THEY LIVE (1988)

MORGAN'S RATING

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They Live. Aliens are systematically gaining control of the earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission. Humanity's last chance lies with a lone drifter who stumbles upon a harrowing discovery -- a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal the terriyfing and deadly truth.

Roddy Piper (Nada), Keith David (Frank), Meg Foster (Holly), George 'Buck' Flower (Drifter), Peter Jason (Gilbert), Raymond St. Jacques (Street Preacher), Jason Robards III (Family Man), John Lawrence (Bearded Man), Susan Barnes (Brown Haired Woman), Sy Richardson (Black Revolutionary), Wendy Brainard (Family Man's Daughter), Lucille Meredith (Female Interviewer), Susan Blanchard (Ingenue), Norman Alden (Foreman), Dana Bratton (Black Junkie), John F. Goff (Well Dressed Customer), Norm Wilson (Vendor), Thelma Lee (Rich Lady), Stratton Leopold (Depressed Human), Rezza Shan (Arab Clerk), Norman Howell (Blonde Haired Cop), Larry J. Franco (Neighbor), Tom Searle (Biker), Robert Grasmere (Scruffy Blonde Man), Vince Inneo, Bob Hudson (Passageway Guards), Jon Paul Jones (Manager), Dennis Cosmo Michael, Nancy Gee (News Anchors), Jeff Imada (Male Ghoul), Al Leong (Asian, uncredited).

WHO ARE THEY? AND WHAT DO THEY WANT?

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: John Carpenter (Assault on Precinct 13). WRITERS: Frank Armitage (John Carpenter), and based on the short story Eight O'Clock in the Morning by Ray Nelson. PRODUCER: Larry J. Franco. ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Sandy King. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andre Blay and Shep Gordon. ORIGINAL MUSIC: John Carpenter and Alan Howarth. DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures.

QUOTES

Frank: I've walked a white line my entire life, I'm not about to screw that up. Nada: White line's in the middle of the road, that's the worst place to walk.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: November 4th, 1988 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: September 23rd, 2003 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $4.8 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $13.0 million (USA) BUDGET: $4 million (USA) - The scene where Nada says "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum" was ad-libbed by Roddy Piper. - The two critics speaking against violence on film criticize director John Carpenter. The writer of the this film (Frank Armitage) is actually Carpenter himself. - The fight between Nada and Frank was supposed to last 20 seconds, but the actors decided to fight it out for real, only faking the punches to the face. Carpenter was so impressed he kept the scene intact. - The communicators that the guards use are the P.K.E. meters from Ghostbusters (1984). - The credited writer "Frank Armitage" is a reference to William Gibson's book "Neuromancer." - Roddy Piper's character never gives his name nor is he referred to by name throughout the entire movie. He is simply referred to as "Nada" in the credits.

Nada: Life's a bitch, and she's back in heat!

Nada: I've come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum.

Nada: You, you look OK. This one, real fuckin' ugly.

Frank: The Golden Rule. He who has the gold, makes the rules.

Street Preacher: This world may have blinded me, but the Lord has let me see.

Nada: Wooo. It's like a drug. Wearing these glasses gets you high, but you come down hard.

Nada: You...you look like your face feel in cheese dip back in 1956.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"I suppose if a "dumb" movie can prompt so much thought, even to disagree with its premise, then it's time well spent watching "bad" movies." -- Nathan Shumate, Cold Fusion Video Reviews