“I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum”. Sticking with the more dystopian theme for a moment, “They Live” is the second John Carpenter movie on my list. It’s not a classic, more a B-movie, but it’s great fun.
It’s an action satire on Eighties consumerism that also seems very relevant today – police in riot gear, get back to work, save the economy, submit, conform, consume, obey. Aliens have secretly invaded and brainwashed the planet.
A drifter, played by Roddy Piper, discovers the truth. Piper isn’t the best actor, he was an ex wrestler, but he still makes an impact, and Carpenter does a fantastic job directing, as usual. It’s made to look like dumb fun but is incredibly smart. I love it.
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