I was rewatching The Thing (1982) again recently and noticed something that I am pretty sure hasn't been talked about in analysis of the movie before. I'm a huge fan and have watched just about all the videos on youtube about all the theories. I could be wrong though, and please let me know if I am.
During the scene when Mac gives his "I know I'm human speech" after burning the blood bags, the camera is slowly panning across all the men. Everyone is staring directly at Mac the entire speech. Literally frozen in place with no movement of any kind. Except for Palmer. He is looking around with wandering eyes very paranoid. It's the thing literally just panicking in that moment and gauging the situation. It could also be thing thing thinking that's how a human should behave in that situation. it works on several levels. Mimicry or fear or both.
He looks like someone who is high and is paranoid that everyone else knows he's high hahahah which is hilarious given his character was a stoner.
*note: this has nothing to do with the "eye gleam" theory, this is just eye movement that is very panicking and a clear differentiator from every other character in that moment. I think it also confirms that he is the only other "thing" at that moment in time except for possibly Blair.
Anyway did I catch something cool here or is this old news?