Watch They Live
- R
- 1988
- 1 hr 33 min
-
7.2 (149,284)
They Live is a science fiction horror movie that was directed by John Carpenter and released in 1988. It stars Roddy Piper as Nada, a drifter who stumbles upon a conspiracy involving aliens who have infiltrated society and taken control through subliminal messages hidden in advertising and the media. The movie begins with Nada arriving in Los Angeles looking for work. He befriends Frank (Keith David), a construction worker who introduces him to a shanty town of homeless people. While walking into the city one day, Nada observes a church rally being raided by police. After the riot, he discovers a box full of sunglasses and takes a pair, which he later puts on to discover their otherworldly properties. The sunglasses reveal the true nature of the aliens' influence on humanity, which Nada and Frank vow to put a stop to.
The film is a commentary on consumerist culture, conformity, and the manipulation of the masses by the ruling elite. This theme is explored through the aliens' ability to use television and other media to control people's thoughts and desires. The discovery of this conspiracy causes Nada to become a wanted man, and he is relentlessly pursued by the aliens and their human collaborators.
One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is a back-alley brawl between Nada and Frank after Nada attempts to force Frank to wear the sunglasses. This fight sequence is one of the longest and most brutal in cinematic history, lasting over six minutes and featuring over 70 punches.
Another noteworthy aspect of the film is its use of practical effects. The makeup design for the aliens was done by artist Nick Dudman and is both unsettling and iconic. The sunglasses were also a unique practical effect, with the script originally calling for a device that Nada would wear on his head.
The movie's climax takes place in the alien's secret broadcasting station, where Nada broadcasts a message to the people of Earth to awaken them to the aliens' presence. This scene features the famous line, "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Overall, They Live is a classic science fiction film with a unique premise, memorable characters, and fantastic practical effects. Its commentary on consumerism and media manipulation is still relevant today, making it a movie that is definitely worth watching. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure to Watch They Live Online to experience a true cult classic.
They Live is a 1988 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 55.