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[Ad-Free] The Fight For a SAD ENDING to “The Thing”
🕑 Added 2025-02-26 21:31:04 +0000 UTCOn June 9th, 1982, John Carpenter appeared on Late Night with David Letterman to promote The Thing, his first big studio film. But behind the scenes, trouble was brewing. A recent test screening had left audiences cold—not because of the film’s icy setting, but due to its bleak, ambiguous ending. Universal was worried. Some wanted a more definitive conclusion, even an alternate ending where MacReady survives unambiguously. But Carpenter fought for his vision. Why was he so determined to leave audiences with uncertainty? And how did a film dismissed upon release become a masterpiece of paranoia and existential horror? Let’s dive into the battle for The Thing’s unforgettable ending.
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![[Ad-Free] The Fight For a SAD ENDING to “The Thing”](https://img5.patrefans.com/storage/5/xd/ec/563145-019e76a3-a887-7304-94ce-d2cae54c9647.jpg)
Comments
CinemaTyler
Thanks! I totally agree—it’s crazy how endlessly rewatchable it is.
Syd
This was an excellent dive into the detail, Tyler. I’ve never seen The Thing in a theater. For me it’s one of the all-time great videos. Sometimes you just want to slam it in the player and get your dose of nihilism , gore and pessimism about the human race.
Dan Reed
I remember seeing it in the theater but don't remember if I liked the ending or not.
