“I’m all out of bubblegum.” —Nada
Today’s quick review: They Live. Nada (Roddy Piper), an itinerant worker, becomes involved in something much larger than himself when he stumbles across a group of subversives preaching an unbelievable message: that the world is run by aliens who hide in plain sight and keep humanity pacified using subliminal messages. Initially skeptical, Nada soon sees the truth for himself and sets out to wage a one-man war against society’s hidden elite.
They Live is a science fiction thriller from director John Carpenter. They Live is built around a single idea: that modern society is a lie. This simple claim motivates everything from the film’s choice of protagonist to its sense of paranoia to its portrayal of the media and consumer culture. They Live does not cast as wide a net as other sci-fi adventures, but it picks a potent idea to focus on and backs it up with solid craftsmanship.
They Live plays out like a thought experiment. The setup is slow and deliberate, laying the groundwork for what’s to come. The reveal of the aliens kicks off a short, concentrated conflict that ends abruptly once the movie has said what it wants to say. At all times, They Live remains focused on the aliens and their mechanisms of control. Its social commentary is simple, to the point, and wrapped in just enough of a story to make it a smooth watch.
Fans of the science fiction genre should give They Live a shot. Its striking ideas and clean execution make it a classic of the genre, albeit a niche one. Fans who prefer fast-paced action and flashy special effects to thoughtful speculation won’t get as much out of it. For a similar style of sci-fi, check out The Omega Man or Logan’s Run. For fiction that explores similar ideas about society, try The Matrix, Fight Club, or The Adjustment Bureau.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a compelling idea.