Think you’ve solved the ending of 1982’s The Thing? John Carpenter says nope
John Carpenter has lifted the lid on his gaming obsessions and the 'true ending' of 1982’s The Thing — but not in the way you might expect.
If you were wondering what John Carpenter is up to these days, it turns out the horror icon has been busy on all fronts: gaming, music, films, and somehow even podcasting. The man never seems to slow down, does he?
Gaming, Films and Gala Chit-Chat
Earlier this year, Toxic Commando — the game born from Carpenter's imagination — hit PCs and consoles, so you’d think he’d be chained to his own creation. Not quite. Instead, when Reece Feldman asked him what he’s really been playing lately, Carpenter admitted he’s knee-deep in Fallout 76 at the moment… and occasionally dives into Fortnite too. If that image doesn’t amuse you, I don’t know what will.
But you can’t blame him for leaning back on the classics, because wherever Carpenter goes, questions about his iconic old films follow. Case in point: at the Academy Museum gala, the topic of his much-loved 1982 psychological horror, The Thing, inevitably came up — specifically, what on earth the infamous ending really means.
The Thing's Ending: Still a Riddle
This is where it goes a bit off the rails. Feldman, standing in for every confused fan, asked Carpenter point blank about the wildest interpretation someone’s ever given him of The Thing‘s ending. Here’s how Carpenter responded in the conversation:
Every idea people have is not the right one. I know the right one.
And because Feldman couldn't just leave it there, he pressed further, asking if anyone — anyone at all — has ever cracked the ending's code. Carpenter’s answer? Apparently not:
It’s right in the movie too. There is a big clue. No one has guessed it.
So, there you go. The answer is there, in plain sight, apparently. Carpenter is just going to sit back and watch us chase our tails for another forty years. Classic.
A Childhood of Sci-Fi Shocks
Feldman tried a different tack, quizzing Carpenter on the first horror film he ever sat through. Carpenter had to think for a moment before settling on the bit of 1950s-era sci-fi that did it: It Came From Outer Space — specifically a screening in 3D, complete with a meteor flying straight into his face. Two emotions at once, he said: terrified and overjoyed. If you ever wondered where the blend of dread and glee in his films comes from, there you have it.
Sequels, Podcasts, and Everything Else
And because these things always come around, it’s worth pointing out: Carpenter revealed earlier this year at Fan Expo that he’s developing a sequel to The Thing, but there’s still no official word on where that stands.
The sequel to The Thing is in the pipeline according to Carpenter, but details are still all very much up in the air.
When he’s not teasing fans about ambiguous endings or plotting possible sequels, Carpenter’s got his fingers in a dozen pies — from movie-making and music to producing, consulting, and more recently, headlining the John Carpenter Presents Something Wicked podcast. Never one to do only one thing at a time, apparently.
- John Carpenter’s own favourite game right now: Fallout 76
- Big clue to The Thing's real ending is right there in the film (if you believe Carpenter)
- Sequel to The Thing is being worked on, but don't expect anything concrete just yet