Overview
“They Live” (1988) is a science fiction action film directed by John Carpenter. The story follows a drifter named John Nada, played by Roddy Piper, who discovers a pair of sunglasses that reveal the true nature of the world: aliens disguised as humans control society and subliminally manipulate the populace through media and advertising.
As Nada dons the glasses, he sees subliminal messages such as “Obey” and “Conform” hidden in plain sight. Determined to expose the truth, he joins a resistance movement and confronts the alien overlords. With the help of his newfound allies, Nada engages in a gritty battle to awaken humanity to the reality of their enslavement.
“They Live” is renowned for its social commentary on consumerism, mass media manipulation, and the erosion of individuality in modern society. Carpenter uses the film to critique the power structures and conformity of the 1980s, but its themes remain relevant in contemporary discourse.
Filled with memorable one-liners and iconic scenes, “They Live” has attained cult status for its blend of action, satire, and thought-provoking themes, solidifying its place in the pantheon of science fiction cinema.
| Title | They Live |
|---|---|
| Director | John Carpenter |
| Release Year | 1988 |
| Main Cast | Roddy Piper, Keith David |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Action |
| Plot Summary | A drifter discovers sunglasses that reveal aliens disguised as humans controlling society through subliminal manipulation. He joins a resistance movement to expose the truth. |
| Themes | Consumerism, Mass Media Manipulation, Individuality vs. Conformity |
| Legacy | Attained cult status, known for its social commentary and iconic scenes. |
Plot of the Movie
A homeless drifter named Nada arrives in Los Angeles seeking work. He encounters a street preacher warning about powerful forces controlling humanity. Nada finds a job at a construction site and befriends a coworker named Frank, who invites him to stay in a soup kitchen led by Gilbert in a shanty town.
At night, a hacker seizes control of TV broadcasts, alleging that scientists found signals enslaving people in a dream-like state. They urge shutting off the signal to break free. Viewers report headaches. Nada covertly trails Gilbert and the preacher to a nearby church, uncovering their meeting with the hacker and others. Inside, he spots scientific gear and cardboard boxes. The blind preacher detects Nada, prompting his getaway.
In one night, both the shantytown and church are demolished in a police raid, with the hacker and preacher facing brutality from riot police. The next day, Nada retrieves a box from the church, finding sunglasses inside, while hiding the rest. Putting on the sunglasses, Nada sees the world in monochrome but also uncovers hidden messages urging consumption, reproduction, and conformity in the media. Moreover, he realizes that many individuals are actually aliens with skull-like faces.
After Nada taunts an alien woman in a supermarket, she alerts fellow aliens using a wristwatch-like device. Nada exits but faces two alien cops, whom he kills and takes their weapons. Inside a bank, he discovers alien employees and customers, dispatching them with a shotgun. Nada then escapes with Cable 54 employee Holly Thompson as his hostage. At her place, Nada urges Holly to try on the glasses, but she pushes him out of a window and calls the police.
The following day, Nada retrieves the sunglasses from a garbage truck in the alley. When Frank arrives to give Nada his paycheck, he initially believes Nada intends to harm him. A fierce and lengthy brawl ensues as Nada tries to persuade Frank to wear the glasses. Eventually, Frank reluctantly agrees and sees the truth about the aliens. He joins Nada in hiding.
Frank and Nada encounter Gilbert, who leads them to an anti-alien gathering. There, they receive contact lenses to replace the sunglasses and discover the aliens’ plan to exploit Earth’s resources and exacerbate global warming. They also learn of human collaborators in positions of power. Holly apologizes to Nada at the meeting. However, police raid the gathering, resulting in the deaths of many attendees. Survivors, including Frank, Nada, and Holly, scatter. In an alley, Frank and Nada are trapped but activate an alien wristwatch, which creates a portal allowing them to escape.
Frank and Nada end up at the aliens’ spaceport, stumbling upon a gathering of aliens and human collaborators celebrating the elimination of the resistance. They’re guided by a former drifter, now a collaborator, who shows them around. Eventually, they reach the basement of Cable 54, where the signal originates, heavily guarded. Nada and Frank locate Holly and fight their way to the transmitter on the roof, but Holly betrays them, killing Frank. Nada retaliates, destroying the transmitter, but is mortally wounded by aliens in a helicopter. As he dies, Nada defiantly gestures at the aliens. With the transmitter gone, humanity awakens from their trance, realizing the presence of aliens among them.
Reasons to Watch It
“They Live” is a must-watch for its thought-provoking social commentary, iconic scenes, thrilling action, and unique concept of aliens hidden among humans.
Social Commentary: The film serves as a thought-provoking critique of consumerism, mass media manipulation, and the erosion of individuality in society. Its themes remain relevant and encourage viewers to reflect on the power structures and conformity present in their own lives. Iconic Scenes: “They Live” features memorable scenes, such as the sunglasses reveal and the famous alley brawl, that have become cultural touchstones and contribute to its status as a cult classic.
Action and Suspense: Packed with action-packed sequences and suspenseful moments, the film keeps viewers engaged from start to finish. From intense fight scenes to daring escapes, there’s no shortage of excitement. Political Allegory: The film’s narrative can be interpreted as an allegory for political resistance and the struggle against oppressive systems. It resonates with audiences seeking stories of rebellion and fighting against injustice.
Unique Concept: The concept of aliens hiding in plain sight among humans, revealed only through special sunglasses, is both intriguing and original. It adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the story, making it stand out in the science fiction genre. Cult Classic Status: “They Live” has earned a dedicated following over the years, thanks to its blend of action, satire, and social commentary. Watching it allows viewers to join in the cultural phenomenon and appreciate its lasting impact on cinema.
Overall, “They Live” offers a compelling mix of social commentary, action, and suspense, making it a must-watch for fans of science fiction and thought-provoking cinema alike.
Reasons to Avoid It
Some viewers may choose to avoid ‘They Live’ due to its intense violence, dark tone, outdated effects, heavy-handed message, potential cultural insensitivity, and unconventional plot.
Violence: The film contains intense scenes of violence and brutality, including graphic fight sequences and shootings, which may be unsettling for some viewers. Dark Tone: Its dystopian themes and grim atmosphere may not appeal to those seeking lighter or more uplifting entertainment.
Outdated Effects: Some viewers may find the film’s special effects and visual style outdated compared to modern standards, which could detract from their enjoyment. Heavy-handed Message: The film’s social commentary on consumerism and media manipulation can be delivered in a heavy-handed manner, potentially alienating viewers looking for subtler storytelling.
Cultural Sensitivities: Certain elements of the film, such as its portrayal of homelessness and its treatment of gender and race, may be considered insensitive or outdated by contemporary standards. Unconventional Plot: The film’s plot, which involves aliens disguised as humans and a resistance movement, may not resonate with viewers who prefer more straightforward narratives.
Ultimately, while “They Live” has its strengths, including its social commentary and cult status, it may not be suitable for all audiences due to its violence, dark tone, and dated aspects.
Critical Response
“They Live” holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its politically subversive blend of horror and sci-fi as an underrated genre film from John Carpenter. However, on Metacritic, it receives a mixed or average rating of 55 out of 100 based on 22 reviews.
Jonathan Rosenbaum from the Chicago Reader finds “They Live” enjoyable and well-crafted by Carpenter, but criticizes the script for taking shortcuts and not fully exploring the central concept. Jay Carr of The Boston Globe appreciates Carpenter’s nostalgic visuals but feels the film lacks imagination after establishing its premise. However, Carr acknowledges its similarity to other sci-fi classics like “Terminator” and “RoboCop” in delivering a wake-up call to society.
Janet Maslin of The New York Times finds “They Live” disappointing due to its flatness and inconsistency despite attempting to convey a meaningful message. Richard Harrington from The Washington Post criticizes the film for its plot holes, poor acting, and subpar effects, dismissing it as preposterous compared to higher-quality productions. Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail feels the movie falls short of exploring its Orwellian premise fully, with social commentary that feels superficial and lacks depth.
| Reviewer | Comments |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Rosenbaum | Enjoys Carpenter’s craft but criticizes the script for shortcuts and lack of exploration of the central concept. |
| Jay Carr | Appreciates Carpenter’s visuals but finds the film lacking in imagination after establishing its premise; acknowledges its wake-up call to society akin to “Terminator” and “RoboCop”. |
| Janet Maslin | Disappointed by the film’s flatness and inconsistency despite attempting to convey a meaningful message. |
| Richard Harrington | Criticizes the film for plot holes, poor acting, and subpar effects, dismissing it as preposterous compared to higher-quality productions. |
| Rick Groen | Feels the movie fails to fully explore its Orwellian premise, with social commentary that lacks depth and feels superficial. |
| Rotten Tomatoes | Holds an 86% approval rating, praising its politically subversive blend of horror and sci-fi as an underrated genre film from John Carpenter. |
| Metacritic | Receives a mixed or average rating of 55 out of 100 based on 22 reviews. |
Key Themes
Key themes in “They Live” include critiques of consumerism and manipulation, exploration of resistance against oppressive forces, and themes of social inequality and perception versus reality.
Consumerism and Manipulation: The film critiques consumer culture and the manipulation of the masses through advertising and media, highlighting how people are controlled and influenced by materialistic desires. Alienation and Conformity: “They Live” explores the themes of alienation and conformity, portraying a society where individuals are isolated from each other and forced to conform to societal norms.
Resistance and Rebellion: The narrative centers on the theme of resistance and rebellion against oppressive forces. Characters like Nada and Frank symbolize the struggle of ordinary people fighting against authority and oppression. Social Inequality: The film addresses social inequality, depicting a world where the rich and powerful collude with extraterrestrial forces to maintain control over the population, resulting in widespread poverty and exploitation.
Perception vs. Reality: Through the use of special sunglasses, the film explores the theme of perception versus reality, revealing the hidden truth behind the façade of everyday life and challenging the notion of what is real. Individuality and Identity: “They Live” questions the loss of individuality and identity in a society where people are indoctrinated to conform, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and critical thinking.
Political Allegory: The film serves as a political allegory, drawing parallels to real-world issues such as government surveillance, corporate greed, and the erosion of civil liberties. Awakening and Enlightenment: Ultimately, “They Live” suggests the possibility of awakening and enlightenment, as characters like Nada and Frank become aware of the truth and join the resistance movement to fight for freedom and justice.
“They Live” intertwines critiques of consumerism, manipulation, and social inequality with themes of resistance, perception versus reality, and individuality, serving as a potent political allegory urging awakening and enlightenment against oppressive forces.
Memorable Moments
Memorable moments in “They Live” include the sunglasses revelation, the intense alley brawl, the suspenseful bank shootout, the daring portal escape, Nada’s defiant final stand, the pivotal meeting of the resistance, the tense confrontation with Holly, and the heroic transmitter destruction.
Sunglasses Revelation: The iconic scene where Nada puts on the special sunglasses, revealing the subliminal messages and the true appearance of the aliens among humans. Alley Brawl: The intense and prolonged alley brawl between Nada and Frank, showcasing the film’s gritty action and Carpenter’s directing style.
Bank Shootout: The suspenseful shootout scene in the bank, where Nada confronts the aliens among the employees and customers, highlighting the tension between humans and aliens. Portal Escape: Nada and Frank’s daring escape through an alien portal at the spaceport, adding a thrilling climax to the film as they evade capture.
Final Stand: Nada’s defiant final stand against the aliens, giving them the middle finger as he bleeds out, symbolizing his resistance to their control and oppression. Meeting of the Resistance: The gathering of the resistance movement, where Nada, Frank, and others receive contact lenses to replace the sunglasses, representing a pivotal moment in their fight against the aliens.
Confrontation with Holly: The tense confrontation between Nada and Holly, where she betrays him, leading to a shocking and tragic moment as Frank is killed. Transmitter Destruction: Nada’s heroic act of destroying the transmitter on top of the Cable 54 building, symbolizing the ultimate victory of the resistance and the liberation of humanity.
“They Live” is punctuated by memorable moments such as the sunglasses revelation, alley brawl, bank shootout, daring portal escape, Nada’s defiant final stand, the pivotal resistance meeting, the tense confrontation with Holly, and the heroic transmitter destruction, collectively shaping a gripping narrative of resistance against oppressive extraterrestrial forces.
Streaming Platforms
The film was released on Blu-ray by StudioCanal in 2012. Shout! Factory then released a “Collector’s Edition” on DVD and Blu-ray in November of the same year. In 2014, Universal Pictures included it in a DVD pack alongside other movies. Finally, on January 19, 2021, Shout! Factory released a “Collector’s Edition” of the film on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
“They Live” is available for streaming or rental/purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and the Microsoft Store, with users having the option to rent or buy the film depending on their preferences and region.
Amazon Prime Video: Users with an Amazon Prime subscription can stream “They Live” as part of their subscription or rent/buy it. Google Play Movies & TV: Users can rent or buy “They Live” to stream on Google Play Movies & TV. YouTube: “They Live” can be rented or purchased for streaming through YouTube Movies.
iTunes: Users with an Apple ID can rent or buy “They Live” to stream on iTunes. Vudu: “They Live” is available for rent or purchase on Vudu, a digital streaming platform. Microsoft Store: Users can rent or buy “They Live” to stream on Microsoft Store, accessible through devices like Xbox consoles and Windows computers.
These platforms typically offer the option to rent the movie for a limited period or purchase it for permanent access. Availability may vary depending on region and time, so users should check their preferred platform for the most up-to-date information.
