They Live

REPUBLICANS FROM OUTER SPACE

In They Live, a science fiction thriller crossed with a political satire, director John Carpenter reveals what was really going on during the George Bush Administration. Rowdy Roddy Piper plays a homeless guy who discovers the horrible truth about "the people in charge," thanks to a pair of special glasses. His seven and a half minute fight scene with Keith David should please WCW fans but even non-Piper fans will be impressed by the way he delivers a line. Sample: "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass....and I'm all out of bubblegum."

In a 1988 interview with John Carpenter for American Cinematographer Magazine, the director said that "They Live began with a comic book I bought called 'Nada.' It was published by Eclipse Comics, a company which puts out very beautifully rendered science fiction stories. This particular strip was taken from a short story called "Eight O'Clock in the Morning," by Ray Nelson. In the story, this guy wakes up and realizes that the entire human race has been hypnotized, and that there are creatures among us. I became entranced with the story, but I felt that it should be updated. I thought that it might be more current if the guy woke up and realized that the Reagan Revolution was run by aliens from another planet."

"I must tell you," Carpenter added, "that my criticisms of society and the film business are not entirely serious. I've made a lot of money in the film business the way it is run today, and I am a complete capitalist. I'm just advocating a little humanity in the world. In order to do that, you have to go strong in the other direction, be a little outrageous. It's fun to attack the status quo."

And now for those popular drive-in totals from America's foremost horror connoisseur, Joe Bob Briggs: "Two breasts. (Of course, the TNT censors took care of THOSE.) Sixty-four dead bodies. Yuppies from outer space. Exploding TV studio. One of the most hellacious two- man brawls ever put on film. National Guard Fu. Garbage Truck Fu. And Meg Foster Fu. Four stars. Check it out."