Trivia: The TV edit of the film differs widely from the theatrical release - lots of footage was purposely edited out, such as when the dead Norwegian on the table blinks, and there is also a narration. Director John Carpenter has publicly stated that he finds the TV edit embarrassing and a disgrace to his movie.
Trivia: The ruins of the American and Norwegian camps are actually the same set. Carpenter saved $750,000 by only filming the one set with different lighting rather than building a second one.
Trivia: In the scene after Macready visits the Norwegian base, he is explaining what he saw to everyone. Childs questions what he says calling it voodoo, while Palmer says "Chariots of the Gods, man. They practically taught the Mayans everything they knew." This is in reference to Eric Von Daniken's 1968 book Chariot of the Gods, about ancient aliens being the catalyst for our modern world. (00:39:30 - 00:40:30)
Trivia: Maybe it's just foreshadowing, but if you notice the scenes in the infirmary, the two tables are not operating tables, but portable autopsy tables. There are two of them, but nothing designed for "live" patients. Kind of makes you wonder about Doc's credentials.
Trivia: After Director John Carpenter screened his completed film, the movie studio insisted that he go back and film a scene where MacReady is in a hospital, explaining how he alone survived. Carpenter had to fight to keep the original ending.
Trivia: Universal's first choice to direct was Tobe Hooper, who was under contract and considered a better choice. Hooper even wrote two drafts of the screenplay as a horror-comedy, without the shape-shifting elements. After Carpenter was hired and the film made, co-producer Stuart Cohen reportedly said, "We avoided a disaster." (Sources: WhatCulture.com, Variety).
Trivia: Carl Weathers, Isaac Hayes and Ernie Hudson were all considered for the role of Childs. Hudson almost got the part, but ultimately it went to Keith David due to the tone of his voice. It was David's first major film role. (Sources: WhatCulture.com, Variety).
Trivia: Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges were just two notable actors who were offered the role of MacReady but turned it down. Kevin Kline was also briefly suggested by the studio. (Source: WhatCulture.com).
Trivia: The "Blair-Thing" sequence was originally created with stop-motion animation, but a lot of the sequence was cut out since director John Carpenter was not happy with the final result. Carpenter thought it looked too fake so the full scene did not make it into the final cut of the movie.
Trivia: Keith David wore gloves for most of his scenes because he had recently broken his hand in a car accident, so he had to wear gloves to cover the cast.
Trivia: The female voice heard on the computer that MacReady is using to play chess is that of Adrienne Barbeau, director John Carpenter's ex-wife.
Trivia: In the scene where Mac destroys Palmer with a stick of dynamite, the explosion was much bigger than Kurt Russell had been led to expect. Watch him closely as the explosion occurs. He flinches violently and nearly falls down. It's quite comical.
Suggested correction: I've just watched this scene having read this entry, and I don't see Mac / Kurt do anything other than is expected or appropriate for the scene. There's a big explosion and he almost falls backward. There's nothing comical about it.
Trivia: Makeup artist Rob Bottin had a nightmare making the film; he worked for 100 days straight without going home to his family, he slept on the locker room floor of the Universal lot, he had to fight to get all of his designs in the film, and as a result of the stress, he caught double pneumonia and suffered a bleeding ulcer.
Trivia: The final line of dialogue of the film was not in the script. Kurt Russell came up with it while filming the scene. (Sources: WhatCulture.com, Shortlist.com).
Trivia: During the blood test scene, there's a poster visible on the wall behind Macready for venereal disease awareness, which bears the tagline "they're not labelled." Quite fitting for a film where no-one is sure who among them is human and who is a shape-shifting monster in disguise.
