Gary This is one of my top 5 sci-fi movies of all time, i just love it, the sad thing is not many people i know have even heard of the movie.The movie seems really slow for the first 20-30 minutes but for me the moment the movie starts is when Roddy Piper puts the sunglasses on, that's the time i sat up and got into it.The fight scene in the alley was the best movie fight scene i had saw up to that point and it stayed the best fight scene in my opinion for some years after.If you are a sci-fi fan and not seen this movie yet then i ask you WTF? Get this movie watched now because you're not a true sci-fi fan until you have saw this.I could go on and on about this movie but i have a life i have to get back too so get out there and watch it.

creatureofthereel Quite possibly now should be listed under Horror, it's scary how close this could be to how the world is currently. I wonder if this film was to go the way all films seem to be going and get remade, would it scare people as to how products are marketed? And are the government deciding what you buy and use?. Watching it now seems to make me wonder how fitting it is in today's society. If it wasn't aliens trying to rule the earth it could easily be the government...Oooh conspiracy theories...Lizards...Anyway, They Live is an excellent movie with some fantastic acting by Roddy Piper and Keith David. The soundtrack fits in perfectly, which is one thing John Carpenter always seems to get right in his films. I highly recommend that after you watch They Live then check out the trivia here on IMDB, some of the points are wonderful. Obey.Consume.

CinemaClown A biting satire of modern society that actually makes more sense today than it did at its time of release, John Carpenter's They Live is a cleverly envisioned, intricately layered & rivetingly told sci-fi horror that was far ahead of its time, and its critical take on the power of commercialism & influence of advertising on the masses is only growing more relevant with time.The story of They Live follows a drifter who arrives in Los Angeles looking for work and stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see everything around him for what it really is. As he learns that subliminal messages in mass media is part of a hidden agenda by aliens masquerading as human beings to keep the human civilisation subdued, he tries to reveal the truth to the world.Written & directed by John Carpenter (best known for Halloween & The Thing), They Live takes its time to establish its bleak atmosphere, and only escalates once all the pieces on the board are set. Keeping a firm grip on the pacing & build up, the director paints a grim portrait of what mankind is reduced to but it is the film's close proximity with our current scenario that makes it compelling on so many levels.Carpenter doesn't hold back in illustrating the corrupting power of mass media, and captures the omnipresent subliminal commands behind every advertising banner for what they are. Greyscale photography is utilised to illustrate the truth while coloured segments represent the world that's completely oblivious to the reality it's living in. Carpenter's score may not rank amongst his finest compositions but it still works.Coming to the performances, the cast is led by noted WWF icon "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and features Keith David & Meg Foster in supporting roles. Piper is surprisingly low-key here, compared to his volatile in-ring persona, and chips in with a measured input that finely articulates his character's emotions & confusion. David delivers a sturdy performance that stands neck to neck with Piper's, while Foster's work has an enigmatic quality to it.On an overall scale, They Live is a brilliantly directed, deftly scripted, exquisitely witted, skilfully photographed, expertly edited, splendidly performed & nicely scored example of its genre(s) that paints an unsettling portrait of the world we live in, and is another underrated gem from Carpenter that's well deserving of its cult following. Smart, subversive & stimulating, this political satire has aged like wine and will continue to resonate strongly & more deeply as the years roll on.

Emmett Brady This movie is more relevant today than when it was made. Maybe John Carpenter heard about David Icke and based the movie on what he was saying and still is.This movie may be fiction but it is not as far-fetched as one may think. If one wants to open their eyes to what is actually going on in the world and who actually runs and controls our world and all of us then this movie is a good start.