Review of They Live (1988) by Simon W — 14 Jun 2010

Not one of the Carpenter greats, but this movie is still great fun. There's a fantastic fight scene in the middle that goes on for so long that it actually starts to feel a bit wierd - then it gets ridiculous - then it becomes funny - and then it goes on some more.

This isn't really a horror movie at all. It'd be difficult to say satire with a straight face, but it is a fun and intentionally funny movie.

It's got holes a plenty - Like the inclusion of the homeless guy who shows them around at the end. Like the bad guys thought: 'I know what would help our cause. You know that old, homeless drunk guy - lets make him rich and give him free rain over our underground lair. That'll come in handy.'.

The ending is also about as uninspired as I've ever seen. Basically it's a movie that's full of great, but completely unexplored ideas. Our hero is fun though and he spits out some killer lines: 'Life's a bitch and brother, she's back in heat.'.

And if that Awakening/Obey scene doesn't strike a cord deep down inside you then I just don't know.