Another Why I think Childs Was Infected Thread
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Thing
insertcoolname — 9 years ago(January 15, 2017 08:21 AM)
I just watched this at a special screening last night(original 35mm) and personally I think Childs infected.
I took a quick glance over the boards here. I noticed a lot of hints/theories covered, but there is one detail I didn't notice anyone explicitly mentioned, it may have been, but I didn't go through every page of threads on this forum.
Anyway the first scene is Mac playing chess against the PC. He assumes he has the game won, but In his last move he puts his king in the corner, and is then checkmated by the black rook.
Now if we jump to the last scene we see Mac walk into the burned out room where he sit down to take a much deserved rest(he assumes his battle is complete) in the corner wedged between oil drum, and the burned out wall. Just as he sits down Childs steps into the doorway armed, thus cutting Mac's only visible means of egress(aka Checkmate).
I mean it doesn't even seem all that cryptic to me.
It wouldn't be much of a stretch for Childs to be represented as the black rook. Just look how the we view the rook in game. It is seen as a powerful stoic piece that barrels straight ahead into battle, much as Mac himself describes Childs when they are trying to decide who the should be leader.
Then since Mac is a standard white male, white hat protagonist he can easily be represented by the white king as well, beyond the fact that it was his actual avatar in that first scene.
I could be wrong, but to me it makes sense that a filmmaker like Carpenter would sneak a visual reference to the ending in the first shot as a form of visual, and thematic symmetry.
I Shoot People for a Living. -
farookhfaz — 9 years ago(January 16, 2017 03:05 PM)
I used to think so, but now I don't know anymore. Was he infected or eatan by Thing and then replicated? Why are the coats and boots so messed up for those two eerie tracking shots of the hallway and Childs' position? If it was just one coat missing, then I'd say Childs was definitely duplicated, but the coats are just all over the place compared to the previous shot. Was it a continuity error and hiw did is slip by Carpenter in editing and post-production, considering it's probably meant to be a key clue. Why the goof?
In all the brutal honesty, Carpenter sacrificed a lot of of logic, continuity and "rules" in order to create paranoia and dread. The fact there's so many theories, options and schools of thoughts on various topics and details means some things simply don't add up. The fact that even after 34 years we know jackcrap is the result of both careful writing/directing/editing and deliberate omissions where (IMO) Carpenter just said beep it" during the editing and post-production.
TLDR, it's still one of my very favorite films ever simply due to the unmatched isolation terror atmosphere, but it's not some high-end masterpiece where just about every puzzle is carefuly put there. -
Donna2.0 — 1 month ago(February 07, 2026 10:12 AM)
Exactly. It's like he already knew. Furthermore, he wasn't hostile like he usually is with MacGready. Cuz remember, before the split to give the doctor the rest, Childs was still suspicious of MacGready. So why the personality change???
Put a muzzle on Tits Malone, PI -
Cognoscente — 1 month ago(February 07, 2026 11:03 AM)
In the original script, Childs was human or at least more convincing as one…
CLOSE ON MACREADY
lighting a cigar. His hands are heavily wrapped. He pours
himself a drink.
A puffy white hand, missing two fingers, enters the frame
and whirls a startled MacReady around. It is Childs.
White and black blotches cover his frostbitten face.
CHILDS
Did you kill it?
He looks as weak as MacReady. A beat.
MACREADY
I think so.
CHILDS
What do you mean "you think so?"
Both men speak guardedly and stare at each other suspiciously.
MACREADY
Yeah. I got it.
(refers to Childs'
condition)
Pretty mean frostbite.
Childs steps back, keeping his distance.
He indicates his
puffy white hand.
CHILDS
It'll turn black again soon enough.
Then I guess I'll be losing the whole
thing…
(refers to feet)
…Think my toes are already gone.
MacReady, carrying the bottle and glass, limps over and sits
down behind a gaming table. There is a chess set and several
decks of cards. The two men continue to eye each other.
CHILDS
So you're the only one who made it.
MacReady begins setting up a non-electronic chessboard.
MACREADY
Not the only one.
CHILDS
The fire's got the temperature way
up all over camp… won't last long
though.
MACREADY
Neither will we.
CHILDS
Maybe we should try and fix the
radio… try and get some help.
MACREADY
Maybe we shouldn't.
CHILDS
Then we'll never make it.
MacReady puffs on his cigar. He reveals a small blowtorch
from under the table and places it beside him on top.
MACREADY
Maybe we shouldn't make it.
CHILDS
(beat)
If you're worried about anything,
let's take that blood test of yours.
MACREADY
If we've got any surprises for each
other – we shouldn't be in any
condition to do anything about it.
(beat)
You play chess?
They regard each other for a moment. Childs painfully sits
down across from MacReady.
CHILDS
I guess I'll be learning.
MacReady grins and hands the bottle to Childs. Childs smiles
back and takes a healthy swig.