The premise (from imdb)…
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 aliens in charge of a massive campaign to keep humans subdued.
Love this film… a politically subversive blend of horror and sci-fi - taking aim at the rise of unchecked capitalism & consumerism of the 80’s for much of ‘The West’, and the power of the mainstream media and advertisers to influence the masses. All done on a shoestring budget with the familiar style and wit of director John Carpenter.
Or just sit back and enjoy a quality, corny & funny 80’s ‘B’ movie - with Rowdy Roddy Piper chewing up and through the scenery…
Don’t forget your sunglasses - and gum too 😉
They Live! trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE
Wikipedia page
IMDB page
John Carpenter twitter
The soundtrack, by John Carpenter & Alan Howarth, is also well worth a listen if you can find it:-
‘They Live - Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Edition’ - amazon link for info
‘They Live! (1988) Retrospective / Review’:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK8MJVQVRo8 - a 26 minute video at the Oliver Harper youtube channel