The Thing (1982): Who was assimilated in what order? And who killed Fuchs?

He drank the gasoline..so yes..

Blair died of the Dia-Be-Tes.

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Doesn’t a “piece” of the thing escape in the ceiling during the kennel scene that never gets mentioned again?

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I always assumed that that was what got Blair. Can’t remember when it happened in the story in relation to Blair being locked in the shed. But it would be a good candidate for what got Blair due to its ability to stealthily infiltrate places.

I’m of the opinion that Blair and Fuchs were infected during the autopsy. You can see blood/fluids on their skin above the gloves

The slow burn with explain why Blair tied a noose before succumbing to the Thing and losing control of himself.

And the fact that you can apparently sense the slow burn happening, would turn Fuchs to a desperate suicide before he could turn.

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I’m dubious about the alien being able to spread via tissues and cells in the autopsy. If it were as simple as a single cell being able to cause the assimilation, they’d all be screwed.

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They literally explicitly state its a possibility, down to the doctor formally recommending that they don't allow anyone prepare their food for anyone other than themselves.

As for them all being screwed....did you not see the movie? Or the prequel?

Cheek aside, Blair, who evaluated the threat the most came to the same conclusion that they were already screwed and past saving and took actions to make sure that no one could leave.


At the end of the day, the idea is directly supported with dialogue. It might not have played out that way, but to dismiss it because you are personally dubious seems silly.

And given how much of the film is intentionally built to be ambigious, doing stuff like that turns literally all discussion of the film into just a series of fan fictions.

"A cell gets out, and it will IMITATE EVERYTHING on the face of the EARTH! AND NOTHING CAN STOP IT!"

"“But, MacReady, I’ve been thinking. If a small particle of this thing is enough to take over an entire organism, then everyone should prepare their own meals. And I suggest we only eat out of pants.”

This doesn't answer the order question, but it's fun stuff!

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Question: Based on John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing and its 2011 prequel (also titled The Thing), is it possible for someone to get infected by a dead Thing?

Answer: It isn't clear. We don't seem to witness anything like this happening on screen, in my opinion, although there are some fans who say otherwise.

It is impossible to talk about this fan theory without making reference to the extremely contentious issue of when Blair was infected/assimilated. Both John Carpenter and producer Stuart Cohen insist that neither they, nor anyone else, know when any of the off-screen assimilations took place, but Cohen has suggested that, in his own opinion as a fan (but not as the producer), he thinks Blair was assimilated sometime between the autopsy on the two headed (popularly known as "split face") Thing and his freak out in the radio room. This fan theory conforms to this general time frame.

According to this particular fan theory, which is just one of many such theories regarding the question of when Blair was infected, Blair inadvertently infected himself during the autopsy. From the fan site Outpost 31's discussion thread on the issue of Blair's infection:

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If this theory is correct, and if split face was really dead, then it appears that a dead Thing can infect a person.

As I was writing this, it occurred to me that the Blair pencil theory isn't necessary to prove that a dead Thing can infect a person. All we need to know is whether the split face Thing was actually dead, because Bennings was unquestionably infected by split face - or at least by the slimy tentacle dripping off of split face. ...

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There's more to the theory , more pictures, and a great YouTube scene from the movie.

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Dude, it’s a message board where people post ideas about movies. What I said about my feelings on the autopsy infection theory not being likely in my view is not a person slight against those with differing opinions. I’m just stating mine (with supporting evidence on how a draw my conclusions).

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Except...you know...you didn't.

Sorry if it came across as being more heated.

But all you said was "nah, If it were like that they would be screwed" (ignores everyone dies in both movies)

Its only when I called you out on it did you try to back it up. Not much discussion to be had with your original reply.

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I’m basing my opinion on the fact that MacReady was in close proximity to Norris and Palmer. Especially, Palmer. He’s shown holding Palmer’s blood sample. It jumps out of the dish, undoubtably splashing MacReady with some cells.

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Who is to say that he wasn't already doomed at my point.

When I say they were infected at the autopsy, I didn't say they were exposed to cells.

I said their skin was covered in gore.

Film further supports liquid transmission when the Dog-Thing is temporarily immobilized by the transformation, it targets the dog building an escape by spraying him with liquid. Why would it do that if it wasn't to infect?

The film doesn't support a single cell being enough other than dialogue....but the events of the film doesn't preclude it either. It would just mean that the less of the exposure, the longer before it takes over.


And excluding the slow burn theory....you are left trying to explain why did Blair try to kill himself but was stopped in spite of being so close to the attempt.

I guess the Thing gave him spare clothes so that when he was violently assemulated he could dress exactly as before?

This film still haunts my dreams

Love the original, but how is the second one (2011)? Is it any good? I've had it on my DVR forever, and never pulled the trigger on it.

It could've been pretty good with the practical effects. The CGI is unforgivably bad. Think, I Am Legend.