcass with a pencil he is holding, and then absent-mindedly touching the pencil to his lips as he ponders things and explains his findings to the rest of the base personnel. In the video, it's stated that he couldn't have been infected here, since the Thing was dead. But I will cautiously suggest that maybe that's not so. _Maybe_ they put it out too soon with the fire extinguishers, and some of that biomass is still alive. Remember, every individual cell of the Thing is independently alive. This is why MacCready's test worked, and blood drained from the assimilated Palmer reacted to the hot needle. The split-face thing brought back from the Norwegian base appeared dead, but clearly wasn't, at least not completely. _Some_ of it though, _must_ have been -- attacked by the Norwegians and left for dead while they were trying to destroy the Thing. If the split-face Thing had been capable of crawling away, how did it wind up frozen to be found by the US crew? It'd posit that unless the Thing is completely charred black, there are probably cells throughout the remains that escaped the flames and are still alive. So it just might be possible that Blair _was_ infected at that point, and then, before he realizes what is happening to him, he destroys the chopper, the radio, the snowplow, and the dogs, to try and prevent anyone getting out -- he realizes that if the Thing escapes to a populated area, it would become completely unstoppable and would eventually make humans extinct. Not realizing what Blair is trying to do, and thinking he's just gone nuts, the rest of the base crew lock Blair up in an outbuilding, and in doing so, _may_ have created the conditions that would allow a gradual assimilation to take place the one and only way it could happen without them noticing. But it's also possible that Blair was violently assimilated while he was locked up. I wouldn't attach too much importance to him still wearing his long johns, and say that proves he was gradually assimilated -- the Thing would obviously get dressed after assimilating someone, and _everybody_ owns multiple sets of underwear. No one wears the same ones all the time, so it could simply be a clean pair he put on.

[@Dorsidwarf]

Its a good theory, but if we're going by what was intended, the actor for Blair says that wasn't screen directed or intended, its just what he naturally does with a pencil

[@mistersparkles1842]

100% agreed- if the thing could assimilate through gradual assimilation it would literally NEVER need to actively assimilate. It ruins the movie- it makes the thing either very stupid, or complicates the assimilation mechanism to gobbledygook

[@TheBestAround131]

@@mistersparkles1842 Also agree - my guess is that it's entirely possible the cells of other organisms can actually fight off the infection fairly well, requiring the Thing to swarm the cells via a violent assimilation to guarantee total assimilation. That being said, I understand why everybody chose to eat out of cans - better safe than sorry.

[@Chuck_EL]

​@@Dorsidwarf and Norris had a heart condition that the thing also got it's why the doc is using a defibrillator on the Norris thing

[@ZaptheZombie]

Really liked this video, and agreed with almost everything, but one thing I’m kinda surprised he didn’t bring up, especially with Chekhov’s Gun, is that when we first meet Mac, he loses the chess match against the computer and goes pours his drink into the computer, and at the end him giving Childs the drink is the same thing. He’s giving a drink to this inhuman thing that just beat him

[@uyeah1234]

That's a bit of a stretch.

[@CottonCandySharks]

I like that!

[@Jackrazorus]

Well, except he also gives drink to Bennings right at the beggining when he is shot and later to Blair so I think its just MacReady giving drinks left and right.

[@dansnow1951]

One thing never mentioned as well, the dog thing was wandering around camp all day unchecked, it could have licked anyone or anything to infect someone, like say under a poker table or a certain bowl that palmer smoked when he got back from going to the ship. Even the silhouette could have been infected by a lick instead if outright attack. If you look at Norris in pain would show a slow infection take over and the heart attack was where he was finally consumed.

[@shainewhite2781]

THE BEST SCI-FI HORROR FILM EVER MADE!

[@dominicabbs2439]

Agreed I love this movie

[@deactivatedperson3759]

I like the 86 fly a tad bit more but this is a close 2nd

[@dawnderhenker]

yes, but don ´t forget Alien ;)

[@thetruth4196]

A tie with "event horizon "

[@steveclem7873]

zonk

[@TheIcelandicBoy]

I personally think its not unlikely that Blair went through a "slow assimilation" but not just because of the pencil thing. Remember, he did an autopsy on The Thing twice, his hands were deep in the body. Yes, he was wearing gloves but that was the only protective gear he had on, there was only exposed skin where the gloves ended and where he had pulled his shirt sleeves up to his elbow area. One could argue it was enough to start a slow assimilation that ended when Blair was locked up in the shed. As for Norris, that he had a weak heart is something I have not considered, maybe because it was never mentioned in the movie but he was overweight, so....subtlety there? It does feel a bit dumb that The Thing copied him so perfectly that it included his weak heart, as it soon demonstrates it does not need a heart when its Norris head detaches from the body. If I had to make a choice, I'd say Norris also went through a slow assimilation after getting splattered by The Thing's goo when they shot It in the dog kennel (as they shoot it and we see blood and stuff blown about there is a brief cut of Norris, staring with his mouth open. We don't actually see any of it land on him but I always felt that was a deliberate shot by Carpenter) but due to Norris' weight and immense stress he was already going through at the time, could easily be what caused the heart attack and The Thing quickly took over the whole body.

[@gabe2135]

in the novel, that's actually exactly what happened. the thing copied his weak heart.

[@TheIcelandicBoy]

@@gabe2135 And since It had never done that before, most likely did not recognize it as a weak heart. Makes sense, that thought had occured to me, thanks!

[@martinsorenson1055]

You have to take into consideration that a lot of the theories being made are based on 40 years of fans thinking about it. The screenplay was written without these details in mind and Carpenter most likely didn't add in these details. For example, it's not in the screenplay that Blair touches the eraser to his lips. Carpenter didn't, on set, suddenly think, "Wilford, touch that eraser to your lips; that way people will think that's how you started becoming assimilated!" A lot of the theories weren't thought through to this extent. I know it's hard to admit to oneself. But it's true.

[@timreeves8937]

Exactly, some films you can analyze as to see if the filmmaker left some kind of breadcrumbs to analyze where the plot can be taken apart and then factually "make sense". This movie was not interested really in those kind of details and was way more about gross body horror mashed with sci fi. Trying to logically think about a movie where the filmmaker never intended it to be thought of in that way is a waste of time. It can be a fun waste of time, but it is a waste of time.

[@raphaelcolella1983]

I love the idea of the scotch test being about food sharing and not gasoline. It's a really clever and simple explanation to counter a theory I never felt made sense.

[@haidynwendlandt2479]

I personally think that the test was that if Childs DID drink the scotch it showed he was human. My reasoning is that the Thing was always looking for two things: to hide and to survive. The Thing would have seen the offering of the scotch as breaking a rule that MacReady set, therefore showing himself to MacReady because he was doing something a crew member shouldn't do and potentially encouraging a final attack from MacReady.

[@BigMikeMcBastard]

There would be no real reason for the Thing to conceal itself from MacReady at this point. Mac had no weapons that could harm it anymore.

[@marley7868]

@@BigMikeMcBastardthat it knew off he very easily could have had a holdout weapon

[@cornfield3034]

@@marley7868 the thing is intelligent enough to know that any weapon he might be hiding won’t be enough. It knows it’s won, so it’s playing with its prey, and Mac just goes along with it because dying with a monster is better than dying alone

[@marley7868]

@@cornfield3034 that's your read I see it as a lull beffore the final blow that's hidden plus he still has explosives and maybe a flame thrower hidden there it aint cut and dry

[@KingBluebonnet]

@@marley7868 In the book McCready does have a flamethrower primed and ready under the blanket.

[@enenra6417]

I don't believe Blair burned Fuchs but instead Fuchs burned himself after being confronted by Palmer-Thing outside. This is further supported by the shadow that passes by Fuchs being tall and skinny and why would Blair go inside the base if he could just continue to build his ship and wait for Palmer and Norris to kill or assimilate the rest. Also Blair-Thing itself said it heard funny noises outside

[@teksnotdead902]

This is always a great movie to revisit. I always felt like Child’s was a thing in the end. Not because of him taking the drink or lack of gleam or breath...I just think the interaction earlier where he takes off into the snowy tundra stumbling leaving the door to the camp open, moments before we know Blair is in the generator room, doesn’t add up to him being honest there.At the very least I feel he’d have turned back when the lights went out, putting two and two together that the thing was in the generator room.

[@GOPA90]

Not to mention earlier in the movie he was adamant about not opening the door when he had backup. Now he runs solo after Blair? Doesn't add up.

[@jtbrah6995]

To be fair, when the lights went out he truly could’ve gotten lost if he wasn’t near a guideline because there was no light, a storm giving limited visibility, and no points of reference. I know it seems far fetched... But personally, I don’t believe Childs was a thing at the end. At this point in the movie the thing probably felt too threatened to risk attempting to assimilate victims, as seen when Blair just walked up and killed Gary and then Nauls. It didn’t want to risk taking the time and having the vulnerability whilst doing so. Assuming Childs WAS a thing, Blair did all of that while there were 2 things remaining... So in my opinion, if there was only one remaining, it would’ve recognized MacReady as a huge threat seeing as he killed all the other things and also came up with the idea for the test. I firmly believe Childs would’ve immediately torched MacReady upon approach seeing as Mac was unarmed yet still could be considered a massive threat. But also and possibly the most notable, Childs clothes looked like pretty much the exact same outfit as when he left to go out into the storm.

[@jtbrah6995]

@@jwhite-1471 Same here, they were willing to kill themselves essentially if it meant saving the world. Beautiful sacrifice, in a way.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

@@jtbrah6995 you are right, Both Childs and Mccready are human, they beat the thing from another world.

[@Nick-GR]

Norris empty stare at the fire burning the remains, while everyone else is listening to McReady talking, is another red flag that Norris was assimilated early on. Maybe he picked up the keys and messed up with the blood. Plus, in the end, regarding the bottle theory, McReady went to drink from the same bottle but was interrupted by Childs from behind him. He couldn't be bluffing since he couldn't see him.

[@Jackrazorus]

I think just the fact that Norris is present during the burning proves that he didnt sabotage the blood. As we know, this is the only time the keys were unaccounted for (because Windows dropped them). And the only people missing during the burning was Palmer, Clark and Blair. Clark was never infected and we are told earlier by Fuchs, that Blair locked himself up in his room. So it was either Palmer who sabotaged the Blood or it was Blair, but than that would mean Blair got infected much sooner than the video suggests.

[@NahBoiiiii]

Something I always thought was interesting was when Childs talks with Mac at the end he asks: “Are you the only one that made it?” Not ‘are we the only ones that made it?’ or some variation of that collective question. Now the question still makes sense even if childs was still human, but I think it does add a bit of credence to the idea of childs being a thing. The idea being that the thing wanted to verify that it was only it and Mac left so it wasn’t interrupted during any assimilation that might occur. That being said, it just shows how brilliantly done the ambiguous ending is. It makes one wonder why the question was framed in such a way without leaning too much in one way. Personally I think childs was a thing, and Mac knows (hence the chuckle) but I can also see how it’s possible that he isn’t. Such a captivating film.

[@kaijudude_]

I've noticed this movie has made a resurgence in public interest because of the popular game Among Us. Been seeing a lot of The Thing "first time watching" reaction vids.

[@jjcoola998]

K

[@kaijudude_]

@@jjcoola998 K what. Is that all you had to say is "k"?

[@kingstarscream320]

@@jjcoola998 He is right. I’m guessing you’re one of those Zoomer kiddos he spoke of?

[@whoalookout8578]

they are men of no culture.

[@wowgaming_lul716]

@@kaijudude_ dude all he said was k. No reason to bite his head off

[@cocacola4blood365]

I always figured Blair got infected sometime during handling the Thing's remains, and that his going crazy bit was an act to get the others to lock him up so he could build his craft while everyone else was playing guess who. I also thought the purpose of his makeshift saucer was to spray himself into the jet stream and let the winds carry him to all parts for simultaneous global infection. You'll notice when he's watching the computer tell him how many hours it would take for the Thing to geometrically assimilate the planet. Now is his reaction Blair "Jesus Christ this can't it out!" or Blair Thing "Jesus Christ this'll take too long." Also he could've been infected by the dog, as dogs shed and the Thing's tissue doesn't die when separated. And the dog Thing had the ability to spray fluid on the other dogs. Last, is the Thing an actual alien or an alien tool or weapon, designed to convert targeted planets?

[@Jackrazorus]

Two things support your theory (no pun intended). He tells MacReady to not trust Clark (who never was a thing), and the fact that Blair also destroyed all the communication when he went Berserk. The problem with that is, that if Blair was the Thing, he wouldnt give others such a thorough breakdown of how it actually infects others. He didnt have to tell them any of that, no quarantine would be implemented and he would be free to move wherever he wanted. Also if the goal was to get locked up, then shooting at Childs was really risky as he couldnt have known if others will not start shooting back.

[@cocacola4blood365]

@@Jackrazorus Good points, though there's how long between initial infection and full blown thinghood. Norris, for instance, was infected for some time but didn't become and actual imitation until after he croaked. Possibly his conversion may have been sped up to continue to keep the others off balance, which might have killed him (it was never revealed whether or not the Thing is able to program it's assimilator cells in advance, or control the process remotely to some degree or other). Blair's conversion might've been a slow process, with himself being influenced if not outright controlled. Blair might've still been mostly human when he described the assimilation process. He may have been half man-half thing when he smashed the comms (Thing agenda) but still human enough for panic induced irrational violent outbursts, ie him shooting at the others wildly (left to his own devices but ultimately serving the Thing's agenda). Clark might not have been a imitation, or maybe a dormant one. In addition to hair and skin cells, organic creatures also have pheromones; maybe the Thing had symbiotic airborne viruses for airborne infectivity. Outpost 31 wasn't exactly equipped for purposes of detecting airborne infections, hence a hure hole in it's defense. Here's a thought, maybe the dog shed genetic material that everyone came into contact with, and thus became infected, but only certain imitations were "activated" by pheromones or viral command, or just timed to manifest. In other words, it was already too late for everyone, but only a select few were meant to be exposed to maintain the doubt of who's real and who isn't to draw heat away from Blair's stealth bomber project, and serve as a test bed, providing psychological data on how to more efficiently carry out a larger scale assimilation while keeping the target population off balance. The Norwegian camp would've served this function as well, with Outpost 31 to further refine the technique, when you throw in that everyone's physiology is unique some testing might be in order. It's fun to speculate. And be grateful this is fictive (and hopefully stays such).

[@Jackrazorus]

@@cocacola4blood365 "In addition to hair and skin cells, organic creatures also have pheromones; maybe the Thing had symbiotic airborne viruses for airborne infectivity...." I dont think thats the case. Even if we ignore all the rules of writing/storytelling, if thats how the thing would work, it would have no reason to expose itself in the first place. It would just infect everyone and wait it out. Good point about the slow conversion, I suppose.

[@davidbutler8096]

Great vid Zack. Childs survived...and then 6 years later, changed his name to Frank, and was working construction with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in another John Carpenter winner, "They Live". Awesome analysis, you've got a new subscriber.

[@kevinjohnson7300]

The fact that Childs takes a drink off the bottle knowing how the thing spreads. That shows he did not really care because he is the thing. Thats my opinion thats why they start laughing afterwards

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Carpenter intentionally left it vague. There was no resolution ever planned for either Mac or Childs in the end, the question itself is moot because Thing-or-no, they’ll be dead in minutes. That’s the whole point of the grim affair. Fun to speculate, no doubt, but it misses the point.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

I mean, in that situation where you're exhausted, about to freeze to death, not knowing if you're gonna make it, I don't think you'd really give a shit about sharing a drink.

[@zackaryscoles6839]

They have no way out. I honestly don't think Childs was the thing. I just don't think he gave a shit anymore. I don't think macready did either.

[@matthewdiaz555]

Knowing that he drank it after knowing it spreads like that, seeing McReady laugh , yes my guy I 10000% agree with you that is how I know child had been assimilated

[@zackaryscoles6839]

@@matthewdiaz555 I don't believe he was I don't think either one of them gave a shit.

[@dpglounge4900]

I was this old when I found out that the dog trainer is adult stan from it 1990

[@Austin-oq3nr]

You just surprised me

[@Stormkrow280]

Clark?

[@SFforlife]

Holy shit he’s right.

[@Luiz-rt8eo]

I'm impressed by your deduction skills! I've been trying to solve this riddle forever and none of the content in the internet could explain is as logically as you could. Congrats for that!

[@jeffreyriley8742]

In the book, "Who Goes There?" the Things do acquire the thoughts and feelings of those they take over. The book goes into LONG detail about how this is possible. The writer's results? He does the best he can!

[@01What10]

Precisely, the crew suspects that the Thing must have some form of telepathy. Copying someone genetically is one thing, but being able to copy perfectly their personality, quirks, and habits is another thing entirely. Which the Thing can do. It follows that it must have some ability to imitate these things so perfectly.

[@only2genders02]

I had this movie on vhs long ago. And the song playing when Nauls is in the kitchen was "One Chain Don't Make No Prison". They changed it when I got it on DVD. Just fyi.

[@kiddkrool]

In the original theatrical release "Superstition" played, this was then changer for the vhs release because WB couldn't get the home video rights for the song, but when it came to dvd, the original version could be used again

[@tobyrightenger9748]

I like to think that Childs and McReady shared that drink because they finally trust eachother, and are glad they saved the world

[@dericjames2018]

That's a great ending

[@Novasky2007]

I like to think they would rather be assimilated than freeze slowly XD

[@ZackCherry]

Who infected whom? Tell me some new theories!

[@fabiangomez7853]

The organism from the thing is actually a descendant of pennywise from a universe it didn't know it created.

[@minepine23]

@@fabiangomez7853 Blair was assimilated while bennings was assimilated

[@the_sixxness]

I believe the molotov theory. Mac found the bottle. But realized it was a molotov before he drank it. He gives it to Childs as a test. Childs fails. Why do I believe this? This whole film is a game of Chess between Mac and The Thing. Mac slowly loses his teammates until The Thing has set up a no win situation for Mac. Despite this Mac moves the game into a stalemate. However opon seeing Childs he realizes he has lost the game. What did Mac do when he lost the game of Chess to the computer? He poured his drink into it. John Carpenter filmed a scene where Mac gets back to civilization that was never released. He thought it best to leave the ending ambiguous. However Mac is definitely holding something under that blanket. The End.

[@paulie.walnuts2838]

Considering early on Mac is informed not to share supplies and to prepare their own ? It's very plausible that Mac was the thing and gave child's the infected bottle, he laughs because he won? But the fact Mac just burned down the camp and blew up the thing , i guess it's very unlikely. Only way around that is if macready got infected himself from the same bottle

[@44excalibur]

I actually disagree with your theory that Norris was the first one assimilated. I've always assumed that it was Palmer for two reasons: One, Palmer was the only other helicopter pilot at the base besides MacReady, so it would make sense that the Thing would assimilate Palmer so that it could escape from the base to more populated areas given that MacReady had already left with Copper to go to the Norwegian base. However, its plans are interrupted when Blair wrecks the helicopter. When Gary offers Norris the opportunity to take over as leader of the base, Norris declines, and you'd think that the Thing would take the opportunity to become the leader. Two, Norris at one point suffers chest pains during the scene where Nauls has left MacReady behind in the snowstorm and cut the guideline back to the base. Norris later collapses after the fight with MacReady in the storage room, and later transforms into the Thing when Copper attempts to resuscitate him. Many people have theorized that Norris had a heart condition which the Thing replicated during assimilation, but this theory makes no sense. No one with a heart condition would pass the physical requirements necessary for a winter tour of duty in Antarctica, plus, the Thing would not suffer from any physical ailments its new host may have had as its cellular structure would be radically different. When Fuchs mentioned to MacReady that one tiny particle of the Thing can infect an entire organism and suggests that they only eat from cans, this implies that the chest pains that Norris was experiencing were the result of him having somehow ingested a particle of the Thing and it was slowly assimilating him from the inside while he was unaware of what was happening, just like what happened to Kane in Alien.

[@jakefollensbee]

Norris is being turned from the inside out. Fukes suggested they eat from cans for that reason. It keeps cutting to him clutching his chest and looking uneasy. When he dies of his "heart attack" is when hes fully assimilated. I've seen no one mention this. And I hope you do here

[@whoalookout8578]

Exactly my thought. To me it wasn't a weak heart, but him slowly succumbing to the assimilation.

[@DontWorryImNotImportant]

I love the concept of a horror movie like this where you don’t always know who the monsters could be

[@dianejackson7601]

Blaire also begins to have the same calm demeanor as the dog. he lets them lock him up so he could have privacy to build his ship knowing that there were others infected he could build his ship and leave once everyone was dead

[@Maesterful]

Yeah as far as I'm concerned he got infected when he put that autopsy pencil in his mouth, despite Carpenter saying it was a mistake on the actors part.

[@macabweu7682]

@@Maesterful But he never touched the corpse with the Autopsy Pencil. Look at the footage shown. The shadow very clearly depicts the pencil above the corpse. Like. I really am not sure how to better describe it then to just watch it.

[@etarver13]

Blair didn’t have a calm demeanor when MacReady and them were locking him up; he was disoriented just to act somewhat okay and preceded to kickstart the paranoia and distrust amongst the men by telling MacReady to watch Clark. He finally had a calm demeanor when MacReady and crew went to ask him if he seen Fuchs, but he was trying to convince MacReady to let him back inside while there was a noose in front of him. Sometimes I wonder if he did that to scare off MacReady because MacReady was looking disturbed asf in that whole interaction, who wouldn’t be lol.

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

@@Maesterful Can I get a citation from that because I just keep hearing "Carpenter said..." but I fon't even know what he said

[@Thomas-ll6hm]

The Thing doesn't exist. He was so hammered he started to hallucinate.

[@maxieboy1232]

If that’s true that would be the greatest plot twist of all time

[@jordansmith6959]

Lmao that's what I thought too! Watching this I realized that Childs and Palmer may have still been high from that colossal joint during the first dog transformation. "Damn I must be trippin, you seein this shit Palmer?" xD

[@sergiolaurencio7534]

That doesn't have sense. The 2011 show well that is an extraterrestrial organism.

[@phyrr2]

Been watching and analyzing The Thing for ages. This is the most complete (and analytical) breakdown I've seen so far that holistically binds the others together. And thank you for dispelling the other theories out there. While they are interesting, they scoff at basic logic in order to be interesting. Thank you :)

[@TEDREN-w7k]

@Zach Cherry. First off, thank you for the brilliant analysis of this movie, I have watched this movie several times and you picked up on clues I didn’t even notice from all my viewings.... aka the clothing continuity error with the coats in the vestibule... I always thought Childs was a thing the first time they showed the room after he was gone but never noticed that they show a brief glimpse in the room again when the men descended into the generator room. To that point thought, I still am unsure if Childs was indeed human at the end. The reason I say this stems from the way Blair assimilated Garry. From what we saw, the Thing technically could assimilate a victim without tearing their clothing because he went straight for Garry’s face and forced assimilation into Garry’s mouth. Further, if we view Norris’ reveal, the Thing is capable of splitting itself into separate organisms, thus our spider head thing. So with that in mind, I find it very plausible that Childs was still infected by Blair but via forced entry through his mouth. Further with the entry, I could foresee part of Blair splitting off inside Childs to make the assimilation process quicker. Thus, without any external struggle and everything occurring internally, this is why he still had the same coat which we could see proof of in the video thanks to your scrutiny of the jacket design. This also explains why Childs leaves the base shortly after the power goes out. Since the generator room was right under the vestibule and Blair clearly was in there to shut off the power, I feel there is a strong possibility Blair did get to Childs before the power went out. It was clear none of the men were sleeping, and when we first see Childs in the vestibule when Mac tells him that they were going to test Blair, Childs is drifting off ever so slightly. So In a state of pure exhaustion, Blair seized an opportunity to assimilate Childs through the mouth. The last thing about this scene, people may not understand why Childs would leave the base if he was human. The answer in my opinion is he was not human still. Assuming Blair had dialogue with Childs after the hypothetical assimilation took place in the vestibule, Blair thing may have told Childs to hide in the snow and freeze knowing that Blair thing may have been making an attempt to kill the last remaining humans. If this theory were true, it may seem odd then that Childs would check to see if there were any survivors, when he should just hide. But in a way, it makes sense he would check because one could assume the humans if any were left were severely weakened by the battle with Blair thing. Thus why I believe Childs asks Mac upon first finding him “were you the only one that made it.?” Counter theories would suggest why didn’t Childs just kill Mac to get it over and done with before the end of the movie? Well, knowing Mac’s weakened state and the fact that the camp was in ruins, the Thing at that point already knew it won and it would just need to freeze until a rescue team came along. There really was no real gain to assimilating Mac at that point. But then again, since the last scene we see in the movie is a shot of the burning camp before the end credits begin, whose to know at that point, Childs may have started assimilating Mac but we do not know that because we do not see the men again as the end credits began at that point. It’s one of the best mystery movies ever made. And I am glad the ending is as ambiguous as it is, because had it been clear cut in the script, people may not share their theories about this movie til this day!! Well to that I say, if that was in the script, then the ending would not be debated still to this day.... lol.

[@ACE2CATTACLIZZM]

Best explanation I've seen so far

[@rickyandreou]

Great breakdown. That said I still think given the utterly ambiguous nature of Childs' human status at the end (MacReady is pretty definitively human IMO) the logic established in the 2011 prequel of The Thing not being able to replicate inorganic material SHOULD be applied when determining whether or not Childs was a thing even if it wasn't something that was considered at the time. Apart from the earring which the Thing could have learned re-pierce, Childs also has a visible gold tooth which would present a new & more problematic issue for the Thing.

[@Klynch111]

I never even thought of the opening with the dog trying to infect Clark, I always just thought it was like a cry for help, and then how calm he was after, good spot that 👍

[@michaelbenitez539]

There are 3 things you might help me understand: 1. Clark is never assimilated 2 Despite being alone together a lot, Palmer never Assimilated Childs 3: When Copper is killed, The Thing's Saliva couldn't have infected his body

[@notster7114]

copper couldnt have been infected during his death because his arms were torn off above where the thing ripped into him, you can see this from the clips in the video. the issue of palmer not infecting childs is the same issue as norris infecting palmer, how would he have accomplished that without childs realising? i dont have an answer for either question but you can assume that because norris was able to assimilate palmer without childs realising that palmer and childs were not sharing a room anymore for some reason. not a concrete answer for this either but i think the reason clark is never assimilated is because while he is taking care of the dog thing he's always in the common area or the kennel and people frequently visit the common area so the thing wouldnt have time to assimilate him and it doesnt assimilate him in the kennels because it sees the dogs as better and less risky targets or it doesnt want to assimilate him infront of the dogs because they would make noise and alert the other humans.

[@thedarkknight9153]

They checked Copper's blood post mortem: He was human.

[@MissMovies]

My only thought about the end - perhaps Childs would accept the drink after already being assimilated in the hopes that MacReady would drink after that and he could easily infect him. At the same time - why not just assimilate him then and there? Perhaps Childs appreciates a slow burn. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jamestully156]

If Childs assimilated MacReady in that situation their jackets and clothes would be destroyed and there were no spares around. The thing would have eventually frozen as a thing or as a naked man. If they both froze to death in that state a rescue team wouldn't suspect anything when recovering the bodies, giving the thing a chance to thaw and assimilate without suspicion. I absolutely think Childs was assimilated in the final scene, the breath thing is BS, assimilations are perfect until they start to change, but there's other reasons to think he's the thing. Childs claimed he thought he saw Blair and followed him into the storm, but Blair was in the basement generator room cutting the power, from that basement door it would have been easy to sneak up on Childs. Also the jackets were moved around. Oh just got to that part of this video, this guy covered this. Nice.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

@@jamestully156 nice theory but, Childs wasn't infected.

[@sebas8225]

@@jamestully156 Pretty much also, The thing didnt want to rush a direct assimilation of Macready right after he just killed Blair+ 2 other victims that was a huge morale blow to the thing, like it didnt expect Macready to survive this long and had to improvise, this is why the lies about following blair and the slip up with the bottle took the place, also it wanted to assimilate Macready once his guard was down and the surrounding fires were put down by the weather, since otherwise macready could go for a double suicide and drag him into the fire even if he got him assimilated or infected.

[@samsmith9315]

Great breakdown. I didn't notice the Childs/Palmer sharing a joint scene proved he was human at that point. Brilliant little detail from Carpenter!

[@ShakespeareWilliam1600]

I find it very interesting how The Thing never infected Clark. Despite he was the one who 'hung' around with the dog the most

[@jaymeans8299]

It might have been too obvious since he was the first one suspected by bair so

[@etarver13]

It’s a god awful move to assimilate Clark (initially). Clark was the first one to catch hell for being around that dog. If the Thing wanted to assimilate people without being detected or having a high risk of being exposed, then the Thing best move is to put Clark in the back burner and assimilate him last or next to last.

[@joethekinghawk7514]

@@etarver13 Good point.

[@gabrielboorom2683]

Everyone suspected Clarke because they all knew he spent time with the dogs. Knowing this, The Thing would've decided to leave him as a red herring for the humans to be distracted with.

[@mariahslittlelamb8049]

"Logical reasoning and deduction" Love this. You're the cutest.

[@steveclem7873]

Enigma

[@wszechbytdoskonay3071]

This is the best analysis of this movie i have ever watch. Its like any other analysis has at least one mistake or omission.

[@hamsbyyams]

With the Blair pencil tip thing I do believe that is when he gets infected. Because there is a part in the movie where I believe blair explains that the split faced thing still had cellular life which is something that should be impossible when something is dead, due to the fact that when most life on earth dies, cellular life processes die shortly after. The fact that they took the time to explain it and then blair watches the simulation and theres a shot where he glances down and the camera focuses on the pencil eraser, i think thats carpenter hinting at the fact that blair is infected. And if you read the comics or watched the prequal (which honestly isn’t bad aside from the cgi) you find out that the thing has the ability to absorb and assimilate without the host knowing that they are the thing. Like it lays dormant within the hosts body leaving the victim in some cases totally unaware of the fact that they are infected until the thing chooses to override the host and take on the attack

[@shaolin1derpalm]

I actually really enjoyed the prequel. I even liked the cgi except for the helicopter seen.

[@breadley5159]

John Carpenter said that this was acually a mistake made by Wilford Brimley

[@bwareist]

While it does look really close, I don't think Blair actually touched it with his pencil.

[@MarkLewis...]

Coincidentally, some years later in 1999, "The Blair Pencil Project" would be a lesser known horror movie than its contemporary "The Blair Witch Project".

[@jigggyjaythebeast3856]

@@breadley5159 Do you have a link to a video or article stating this?

[@illustratorFrankie]

During the Big Trouble in Little China commentary, with Kurt Russell and John Carpenter, Carpenter mentioned in the original take of the story, the rescue team would come, only to find both at the end as the Thing. Russell and Carpenter on commentary, is a real treat. Both are hilarious.

[@steveclem7873]

wtfYooWannaBeAneemxCarpentaz!!

[@Hoonter_jne]

The hitchhiking monster would have been in for a very nasty surprise.

[@RedsHitpostMedia]

The fact a 40 year old movie still generates this much discussion is a masterpiece of Carpenter. Kinda similar to the Shining people natually want to make sense what they dont understand. Of course its cant be entirely random but give enough crumbs and people will want the loaf

[@ScottLambright]

Keep in mind, Carpenter made it fully ambiguous on purpose to keep up with the theme of isolation, mistrust, and paranoia. But I have a fringe theory. Bennings was the first one infected. The dog singled him out in the beginning, and kept following him around, especially after he was injured from the gunshot. He smelled fresh, like a wounded animal. When he is assimilating with the split face thing he is absorbing its biomass, and explains why it looks like he just took off his clothes and sat next to it. Kind of adds a whole cannibalistic, parasitic nature to the Things motive. Every "thing" for itself and all that. But keep in mind this theory came about one weekend where I watched it three times and drank a whole bottle of J&B Scotch last December, so do with what you will about that idea...

[@dude1734]

It's crazy to think that a movie is still being discussed thoroughly even after almost 4 decades....... Now that's what you call a timeless masterpiece.

[@alexandredesouza3692]

I find it really interesting that Norris refuses a role of leadership when it's offered by Garry. When he's transformed later after feeling pain and a heart attack, it's implied that his transformation was a slow one. It implies Norris knew he was infected but wasn't yet assimilated by the time the team argued around the blood. Maybe he could feel something changing and didn't want to say anything or maybe he remembered an interaction with the dog. Whatever the case, his choice saved the team from having a thing as their leader, but by not revealing his infection, he killed Copper.

[@danielpayne7140]

I like to imagine that neither at the end are assimilated and the nihilism comes from both dying anyway, regardless of their humanity, they're still going to waste away in a frozen tundra perpetually paranoid that the man sitting across from them freezing to death is a parasitic alien. It's beautiful. I also think that McCready's chuckle at the end is him symbolically "tipping his King" because the Thing may very well have him in checkmate. That would chekov gun the beginning, he quits the chess game by dousing the computer in scotch because it won and then bows out once again at the end of the film by offering who-he-believes-to-be the opponent a drink of scotch. BEAUTIFUL.

[@adityanegi1604]

I think the same thing, I think the ending is way better if neither of them are the Thing.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

This partly refutes another comment on here conjecturing Childs as the alien, they incorporated the opening but it was obvious they were working backwards. This fits much better. I just took it as the film coming full-circle for Mac in terms of the drinking, but the chess analogy works perfectly as well. The theories just seem like they retroactively make the film worse, I don’t know why people get behind them when it’s the question that really matters and not the answer. Fantastic comment, made me appreciate the film even more.

[@panjamysy]

Not a lot of older horror movies genuinely scare me or creep me out...but this movie is FNATASTIC.

[@TJettman]

When the dogs are attacked, the thing separates into 2 beings. The dog part and the part with the hands that goes into the ceiling. It fully goes up there. When they torch the room, they're torching the dog part that was left behind. The one that went in the ceiling, I always thought, made it's way out to Blair once he was in the shack and then started building the escape craft.

[@erroneouse1929]

It fell down clearly in the film

[@Aztecius]

My theory is that Childs is a thing and that this is hinted at through the music. There's only one piece of original music in the film and that's the slow heartbeat-like tune. Every time the music is played, the Thing tends to be onscreen. At the beginning with the dog running, when the dog is looking out the window, when Childs is looking out the window...