A movie review of They Live (1998)

When you have a film career as successful as John Carpenter, it is easy to forget the little gems he has created amongst the all-time greats like Halloween, Assault on Precinct 13 and The Thing. 1988s They Live is one such gem, and this article takes a look back at the film.

Alien invasion

Origins Carpenter took the 1963 short story ‘Eight O’clock in the Morning’ by Ray Nelson, mixed it with his trademark dark humour and the old-school visuals of Hollywood’s 1950s alien invasion B-movies, and created a socially aware piece of cult cinema. Added to the mix, the bizarre but brilliant casting of wrestling legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, and you have a classic 80s film. The story is centred on the idea that aliens have infiltrated all areas of society, including politics and business and can only be seen through a pair of special sunglasses. When a pair of the alien sunglasses falls into the hands of a quiet drifter named Nada (Piper), he discovers that wearing them shows the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like "Stay Asleep", "No Imagination", and “Submit to Authority" in order to keep people under control.

Roddy gets rowdy

The fight back Nada decides to fight back, and it is here that two things happen: One of the greatest action film one-liners in history (“I came here to kick ass and chew bubble-gum and I’m out of bubble-gum!”) and a five-minute fist-fight over a pair of the sunglasses between Nada and Frank Armitage (played by Carpenter regular, the great Keith David). The film website Rotten Tomatoes ranked the fight scene seventh on their list of the "The 20 Greatest Fights Scenes Ever".

Political elements

Politics and David Icke Carpenter added political elements to the action/sci-fi mix because of his dislike of the commercialisation of 1980s popular culture and politics. He remarked,
"I began watching TV again. I quickly realised that everything we see is designed to sell us something... It's all about wanting us to buy something. The only thing they want to do is take our money." British film fans will recognise a similarity between They Live and the writing and teachings of ex-footballer turned political speaker David Icke. Watch a David Icke video and you will understand the resemblance. Conclusion
The film will never be regarded as highly as the more recognised films in Carpenter’s impressive career, but there is much to love in his sci-fi/action/western, and deserves to be treated with the same affection that his other films are. However, They Live movie is 93 minutes of classic 80s. Put the sunglasses on and check it out again.