They Live *** (1988, Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster) – Classic Movie Review 7032

The Earth has been taken over by aliens who look like us, and only construction worker drifter Nada (Roddy Piper) and a small band of humans equipped with special sunglasses can see them in our midst. The glasses reveal that what look like regular people are ugly aliens in charge of a campaign to keep humans subdued.

Based on Ray Nelson’s short story Eight O’Clock in the Morning, it is an old, old plot (similar to the premise of the 1967–1968 TV series The Invaders). But writer-director John Carpenter spices it up with some great twists, especially the fact that the glasses also allow people to see the subliminal messages in advertisements: ‘Stay Asleep’, ‘No Imagination’ and ‘Submit to Authority’.

Despite some faults, in particular an embarrassingly overlong fight scene in the middle section, the movie has enough subversive touches and frenetic action climaxes to make it a thoroughly enjoyable action horror sci-fi ride.

John Carpenter writes the screenplay as Frank Armitage and provides one of his exciting scores (with Alan Howarth).

Also in the cast are Keith David, Meg Foster, George ‘Buck’ Flower, Peter Jason, Raymond St Jacques, Jason Robards III and Larry Franco (the film’s producer).

They Live is directed by John Carpenter, runs 93 minutes, is an Alive and Carolco production, is released by Guild, is written by John Carpenter (as Frank Armitage), is shot by Gary B Kibbe, is produced by Larry Franco, and is scored by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth.

In February 2018 John Carpenter said he might direct a new horror movie, and in May 2018 Jason Blum confirmed that Carpenter will compose the score for the new Halloween movie, directed by David Gordon Green, and due for release on 19 October 2018 (US).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7032

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