‘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.
