Snow

Here follows a one-sided discussion of the ending; In the more coherent theories one might come to (so, not the “visible breath” thing), it seems like Mac’s drink inevitably becomes a central element or hint to the mystery. I think it almost certainly safe to say Mac is still human at the end of the movie (even without any canon material other than the 1982 film), & I am about 70% sure Childs is the Thing. Almost every instance where the Thing attacks a human proactively (so, not defensively; but also somewhat excluding Blair-Thing at the end, because I think that instance mainly served to confirm Blair’s infection), it is not shown on screen, intentionally leaving a conspicuous gap as an exercise to the viewer. In Childs’ case, there is no compelling alternative to explain why he ran out into the cold while guarding the door & the timing of the generator being blown, or his absence during the showdown. When confronted with a pattern & no plausible alternative, one is forced to assume the more likely position. Additionally, the film intentionally positions Mac & the Thing as adversaries and everyone else as pieces on a chessboard, mimicking the game in the opening scene where Mac loses a game of chess to the computer and breaks it in retaliation (this is also why I find the Mac-Thing ending a ridiculous theory, it holds no narrative water). What I *assume* to be Blair-Thing (but no matter if it’s another, as long as it’s noted that at least some humans know it rips through clothes) takes control of the chessboard in the middle of the movie by turning the crew against Mac by tearing his shirt and shoving it in the furnace, only to be BTFO kamikaze-style in a last ditch attempt by the remaining survivors to force a stalemate. This leads me to my last point, and a refutation to the common proposition: “Why wouldn’t Childs-Thing attack Mac? This means Child’s must be human”. In the words of the opening scene’s computer program: “*Checkmate. Checkmate*”. At this point in the movie, it is not necessary to kill or assimilate Mac, because the Thing’s goal is to freeze over again and hibernate until the arrival of the rescue team. Mac does not have that luxury, being a warm-blooded animal, so he finds himself in checkmate, either having succeeded in forcing a stalemate by killing the Thing at the cost of his own & everyone else’s lives, or having lost & being left with no possible moves to escape the predicament. And this last point brings me back to what I wished to talk about: the alcohol. What ensues is pure, baseless proselytizing, not even speculation. I believe the conclusion to be an act of faith, even respect from Mac toward the Thing, regardless of the outcome of the game (which I don’t believe Mac himself knows at this point). If Mac believes Childs is human, Mac lets him have the drink to communicate the faith he has in their “victory”, if not against the Thing, then at least against the paranoia that almost made the two kill each other previously. If Mac believes Childs to be the Thing, then the drink-sharing symbolizes his admitting defeat to a worthy opponent, and stepping away from the board with dignity by resigning instead of vainly trying some move that will result in his loss regardless. I don’t think Mac himself is sure, even when he chuckles to himself, & believe he is choosing to leave the cat box closed intentionally, and expressing his good faith to both potential Childs and potential Childs-Thing. I do not think the bottle had gasoline and I am split on whether the Thing should react defensively to contact with alcohol. If it does, or if Mac thinks it does, then we’ve a more straightforward solve on our hands.

Perfect movie