They Live (1988) User Reviews (538)

The Citizen Kane of B-movies

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 8/10 · 20 April 2020]

They Live is an example of a perfect B-movie, perhaps my personal favourite B-grade film of all time (with perhaps the exception of 1978's Dawn of the Dead, although I like to think of that as more a "B+" movie). Make no mistake though- this doesn't mean I think it's a perfect film- it has its flaws, quite a few actually, but all are acceptable in the context of a low-budget B-movie.

The basic plot is absurd, so please excuse the probably awkward explanation of it: They Live is about a homeless man named George Nada (played surprisingly well by Roddy Piper- a wrestler), who wanders around Los Angeles looking for work and trying to get by in life. One day he comes across a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see that the whole world has apparently been blind to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth and are controlling the entire human population through subliminal messages. While wearing the glasses, Nada can directly see the subliminal messages behind billboards lining the streets of LA- they literally read phrases like "NO INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT" and "OBEY" when seen through the glasses. Furthermore, the glasses allow Nada to see beyond the disguises the aliens wear- without viewing them through the glasses, the aliens look identical to humans.

Once Nada acquires the glasses, he makes it a personal mission of his to shut down the TV station where the aliens are broadcasting much of their controlling messages from- he also finds out that destroying this station will allow all humans to see directly through the disguises of the alien invaders. Oh, and along the way he kills a bunch of aliens with a carefree attitude that many action heroes of the 80s possessed. And it's a heap of fun to watch him do so.

If the plot sounds a little silly, it's because it is, but thankfully the film never takes itself too seriously, with its metaphorical tongue being almost constantly planted in its metaphorical cheek. That being said, there is an element of satire to the film which keeps it from being just a mindlessly over-the-top 80s action flick, with clear parallels being made between how the aliens in the film control the population and how the media in real life often wield controlling power over the masses. It's interesting to think about such things briefly, and it's kind of cool that there is a message in the film to ponder, but it's not the film's main focus, and therefore it never feels preachy. It's a little like Romero's Dawn of the Dead in that regard- that film created a parallel between the mindless hordes of zombies and the mindless hordes of individuals who flock to shopping centres, but it never really got in the way of the sense of fun that the film so gleefully possessed. There's some sharp social satire in both films, but never to an overwhelming or unnecessarily pervasive extent.

I would love to go into some of my favourite specific scenes, but the bulk of them happen in the second half of the film, and as I found the movie to be refreshingly unpredictable, I'd rather refrain from giving away too many details. I will just say that the first third of the movie is a little slow-going- Nada doesn't find the glasses until about half an hour in, but once he does, the film really picks up, and barely loses any steam on the way to a surprisingly poignant yet hilarious finale.

This film is quite well-known for two reasons- the first is its famous line said by Nada about chewing bubblegum and kicking ass, which was referenced in Duke Nukem 3D. It's perhaps more famous now for being said by Duke Nukem, which is a shame, but the line itself without a doubt originated from They Live. The other reason is a one-vs-one fight scene between two characters that happens about halfway through the film which goes on for a stupendously long time- probably too long, but then again its the scene's monumental length that makes it so memorable. The scene is so drawn-out it keeps on flip-flopping between being hilarious and tedious, yet it remains so fascinating to watch because of how openly excessive it is.

As I said though, the movie has its problems. The pacing's not great, being that the first 1/3 of the movie is pretty damn uneventful. The music gets a little repetitive too- John Carpenter wrote a decent enough score for the film, but he only seemed to write about 2 minutes worth of actual music, so the same theme gets repeated a lot. The film has an incredibly low budget too, and it's pretty clear throughout, but your mileage may vary on whether that's a truly bad- I kind of think it adds to the movie's charm, and therefore works in its favour. Surprisingly though, I don't have too many bad things to say about the acting. I was expecting a cringe-inducing performance from wrestler from Roddy Piper in the lead (LEAD!) role, but he's surprisingly good, and works well with the material he was given. Keith David is good as always, even if he is sort of the "black sidekick" (at least for part of the film). With this performance, Keith David continues to prove that he's one of the best actor's barely anyone knows the name of. The acting from the two leads in this film really is much better than you'd expect, even if it's not Oscar-worthy material or anything.

So yeah, I guess I did link this movie to Citizen Kane in the headline. Citizen Kane is almost as perfectly made as any film can be- you don't necessarily have to find it entertaining to acknowledge that. On a purely objective level, it pretty much is a masterpiece of film-making (although I always wished it had a more memorable/ iconic score- seriously, no one can hum the "theme" from Citizen Kane). Many people much smarter than myself have written countless words on why Citizen Kane works- see pretty much anything Roger Ebert wrote about that film if you want an idea of why the movie is so highly regarded. Citizen Kane is definitely an "A-film," while They Live is a B-movie. It's nowhere near a perfect movie, but when you take into account its limitations- low budget, non-high profile actors, a smaller filmmaking crew- it's pretty fantastic. Incredibly entertaining, hilarious, unpredictable, and featuring some surprisingly good social commentary, They Live is an under-rated gem that you should seek out and watch, whether you're a B-movie fan or not.

Surprisingly this movie is more relevant today n it is entertaining too.

[Fella_shibby · 8/10 · 19 December 2020]

I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs n enjoyed the film as an action entertainer. Read about the underlying themes as years passed on but revisited it today. This movie is very relevant for today's time too n it is still very entertaining. The alley fight scene stayed with me since the late 80s. Roddy Piper n Keith David gave memorable performances.

Yes, they live. And they are thriving like never before.

[TOMASBBloodhound · 7/10 · 10 March 2013]

I had the pleasure of catching a midnight screening of this last night at the Dundee Theater. Though not a true classic, They Live is an engaging Orwellian-type urban thriller. Rowdy Roddy Piper (in a surprisingly effective performance) plays an unnamed drifter who finds a low level construction job and takes up residence in some type of squatter's camp near downtown L.A.. Things look like they still look in most U.S. cities today. The poor are desperate, and the rich seem to keep getting richer. But it seems that some of the residents of this camp are using the church across the street as a kind of a resistance center. But resistance to what? After putting on a pair of special sunglasses he finds at the church, Piper learns a terrifying secret. The well to do are actually aliens whose identities are revealed by the glasses. All sources of media are also subliminally ordering people to consume, obey, and procreate. Small drone aircraft buzz overhead to keep watch on things. The aliens seem to have people totally under their spell. When Piper tips his hand at his ability to see the aliens for what they are, he becomes a hunted man. Can he stay alive long enough to help the resistance expose the entire alien scheme? Who can he trust, if anyone?

They Live has too many serious over and undertones for it to be simply dismissed as a low budget exploitation flick. Still it relies heavily on old fashioned shootouts and ass whipping to get its point across. There is nothing subtle about it, despite its low-key first act. Piper is about as subtle as a cinder block thrown through a stained-glass window. At one point, he and Keith David have a long fight that seemed to be like a choreographed Wrestle Mania encounter. It brought plenty of guffaws from the audience. The conclusion is awfully abrupt, too. But this is still a solid and diverting picture, and as timely as ever. In this country, the gap between rich and poor is ever-widening. And people seem less inclined than ever before to "put on the glasses" and take a hard look at things. What are they afraid they might see? 7 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[The_North_Wind · 8 September 2001]

They Live. Where to begin? Yes, it is goofy. Yes the production value is very low. Yes the action is standard. The guns never empty. The fights are poorly choreographed at times. But that, my friends, is not the point.

This film was an attack on the Regan era. An attack on the rampant consumerism of the 80's. But open your mind. Saying that it's just an attack on the 80's is merely shutting your eyes. Telling yourself that things have gotten better. Sorry to disapoint you, but they haven't.

Rowdy Roddy Piper puts on some sunglasses. The world changes. Billboards now say Obey or Sleep. Or Marry and Reproduce. Magazines no longer have articles or advertisements. They are blank white pages with said phrases upon them. Money now are white pieces of paper that say This is Your God. Boy oh boy are they right.

So watch They Live. Grab some beer and score some corn. Enjoy the cheese. Enjoy the great one-liners. But also pay attention to the lines that sum up the truth. Remember the point of the film. Then go outside. Re-enter the corporate world outside your door.

You won't need special glasses to see the truth.

Clever and fun, with plenty of Carpenter weirdness

[mstomaso · 7/10 · 14 February 2005]

WARNING: The author of this review loves challenging films.

They Live is based on a pulp sci-fi story about aliens who live among us and manipulate us through subliminal advertising, other mind control techniques, and sometimes, guns and bulldozers. Like most Carpenter films, its artistic, fun, intelligent and does not take itself too seriously.

As usual, Carpenter's casting is brilliant. Roddy Piper plays the good-hearted but not very bright construction worker who is both the hero and protagonist of the film. Keith David, whose character is just a little bit brighter, is his unwilling sidekick. Piper's character sees some strange goings-on in a local church, hears some weird paranoid ramblings from a street preacher, and becomes especially curious when the church is raided by 30-40 police officers and the vagrant camp where he lives is bulldozed one night. Soon after, he finds a pair of sunglasses in the now abandoned church, that literally changes his view of the world around him. The fight scene between David and Piper, while straight out of TV wrestling, is one of the most jarring and bizarre scenes in the movie - it goes on for a very long time - which nicely and subtly points out its significance in moving the plot forward. When Piper finally gets the sunglasses on David's face, he is vindicated and the last shred of doubt about his sanity disappears. From that point forward, they are both committed to saving the world from the alien menace. Further description of the plot would approach a spoiler so I won't go any further.

Both of the main characters succeed in dominating the screen, to the point that it is hard to even notice the contributions of the rest of the cast. Both actors are surprisingly good, though understandably typecast (these are, after all, two very big guys) but - who the hell is Keith David? look him up here on IMDb.com and I'm sure you'll be as surprised at I was. He's quite an accomplished character actor.

Raymond St Jacques, for all of his five or so minutes of screen time, makes a lasting impression, and Meg Foster is perfect for her ambiguity. Overall, the character development in this film is quite excellent despite the difficulty of pulling it off in a decidedly B sci-fi genre.

From an artistic and technical point of view, the film must be judged against Carpenter's other works. Carpenter has practically created his own film genre, and each of his films bears his mark very clearly. Carpenter's camera work is remarkable for its unremarkableness. He chooses not to use gimmicks and allows his cameras to tell the story without embellishing it. Like his version of The Thing, this technique fits very well in this film, as it helps the viewer suspend disbelief in what would otherwise seem as ludicrous as an episode of the X-Files.

Carpenter often makes his own soundtracks. Of these, the soundtrack for this film is very good, but terribly repetitive and, after a while, a bit grating. Nevertheless, its goofy redundancy helps to lend a comic edge to the film.

Is there a point?

I would argue that there is. Carpenter is always more interested in fun than poignancy, but he doesn't shy away from recognizing the value of the material he brings to the screen. Of all of his films, They Live is one of the most overtly political - as it carries some very clever messages about capitalism, conformity, poverty and the horror that everyday life can be for some people. This is all done, however, with a good sense of humor and an almost teenage sense of rebelliousness, all very typically Carpenter.

A great film for B-movie fans, intelligent sci-fi fans and those who enjoy film as an art form.

Unfortunately this film has aged very well.

[nytol1-798-466578 · 9/10 · 9 September 2021]

A fun film with a serious message.

More relevant now with 'social media' than ever.

If only more people would put the glasses on.

They Live, You Give...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 2 March 2023]

There's a world that is hidden and unseen, that manipulates although it's all been screened, imperceptibly subtle, will direct your every shuffle, it's a greedy and insatiable machine. All governed by those in the know, through foundations set down long ago, you're oblivious to it, though you support and pay forfeit, provide the toil, that helps it to grow. On occasion, it might let you join, to ensure there's a good flow of coin, keep up the façade, as they cheat and defraud, and continue their legal purloin.

Still a wonderful piece of observational filmmaking that seems to have grown more relevant, in more parts of the planet, as the years have regressed.

elite, parasitic subsociety exploits American working class--reflects real American society?

[anonreviewer · 10/10 · 25 June 2004]

This movie is not so much about aliens who are hiding among us, but instead it taps into the deeply submerged suspicion held by most of us that we are being manipulated and taken advantage of by the elite of American society, by our leaders, by the rich, etc. Also, we sometimes feel that we are manipulated and programmed (in a subtle way) to respect hierarchical authority ( e.g., the "OBEY" subliminal command from the movie).

Some leftist thinkers might say that human societies are in a way being parasitized by the elite of their societies, and that the elite operate as a parasitic sub-society, living off of the lower classes. America might be said to be operated more in such a fashion (i.e., parasitized by the elite) than are the countries of western Europe. Obvious examples of this parasitic behavior are the "golden handshakes" and backscratching exchanged between corporate CEO's and the Boards of Directors of their companies. But it is far more pervasive than just that.

_They_Live_ uses the invisible alien elite as a proxy for our suspicions about how we are all being exploited by the elite of our real-life society, and how these elite are subtly programming us to accept this exploitation.

So, the major theme of the movie is not, as another poster correctly pointed out, about being manipulated to be good little consumers in a crassly commercial world. No, it is far more profound than that. Instead, it is more about how the working class Americans in _They Live_ are being exploited by the elite upper crust, who, in the movie, happen to be aliens, but who, in the real world, are a subsociety that use their collective power to exploit the rest of us.

Unfortunately, this movie sometimes has an unintentionally comic air to it. Still, the exploration of that theme is so rare in pop culture, and that theme is so profound, and reaches so far into what American society is, was, and is becoming, that this movie is a Must-See for anyone with an interest in politics and sociology.

Classic from my youth

[timhayes-1 · 7/10 · 15 June 2005]

I remember first seeing They Live when I was 10 and I totally fell in love with this film. How could a ten year old not? There's wrestlers, aliens and a plot to take over the world. My friends and I quoted this film for weeks on end with the Bubble gum and kicking @$$ line being a favourite among all. The only real complaint that I have about the film is that the aliens when finally revealed are far too human. They basically look like a skeleton with bug eyes. Not a whole lot of energy seemed to go into their design. While They Live will never be remembered as a film that redefined the way films were made, it still to this day holds a place in my heart as one of the films that just defines your youth. It is fun, action packed and has just enough cool storyline to keep you interested from start to finish.

More relevant than ever

[erikvanseggelen · 10/10 · 3 February 2020]

This movie resonates in 2020 as hard as it can. Watch and learn millenials

They live... We slumber...

[FrenchEddieFelson · 6/10 · 17 June 2019]

I discovered very lately this legendary film, during an « UGC culte » evening, in Paris. They Live (1988) has certainly aged a lot but the diatribe against the exacerbated consumerism of the 70s and 80s is sadly still relevant. A decade after the well-known Halloween (1978), John Carpenter delivered a smart and well-built movie. Nowadays, it's definitely cult and a must-see!

"Just look, they're everywhere!" Buy, consume, and reproduce.

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 14 August 2019]

My 5th favorite movie ever and 400th review on here! I'll probably either get hate or love but I am a conspiracy theorist and I believe everything about this masterpiece. There's so much profoundness in it and extremely important metaphors! I feel bad for anyone who doesn't believe something bizarre about earth even if it's not aliens we're definitely all being brainwashed! Also I love everything about Roddy Piper and his expressions. So happy to own a collector's edition of They Live, very much worth it! Quite unique and wonderful film!

"The world needs a wake-up call, gentlemen. We're gonna phone it in"

[ackstasis · 7/10 · 25 January 2011]

I know a person who lives his life as though the world is conspiring to oppress him. In fact, I don't think there's a single conspiracy theory to which he doesn't subscribe. It's no surprise that he recommended 'They Live (1988)' as one of his favourites, and, I must admit, it is a rip-roaring film with an intriguing premise. Robust drifter George Nada (pro-wrestler Roddy Piper) discovers a pair of sunglasses that reveals the world for how it actually is: billboards and magazines sparkle with Orwellian phrases, and many "people" are actually grotesque extraterrestrial beings bent on enslaving humanity. Nada begins to resist the status quo, recruiting a reluctant co-worker (Keith David) into the true nature of reality, but only after a gratuitous but hilariously intense fist-fight that lasts a good five minutes.

'They Live' was apparently a response to the Yuppie subculture that was prevalent throughout the 1980s; that is, young middle-class businessmen obsessed with wealth, status, and materialism. The Yuppies have gotten a raw deal in popular culture: The Narrator in 'Fight Club (1999)' was a disenchanted consumerist seeking to feel human again, and Bret Easton Ellis' novel "American Psycho" (certainly one of the more disturbing books I've ever read) was an altogether unflattering depiction of "stereotypical" yuppie Patrick Bateman (superbly played by Christian Bale in the tamer 2000 film adaptation). 'They Live' subscribes to a working-class fantasy in which all wealthy people are either aliens – here, Carpenter takes an uproarious dig at Siskel and Ebert – or humans who have betrayed their species for the good life.

Relevant Message in a Bad, Bad Movie

[Manny_Fatback · 4/10 · 8 February 2022]

If I had reviewed this film when I first saw it as a 17 year old, I would have been singing its praises. My memory tells me that it was a funny, action-packed film with a pretty important message about how society is controlled and controlling. If I had never re-watched this movie 33 years later, I would have gone on thinking that it was a good, fun, entertaining film. But... it's not. I'm not sure how it merits such a high rating--I guess that most of the reviewers are either teenagers seeing it for the first time, or adults seeing it through the lens of nostalgia.

So, what's wrong with this movie? Besides the interesting concept and relevant message... it's bad. There's no other way to put it. It starts off bad with a very boring, bland and dated setting. The music, which is usually good in Carpenter films, is grating, like a 70s porn soundtrack. The cast is mostly mediocre, 80s actors who weren't all that good at the time. The worst, of course, is the star: Roddy Piper. But perhaps it isn't the acting that's bad... maybe it's the script. Cheesy and stilted dialogue and juvenile one-liners that sounded smart when I was a kid... but they just sound dumb to my adult ears now. There are too many bad lines to share.

So... it's bad. Bad film-work, bad sets, bad dialogue, bad casting, bad acting, bad costumes, bad effects. If you were to look up the term "dated", this movie would fit. It has NOT aged well.

They Control Us

[lastsonnofkrypton · 7/10 · 7 August 2022]

Cleverly written and crafted, 'They Live' is political and social commentary adapted for sci-fi unlike just about anything else out there.

Importantly, the themes in this movie cover gross over-consumerism, needy materialism, greed, and a working-class level of society being manipulated and controlled by a power-hungry upper-class (in this case, aliens) with an assist from the unscrupulous, also-greedy scoundrels of humanity that care more for a taste of power themselves than the well-being of their own kind.

To touch on these themes, 'They Live' takes us through the journey of John Nada (Roddy Piper), a dim-witted but well-meaning blue-collar workman. Nada meets and teams up with Frank (Keith David), another blue-collar guy doing what he can to support his family. After finding a pair of glasses that allows the wearer to see the true nature of the advertising abound in every corner of the city, as well as the true nature of some of the upper class, who turn out to be aliens in human disguises, Nada and Frank work to stop the aliens from sending any further signals and exerting even more control over humanity, and to push back against the continued oppression from the upper class.

Witty and fun, 'They Live' is enjoyable from start to finish. It's also thought-invoking, socially relevant, relatable and reflective, and it's messaging stays with you long after you've finished watching. There's also a highly entertaining extended fight scene (~5 or so minutes) in an alley between Nada and Frank.

This one is one of Carpenter's stronger films, in my opinion. 7-8/10, definitely would watch again.

Clever sci-fi film with current cultural relevance

[ThrownMuse · 10/10 · 14 December 2004]

An unemployed man in the 80s (of the WWF variety, complete with Mel-mullet) shows up in the big city looking for work, American Dream intact. He finds a "Hooverville"-like (perhaps Reaganville!) community that takes him in and finds work in construction. He notices that several of the providers are ostensibly up to no good and hold meetings at the local church. He stumbles upon a secret door and finds a stash of...80s sunglasses! After the community is destroyed by the police, our baffled working-class hero pops on a pair of the glasses, which allows him see the world as it really is, and wake up out of his sleeeepy false consciousness! Was Carpenter reading up on his Marx? Maybe! Either way, this sci-fi/action flick is fantastic, cheesy, and clever. "They Live" was obviously influenced by the excess of the 80s, but doesn't come across as dated and actually seems very relevant to the current cultural climate in the US. There are various flaws (namely, the creepy-in-a-bad-way Meg Foster and her character), but overall this is an excellent, amusing, and entertaining film. My Rating: 9.5/10

"The golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules."

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 16 January 2015]

Interesting and relevant entertainment from John Carpenter stars wrestling icon "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as beefy drifter "Nada", who arrives in an L.A. of a near future where the gulf separating social classes has become stronger than ever. Enjoying the hospitality of a community for homeless folks, he inadvertently discovers the strange truth: aliens are among us. Their real visages and subliminal messages are only visible when a person puts on special sunglasses, designed by a resistance movement. The aliens are in collusion with the most affluent people on Earth to keep the lower classes in a state of submission while they take advantage of our planets' resources.

Ultimately, "They Live" turns into a fairly conventional urban action flick, but it's certainly got some good ideas going for it. Carpenter, using a pseudonym, adapted the story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" by Ray Nelson, and gives us a thoughtful meditation on how people can be manipulated by those that have all the power and influence, and a scathing indictment of the Reagan era 1980s.

"Rowdy" Roddy acquits himself well in the lead, and delivers an amiable performance. His dialogue is full of some choice quips. He's joined by the eternally cool Keith David, who's working with Carpenter for the first time since 1982s' "The Thing". Meg Foster is fine at portraying a beautiful but aloof woman whom Roddy continually encounters. Two Carpenter regulars, George "Buck" Flower and Peter Jason, have two of their best roles with him. Raymond St. Jacques is commanding as a blind preacher; other familiar faces in the cast include Sy Richardson, Susan Barnes, Norman Alden, and John F. Goff.

Carpenter composes another of his catchy electronic scores, and continues to make full use of the Panavision aspect ratio. Some of the best shots have both the homeless community and towering office buildings in the frame, quite literally showing two different worlds at once. The makeup on the aliens, admittedly, is pretty damn silly.

Of course, no summary of "They Live" is complete without mentioning one of the most epic of protracted fight scenes (between Roddy and Keith); every time you think it's over, it starts up again!

All in all, a solid entry in Carpenters' filmography that both amuses the viewer and provides some food for thought.

Seven out of 10.

One of the Coolest and Underrated Films of the Late 1980's.

[hu675 · 8/10 · 2 September 2005]

John Nada (Roddy Piper) comes to L.A. to search for a Job. On the same working place, when he finds a job. John meets Frank (Keith David), Frank asks John to come along. Where Frank stays with poor people and a place to rest. Once he gets there, John watches television and sees some subliminal reporting by a scientist. The scientist is trying to get an important message on television by using frequency. John knows, there is something unusual going on at a house nearby. After a small band of cops are beating these poor people trying to find, where does that frequency is coming from. The next day, John goes to the house nearby and he finds one thing an open box. That box was hidden in the wall and when John open that box. He finds nothing but sunglasses. When he takes one of them, John sees a whole different world. A Bizarre look of L.A. in black & white with images full of subliminal advertising messages are visible though special glasses. Then he notice the only purpose of these glasses are the civilians are mixed with aliens population amongst them!

Directed by John Carpenter (Assault on Precient 13, Ghosts of Mars, The Thing-1982) made a extremely well made film mixed with action/sci-fi elements and a refreshing scene of humor. Piper is good here, he has some memorable scenes with some funny dialogue. The film's best line from Piper is "I come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass but i'm all out of bubble gum". There is also an unforgettable scene with Piper and David, when Piper asks David to put the glasses on. When David refuses to put them on. Piper and David get into a very funny fistfight scene that turned into a classic scene. The film might have a few flaws, only depending a matter of personal taste. The Alien Make-Up effects are extremely awful but intentionally funny. The film ends with a great pay-off. The film is hilarious at times and always fun to watch. Since this film like most Carpenter's works become a Cult Classic.

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an good-Dolby Surround 2.0 Sound. Too Bad, Universal didn't release a Special Edition of this landmark independent film. The DVD from Europe, Carpenter and Piper recorded an running commentary track for this film in a two disc special edition. When in the U.S. get out Special Edition ? DVD doesn't have no features. This is a amusing satiric sci-fi adventure. Underrated to be sure, the film ages well despite awful alien make-up. Based on a Short Story by Ray Faraday Nelson titled "Three O'Clock in the Morning". Screenwriter "Frank Armitage" is actually director Carpenter. Panavision. (****/*****).

Movie is surprisingly good but the message delivered is 10/10 and the main reason you should watch it

[awdboosted95 · 7/10 · 13 July 2022]

Its nice to see convid woke up so many more people, its sad though that it took such a ridiculous overreach of power to shake people out of their slumber. The evidence of what is really going on and how deep the rabbit hole really goes has been out there forever, just follow the $$$ and open your mind and your eyes its plain as day. Seek and you shall find.

Yes they live, and unfortunately their plan of keeping the masses asleep has been VERY VERY effective.

Put down that Fluoride drink and WAKE UP!

Great flick, movie 7/10, message 10/10.

Poignant in the year 2020

[glengolf · 9/10 · 22 March 2020]

Just watched this clever and factional movie. With the world in lockdown right now, and politicians and their overlords bullying people out of their normal lives and telling untruths on TV. Well this film has some resonance there. Where's Roddy Piper when you need him. RIP to one of Saskatoon's finest. You left your mark down here with us brother.

Much better than I remembered it to be...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 6 May 2020]

Oddly enough I've always had some kind of aversion towards John Carpenter's 1988 movie "They Live". I suppose it was because I wasn't impressed the first time around back in the late 80s when seeing the movie for the first time.

But I sat down and watched the movie again in 2020, and turns out that my aversion to the movie was founded on my preference of movies back in the 80s, because I happened to enjoy "They Live" today in 2020. It is actually a rather enjoyable and entertaining movie. And it is such a glorious swing at the mentality of consumerism and society, that it is a movie that obviously have survived the passing of time, as it is still very applicable to our world in 2020.

The movie's story and plot is nice and enjoyable, and the story progresses nicely throughout the course of the movie.

Initially I was also a bit hesitant about the movie as it starred WWF athlete Roddy Piper. But he was actually surprisingly good in the movie, and he did carry his role and character well, not to mention having a lot of memorable one-liners. And it was also nice to see Keith David in this movie.

The aliens, parasites, or whatever they were as presented in the movie was actually good. I like the concept of them being hidden in plain sight, blending in around humans and looking exactly like humans, except when seen through a special filter.

I am rating "They Live" a six out of ten stars. If you haven't already seen this 1988 movie from iconic horror director John Carpenter, you should definitely do so if you have the chance.

Highly Underrated

[Miss_MiChiMi · 8/10 · 14 January 2005]

I have to say something here. This movie is actually very good. It was a mixture of sci-fi and political and sociological imagery. I thought the fact that the turncoat working with the aliens that were brainwashing the public was employed in the media was a brilliant way of showing how the media moguls consider us to be sheeple and use their power to persuade any way they see fit. This movie was actually quite well down, considering it did not have a blockbuster budget.

I would rather watch this than waste my time on the Matrix, which I think is a complete waste of time. The main plot of the movie was Nada discovering a worldwide conspiracy that used subliminal messages to "herd the sheep". Is this not a metaphor of what we see ever day? The media, commercials, billboards, etc, use subliminal messaging to encourage the actions of the public at large.

John Carpenter did a wonderful job. Roddy Piper's acting abilities were definitely above average, which is a lot more that I will ever to be able to say about anything Keanu Reeves has ever done. As usual, Keith David turned in a great performance. The reason this a cult classic is because it is a very good movie that requires the watcher to think.

Two down-on-their-luck workers face off an invasion wearing sun-glasses through which they can see the true face of extraterrestrials

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 7 October 2014]

A drifter (John Carpenter wanted a truly rugged individual to play Nada , he cast wrestler Roddy Piper in the lead role after seeing him in WrestleMania III , 1987) discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth . Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is , as he watches strange messages : Obey , Buy , Marry and reproduce , Consume , No thought , Stay sleep , Do not question authority , Watch TV , Consume , Obey and consume . The drifter named Nada join forces with a construction worker called Frank (second and final of two collaborations of actor Keith David and director John Carpenter who had previously both worked together on The Thing (1982) around six years earlier) and both of them take on an extraterrestrial threat . The Aliens keep humans in ignorance and they rule our world as they like. Nada and Frank seek other people aware of the situation to carry out a resistance against the hidden extraterrestrial from Andrómeda .

This exciting picture become a Cult Movie contains mystery , chills , noisy action , thrills , fights , social critical and bits of humor with tongue in cheek attitude . The movie is full of suspense , weird atmosphere with dark and surprising ending . Interesting screenplay , as Ray Nelson's short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning," which was the basis for 'They Live'. Roddy Piper and Keith David are pretty good and likable as two workers who unwittingly become involved into a fantastic world underneath . The famous big fight sequence between Roddy Piper and Keith David was designed, rehearsed and choreographed in the back-yard of director John Carpenter's production office . The fight between Nada and Frank was only supposed to last twenty seconds, but Piper and David decided to fight it out for real, only faking the hits to the face and groin. They rehearsed the fight for three weeks ; Carpenter was so impressed he kept the five minutes and twenty seconds scene intact. The film is partially shot in black-and-white which involved only the scenes and sequences where the aliens were visible to the audience when characters are wearing the sunglasses for most of the film , but this visual aesthetic ceases towards the end of the picture whereupon the aliens become visible in color for the film's final act . Adequate special effects , all the various aliens throughout the movie, both male and female, were portrayed by stunt coordinator Jeff Imada . Appropriate support cast such as Meg Foster , George 'Buck' Flower , Peter Jason , Sy Richardson , Raymond St. Jacques and John Carpenter uncredited, as the voice that says "sleep" . Is known for an unofficial "Carpenter's Repertory Group" of actors who he enjoys working with, including Peter Jason, George 'Buck' Flower, and various crew members . Nice electronic musical rightly fitting the action by the same director John Carpenter . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Gary Kibbe , Carpenter's ordinary .

Director John Carpenter is in familiar ground with this well-done tale on the style of comic books and old Sci-Fi serials . This was second and final of two times that director John Carpenter worked with Alive Films , the first was the previous year's Prince of darkness (1987). Writer-director John Carpenter has said of this movie that it was a critique of Reaganomics, a "vehicle to take on Reaganism". His films often feature important visuals shown from a video screen , as the end-of-the-world transmission from the future in Prince of darkness (1987), the Norwegian recordings of the expedition to uncover the aliens in The Thing (1982), various TV sets and the general anti-TV motif in this They live¨(1988), etc. ¨They live¨ was realized during his best period in the 70s and late 8os when he directed classics as ¨Halloween¨, ¨The fog ¨, ¨Christine¨, ¨1997 escape from N.Y ¨ , ¨Big Trouble in Little China¨ and ¨The thing¨ . The movie will enjoy to Science Fiction fans but packs a roller-coaster thriller and wholesome amusement . Rating : Above average. The film will appeal to John Carpenter enthusiasts.

Decent Concept, Terrible Execution

[Ianmcane · 3/10 · 10 July 2021]

A lot of the gushing reviews of this film seem to concentrate almost entirely on 'its message and its relevance'. Ok, the core concept - a homeless man finds a pair of sunglasses which allow him to see an alien species living amongst us and sending out subliminal messages to control us - is reasonably intriguing, if not exactly spectacularly original. I can imagine how this may of been better received in the Reagan-era 1980s however the idea of an elite class using the media to condition and control the masses hardly makes for groundbreaking stuff reviewing this here in 2021.

Aside from that, pretty much everything else about this B-movie sci-fi actioner is dismal. The characters are flat, the acting is wooden, the direction is all over the place and the dialogue is bizarre and only funny in an "Oh my God this is so bad" sort of way. If this was genuinely supposed to be an attempt at satire then John Carpenter fell flat on his face. Good satire is delivered with a knowing wink which both the filmmakers and the audience are aware of and can share the joke. I was just confused most of the time watching this film. My partner actually said out loud "What the Hell is going on?!!" during the fight scene between Rod Piper and Keith David. Why did it last so long? Why was it so excessively violent? Why did both men walk away practically unscathed when in reality they'd both be in hospital afterwards? Ok I know it's an 80s action scene but come on, even the various Arnie vehicles of the 1980s were more believable than this and that's saying something!

I give this 3 out of 10, purely because I'm sure worse films exist, I rate Keith David as an actor and he was the only talent in this, and as I said the core concept is reasonably interesting. I seriously wouldn't waste your time on this though unless you have a fetish for really bad cult films.

Cheap Sunglasses...

[azathothpwiggins · 6 May 2020]

Ever wonder why people line up in droves to follow the latest fad? What causes us to scurry about like ants, or conform like willing slaves? Why do we obey and consume like mindless drones? The answer is right here in THEY LIVE.

Director John Carpenter strips off the facade, and shows us the ugly truth. A secret invasion force has crept in and assumed control, having inserted themselves among us as we marched blindly along. Now, posing as "normal" human beings, these impostors hold positions at the highest levels of government! This certainly explains the synthetic nature of politics, doesn't it?

Now, subliminal messages hidden in the constant din of commercials have hypnotized us into walking trances, and made us easy prey. We are finished!

THEY are everywhere! THEY are our true masters!

This movie captures both the paranoia and dark humor of a society tamed and controlled by alien overlords, without even knowing it. Roddy Piper plays the working stiff who accidentally uncovers the conspiracy behind everyday life.

So, grab some sunglasses and look around. THEY have been here for a very long time...