They Live (DVD 2002)

Nada is a drifter who seeks work in a city that, unknown the the general populace, is being brainwashed by aliens. Aliens, it is discovered, that can only be seen by putting on some special sun glasses. Well, to cut a story short, Nada becomes the obstacle in the aliens' plans for eventual world domination, unless he can destroy the machine that makes them look human (simple, eh?)

John Carpenter's early films all have one common thread which seems to make them, some how, "work". This is budget. Simple as that. All of his early, low budget films (Big Trouble in Little China, Escape from New York ect...) had none of the funding his later, and slightly poorer ones had.
They Live is no exception, but is a genuine classic, given a chance. OK, so Roddy Piper is no Olivier, but the role suits him perfectly. Carpenters films are never dull and all tie-up nicely at the end. And, in most cases, are a damn sight better than most of the action/horror that is turned out today, despite the modern special effects!

If you love sc-fi this is the movie for you made in the 80s but you wont be disapointed a film you must have in your collection for all you alien fans and action movies

A lot to recommend this movie - one of Carpenter's better efforts, not up there with "In The Mouth Of Madness" but not as bad as "Ghosts of Mars". An odd leading actor not very widely known and some strange edit decisions including the enormous length of the epic fist fight, but some good sci-fi scenes and ideas.

I have always been a Roddy Piper fan back to his wrestling days and first owned this film of video. I was very pleased to find that it was now out on DVD. The running time is approximately 89 minutes and it was first released in the early 90's so there are no special effects as such. The story is set in the near future in a small town which has been taken over by aliens who look human until viewed through special sunglasses which then show their true form, they are controlling the earth through mind control. The main character is John Nada (Roddy Piper) who drifts into town looking for work and accidentally makes the deadly discovery. Can he infiltrate the aliens transmitting station and reveal the aliens true forms to the rest of the earth? The DVD contains much more than the video, stills, making of the film with commentary by both the director and Roddy Piper. Well worth buying.