They Live is thought-provoking while maintaining its B-movie credentials.
They Live (1988)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:34
Fresh:30
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: A politically subversive blend of horror and sci fi, They Live is an underrated genre film from John Carpenter.
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Synopsis: John Nada (Roddy Piper) is a quiet loner, a drifter who gets work where ever he can find it. While working on a construction site in L.A. and sleeping in a vagrant community at night, John stumbles... John Nada (Roddy Piper) is a quiet loner, a drifter who gets work where ever he can find it. While working on a construction site in L.A. and sleeping in a vagrant community at night, John stumbles upon a secret society of alien beings who pose as wealthy and powerful people in human society. John joins a rebel group commited to exposing this conspiracy, and becomes their reluctant leader and the only hope of the human race. Former wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper is outstanding as the unassuming hero, playing the role with understated shock at what he uncovers and stubborn courage when he confronts it. Director John Carpenter laces the film with his trademark blend of humor and horror, making aliens that are hideously arrogant, greedy, and easy to hate, while the humans are confused and desperate in their struggle against them. The world looks a little different at the end of THEY LIVE, and one will never look at billboards, money, or sunglasses the same way again. The film contains the longest, and perhaps most realistic, fist fight in film history. Paying homage to INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, the film was based on the short story EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING by Ray Nelson. [More]
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George Flower
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George Flower
Director: John Carpenter
Director: John Carpenter
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Reviews for They Live
An erratically amusing throwback to the science-fiction paranoia films of the 1950s.
A fantastically subversive film, a nifty little confection pitting us vs them, the haves vs the have-nots.
All in all, an entertaining (if ideologically incoherent) response to the valorization of greed in our midst.
Carpenter's ability to fuse the bawdy humor and action with an intelligent script make for a genre film that is both thoughtful and entertaining
The black-and-white visuals disturb for only so long, and while themes of indoctrination and conspiracy prove initially intriguing, the film quickly descends into fistfights and gunfire.
Piper is easily the star of the show, making They Live Carpenter's best film -- I don't care what you say.
As is often the case with Carpenter, the concept is better than the execution.
Credibility isn't the problem with John Carpenter's They Live... but execution is.
Latest News for They Live
December 04, 2008:
They Live All Over Again ![]()
Who will be all out of bubblegum this time? Universal has announced plans to remake John Carpenter's 1988 cult classic, "They Live." More...
April 17, 2008:
Total Recall: The 20 Greatest Fights Scenes Ever
The long-awaited showdown between Jackie Chan and Jet Li in The Forbidden Kingdom got us thinking; what are the greatest fights ever filmed? We sifted through quite a few... More...
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| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| 19% 19% | Transformers: Revenge … |
| 55% 55% | Orphan |
| 43% 43% | The Proposal |
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 98% 98% | Up |
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