They Live (1988)

Director: John Carpenter

Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster

A drifter discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth.

John Carpenter has made some incredible movies over the years, and off course some not so great. ‘They Live’ falls in the latter category.

Regarded as one of the great 80s horror films, I don’t regard ‘They Live’ either great or a horror. The only horror was having to sit through a film labelled as a horror, but where very little happens. The action (and I’m referring here to something of interest happening) is few and far between. All that actually happens, is the hero, Nada (played by wrestling superstar Roddy Piper) looking through his glasses and shooting aliens.

Uhm, why should I root for Nada? Why is he killing these aliens, that have lived in peace among us for so long? Why should I approve of them being killed in cold blood when they pose no threat? They haven’t even harmed a single person, yet Nada is killing them left, right, and centre, and then I’m supposed to feel sorry for the humans when the aliens fight back? Whaaaat??

I also found the film rather slow moving. There were times when it felt like the film needed a push. Then there was the annoying fight scene between Nada and his friend (mind you!), Frank, that seemed to go on forever – and the only reason they nearly KILLED each other, is because Frank refused to put on the glasses. Seriously?!! Meg Foster’s character, Holly, also doesn’t really bring much to the table. All the characters were underdeveloped, in fact.

The script also provides very little explanation of anything, really. Where does the glasses come from? Who made them? Why do they even exist? This is a weird – and ultimately boring – film.

Would I watch it again? Uhm, no-o-o!