In the movie “The Thing,” the death of Fuchs is a mysterious and unsettling event. Fuchs was a dedicated scientist and one of the few characters who seemed to be genuinely concerned about the danger posed by the alien creature. So, who could have killed him?
One possibility is that Fuchs took his own life. Throughout the movie, we see the characters grappling with the paranoia and fear of not knowing who among them is the Thing. Fuchs, being aware of the potential danger, may have reached a point of hopelessness and desperation. His death could be seen as a tragic act of self-sacrifice to protect the others.
However, there are also clues that suggest Fuchs may have been killed by one of the Things. Before his death, Fuchs discovers MacReady’s torn and bloody clothing outside. This discovery leads him to believe that MacReady could be infected. Fuchs then leaves a message for MacReady, which reads, “I’m going out to the storage shed to get Blair. If I’m not back in five minutes, burn everything.”
This message implies that Fuchs had a plan to confront Blair, who was already revealed to be a Thing. Unfortunately, Fuchs never returned from the shed, indicating that something went terribly wrong. It is possible that Blair or another Thing intercepted him and killed him before he could carry out his plan.
Another theory is that the Palmer-Thing or Norris-Thing left MacReady’s clothing outside as a deliberate trap for Fuchs. By leading Fuchs to the storage shed and making him believe MacReady was infected, the Thing could have hoped to eliminate Fuchs, who was a potential threat to its survival. However, this plan backfired when Fuchs took matters into his own hands and burned himself before the Things could get to him.
Ultimately, the exact circumstances surrounding Fuchs’ death remain ambiguous. The movie intentionally leaves it open to interpretation, allowing the audience to grapple with the uncertainty and paranoia that the characters themselves experience. Whether Fuchs took his own life or fell victim to a cunning trap set by the Things, his death serves as a haunting reminder of the relentless and unpredictable nature of the alien creature.