They Live
They Live
7.287%80%
Nada, a down-on-his-luck construction worker, discovers a pair of special sunglasses. Wearing them, he is able to see the world as it really is: people being bombarded by media and government with messages like "Stay Asleep," "No Imagination," "Submit to Authority." Even scarier is that he is able to see that some usually normal-looking people are in fact ugly aliens in charge of the massive campaign to keep humans subdued.
stuhannaford reviewedJuly 22, 2025
It’s easy to understand the rise in the cult status of this movie, especially from 2020 onwards. The film itself, production wise, has what you’d expect from the late 80’s, with a ropey performance here and there, plenty of action and a simple enough story to follow. The ‘fight for sight’ is extraordinary… sorry, extraordinarily long… and I’m mean long… really long. It’s clear that Rowdy Roddy required an action scene of some kind, but it is more than a little drawn out. When they start, pop the kettle on.
However, the appeal is not from the quality of script, standard of acting, nor overwhelming style, it’s the message, and a rather prophetic one at that. Take it at face value, and you might jump on the lizard overlord bandwagon. Scratch ever so slightly beneath the surface, and a rather more relatable set of issues become apparent. Government overreach, state intervention, the elite and ruling classes telling the poor and impoverished what is best for them. The middle class selling their soul for a piece of the pie, and the world gradually opening their eyes to what is staring them in the face in regards to the actual reality of life. Those prepared to stand up, and the recognition of the continued growth of the wealth divide. And above all else, do not question the black box in your living room. Sound familiar?