They Live

1988
US
1h 33min
18

Directed by: John Carpenter
Written by: John Carpenter
Cast: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, Raymond St Jacques, Peter Jason, Sy Richardson, George 'Buck' Flower
UK release: 23 June 1989

Returning to his B-movie roots, Carpenter's classic is a sprightly sci-fi satire with a decidedly 1950s feel. As recession grips America, drifter Piper discovers that the yuppies controlling the economy are in fact aliens, and they're using subliminal advertising to keep the populace docile. Although the serious and political premise set up in the first half needs more of a follow-through, the knockabout action that follows is well handled, with entertaining results.