John Carpenter Slams 'The Thing' Cinematographer's Ending Theory

Forty-one years after ‘The Thing’ first terrified audiences, director John Carpenter is still frequently asked about its enigmatic ending. Much like the debates surrounding Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ (Is Cobb awake or dreaming?) or Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’ (Is Rick Deckard a human or a replicant?), Carpenter’s horror classic concludes with a major existential cliffhanger. Specifically, it’s unclear whether the alien entity infects R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David).

One prominent theory about the ending comes from Dean Cundey, the film’s cinematographer. Cundey proposed that a distinctive light gleam is visible in the eyes of any character infected by the alien. In the final scene, this gleam is seen in Childs’ eyes, suggesting he is infected. However, Carpenter dismissed this theory in an interview with ComicBook.com, stating, "He has no clue." Carpenter claims to be the only one who knows the true ending, but refuses to reveal it: “Nope. Cannot tell you. Sorry.”

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Carpenter added that Cundey “doesn’t know” and that the lighting was simply part of the filming process: “He puts the lights up and we were in the snow. He has no clue.” Currently, Carpenter is promoting his new true crime horror anthology series, ‘John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams,’ premiering October on Peacock. Each episode dramatizes real horror stories using recreations, news clips, home photos, and archival footage.

Regarding ‘The Thing’  the film was remade in 2011 by director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., featuring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton. Earlier this year, Carpenter hinted at the possibility of a sequel, ‘Thing 2,’ though no further details have been provided.

–Farheen Ali