One of the greatest lines in all of film is “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubblegum.” This line was said by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s character in They Live, a film that is an indictment of societal values in the late 80s. Where Wall Street, which came out almost exactly a year earlier, took a look at one end of the spectrum, They Live takes a look at the same issues but from a different perspective (one could almost say “Main Street”).
Roddy Piper is the main character, and he isn’t given a name (but in the special features and credits he is referred to as John Nada – as in “nothing”) meant to represent anybody. A drifter looking for an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. He meets up with Frank (Keith David) another man in a similar situation. Taking refuge in a homeless camp Nada stumbles upon a plot that has global implications.
Sure it’s a little bit ridiculous, but many films are. They Live celebrates that ridiculousness with plausibility. As an explanation for the social climate of the late 80s (and to a certain amount still exists) the idea of an alien invasion sounds paranoid but fits in with so much of what could be. It’s a leap, but in a way it’s not a big one.
And then there’s the fight scene about an hour into the film. It’s ridiculous. It goes on too long. Somehow it works and feels right. At the center of it all is a special type of eyewear that allows humans to see what is really going on. Nada decides to do something about it, and eventually joins up with a resistance movement. Of course things work to the eventual climax, and in true John Carpenter fashion, there isn’t a typical Hollywood happy ending (making the story all the better).
The special effects in They Live are well done. A mixture of practical effects, makeup, matte paintings and more. This has always been one of John Carpenter’s strengths, using the right tool for the job, rather than getting caught up with whatever technical wizardry is in vogue at the time. Carpenter has always been a practical filmmaker, almost always working with a limited budget. As a result he has learned how to get maximum effect out of limited resources, and They Live is a great example of this and doesn’t look or play out like a low budget film.
Special features kick off with an audio commentary from the earlier DVD release of the film. it features John Carpenter and Roddy Piper being very amiable. It may not be as insightful as one might hope for, but it is worth a listen to fans of the film. Four newly produced featurettes are worth checking out, but I would have preferred them to be strung together into a larger retrospective featurette. Piper is missing from these, sadly. the original behind the scenes featurette is here as well as stills and the fake commercials.
They Live is one of John Carpenter’s best films. Part social commentary, part “what if” scenario, and wildly entertaining. The package we’re getting is a solid presentation, looking better than when it first debuted in theaters. Well worth purchasing.