Review of They Live (1988) by Lee V — 21 Nov 2015

"The poor and the underclass are growing. Racial justice and human rights are non-existent. They have created a repressive society and we are their unwitting accomplices." A prescient film if there ever was one.

Writer/director John Carpenter made this film in the 1980s Regan Era, but in the age of the 1%, the decline of the middle class, police shootings and the Occupy Movement, this film surprised me how relevant it is today and even more so than when it came out.

Roddy Piper plays an out of work construction worker who discovers an alien race has secretly taken over the government, media and the business world and have perpetrated a subliminal campaign to keep the masses asleep and in their place.

When Piper discover specially designed sunglasses that allow him to see his work plastered with subliminal messages telling the masses to "SLEEP" "OBEY" "CONSUME" "WATCH TV" "DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY" "MARRY AND REPRODUCE" or "THIS IS YOUR GOD" printed on money.

In this film, billboards and television are the main modes of conveying this message, but imagine how much easier it is to placate the masses in the internet age with smart phones, tables and laptops in the hands of most every citizen.

Thematically, this film is Carpenter's most overtly political film. In terms of storytelling and tone, Carpenter has always had something of a throwback style and this film, although thematically serious and fairly grim at times, actually reminded me of the often corny science fiction films of the 1950s and 60s.

However, I'll say that it works. One the spectrum of corny sci-fi, this is not goofy sci-fi for kids, like "Invaders from Mars," but I would liken it to scrappy politically subversive science fiction films like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

" That film took on McCarthyism and Carptener's film is taking on the 1% and those who keep them in power. There are a number of Carpenter regulars in the film including Keith David, George 'Buck' Flower, Peter Jason and Al Leogn in an uncredited bit part.

. You also get Meg Foster and Sy Richardson so it's a solid cast. Overall, this film is a pretty smart social commentary, even if it's filled with a lot of hokum.