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‘They Live’ Exposes Propaganda With Satire
A comedic and sci-fi take on ’80s America
The article contains light spoilers.
Given the current events in the United States, I feel the weight of the world. However, I try not to worry and enjoy my favorite movies and music. During these times, I listen to more angry music and watch movies with cultural themes — it helps me relieve my stress.
I can’t think of any movie I could watch other than John Carpenter’s They Live. This 1988 sci-fi action movie may be silly, but the silliness of the film fits well with its message. Carpenter wanted to poke fun at Ronald Reagan’s administration with They Live, saying that only evil aliens will allow these policies to pass.
The aliens use propaganda to control us. They profit from everything we see, hear, and experience. They think humanity is stupid — we’re easy to manipulate.
The aliens had no clue that a group of scientists had developed sunglasses that would allow us to see our true reality. Whoever puts on the glasses sees a black-and-white Orwellian nightmare. Everyman John Nada (Roddy Piper) discovers this for himself. He, Frank Armitage (Keith David), and a group of rebels must stop the aliens’ mind control. Earth is no place for evil ETs.
This plot offers a good commentary on the ’80s — the movie could have been more serious. Regardless, John Carpenter has added more satire, and it works.
The main character, Nada, is an excellent example of this. He’s supposed to be a serious action star, but he also has his moments. His best scenes are his reactions to the world and the aliens after he tries on the sunglasses. Roddy Piper’s Nada may have paved the way for other wrestlers in comedic roles.
Another notable example is when he enters a bank and says these famous words:
I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubblegum.
John Carpenter has said that Roddy Piper improvised the line. If true, it’s a memorable and excellent line parodied by many movies and TV…
