The Story Behind THE THING's Disastrous Test Screening

Set the tone for better sleep this year with up to 35% off Dream by Beam when you click https://shopbeam.com/CinemaTyler and enter code CINEMATYLER. On 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. THE THING - STORY BREAKDOWN ($5): https://cinematyler.gumroad.com/l/thi... Cinema Stories Survey (What movies should I cover?): https://bit.ly/3BmNVdW Support this channel on Patreon:   / cinematyler   Ad-free videos for $1! Instagram:   / cinematyler   Facebook:   / cinematyler   #TheThing #JohnCarpenter #Horror Incredible collection of resources on The Thing: https://cinephiliabeyond.org/john-car... Stuart Cohen's Blog: https://theoriginalfan.blogspot.com/ (Product Reel) The Thing Condensed Version - https://bit.ly/3QEb2e9 The Thing (Collector's Edition Blu-Ray): https://amzn.to/4hUPupD Sources: (Billson) The Thing (BFI Film Classics) by Anne Billson - https://amzn.to/4bh3ure (Hore) The Thing: A History of a Franchise by Phil Hore - https://amzn.to/41xUfjb Novella with Nolan’s treatment: https://amzn.to/41gSy8v (Federal Reserve History) https://bit.ly/3DaykVW (Bauer, Creative Screenwriting, 1999) John Carpenter interviewed by Erik Bauer, Creative Screenwriting, January/February 1999. - https://bit.ly/4fcoEaf (Starlog #58) Starlog #58 (Cohen) A Producer’s Guide to the Evolution and Production of The Thing - From the blogs of Stuart Cohen (Cinefantastique) Cinefantastique V13 No2 & No3 (Fangoria #20) Fangoria #20 - http://bit.ly/4gKlafX (Terror Takes Shape Documentary) - https://bit.ly/3CRKToM (Billson Interview) Carpenter/Bilson Interview: https://bit.ly/41xjbrk (Commentary) https://bit.ly/4aYwL9O (Assembling & Assimilating) Assembling & Assimilating with editor Todd Ramsay Music: Artlist.io