They Live (1988)

They Live (1988) — John Carpenter’s lean, mean sci‑fi thriller — follows drifter John Nada, an out‑of‑luck construction worker who stumbles on a pair of sunglasses that let him see the world as it truly is: a city where most people are normal by appearance but, through hidden advertising and subliminal commands, are being controlled by hideous, elite aliens. With the help of his friend Frank Armitage and an underground resistance, Nada confronts a conspiracy of corporate and political collaborators who use media, commerce and mind control to keep humans docile. Watching They Live, you’ll get a mix of slow‑burn dread, blunt political satire and pulpy action. The sunglasses sequences flip the film into a stark, high‑contrast view filled with blatant commands — “OBEY,” “CONSUME,” “STAY ASLEEP” — turning everyday signage and advertising into chilling propaganda. Expect gritty 1980s Los Angeles atmosphere, practical effects, an infamous, prolonged fistfight between Nada and Frank, deadpan humor, and Carpenter’s minimalist tension-building direction and score. The movie works as both a lean genre thriller and a pointed allegory about consumerism, conformity and media manipulation, delivering thrills, black comedy, and an unsettling wake‑up call that stays with you after the credits roll.

Actors: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster

Director: John Carpenter

Runtime: 94 min

Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

6.4 /10 55 /100 7.2 /10 6.4 /10