They Live (1988)

 

Talk about yet another cult classic: how more cult can you get next to this one?

Okay, there are a few other examples, this is very true. But still, if there is one staple deserving that particular tag, it has to be this one, right?

Roddy Piper (yes, the wrestler) plays a man called Nada, who is down on his luck and is trying to survive. He goes from town to town in search for a job, but life is tough. Not just for him, but for more and more people, it seems. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. He finds out that in a nearby church, things are not what they seem and after a raid that destroys the entire camp where he is staying, he finds sunglasses. They seem ordinary at first, but when he puts them on, he discovers that all advertisements and writing has subliminal messages as 'Obey', 'Stay Asleep', 'Consume More' and the like. Even stranger is that there seem to be people who are not people at all and these glasses make him see it all. He has a hard time convincing others of this fact, but he goes on a rampage to try and stop this invasion of sorts, which is made all the harder as wealthy humans everywhere are in cahoots with these visitors. 

'They Live' is great for several reasons. The acting is good, not just from people like Keith David or Meg Foster, but especially from Roddy Piper, wo not only has a load of charisma, but he plays his part with gusto and realism. He really is an average guy who gets thrown into the deep end and who has had enough. He is not a hero, and he does get his ass handed to him more than once. See, this is how you create a realistic hero. Take notes, Hollywood. 

The plot is clever and makes you question a lot of things. This film was released in 1988, but its themes are still relevant today, maybe even more so. In all fairness, it's likely that the world isn't being governed by consumerist aliens, but the way they go about lulling the populace to sleep is eerily close to some tricks that are still being used today. Again, not necessarily the subliminal messaging, but keeping the masses entertained and numb while the rich do nothing but profit? Sounds pretty close to the mark, actually. 

The alien design is iconic, Piper has some great oneliners, of which several have gotten so famous, they get referenced or spoofed all the time ("I have come to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum.") and to top things off, you get an extremely protracted fight scene between Piper and David that feels real and hardhitting and is probably one of the best fistfights in cinema history. 

In truth, it's almost mandatory to watch this one, at least once. It is a lot smarter than you might think. And seeing as it's a John Carpenter-film, it has his style and fingerprint all over it. Have a go, you shouldn't regret it.