They Live

A drifter referred to as "Nada" because he has no other name comes into town. He first applies for a job at a bank, telling the teller how the bank's back home all conked out, but this seems like a joke because next he settles into life as a bum: taking shoddy work at construction sites, eating his meals at homeless shelters and living in a shantytown across the street from a church. Perhaps just because he's bored, he looks across the street at the eerie church and notices a black, blind preacher mouthing verbatim the same words as a loon on the tv. He investigates, but is rushed out when a team of police aggressively attack the church, taking the preacher with them. Soon afterwards, Nada discovers a box of sunglasses that were stashed in the church, puts them on, and a strange world is revealed to him. Signs and magazines say simple things like CONFORM or WATCH TV in the place of their original texts, people mingled across town are revealed to be aliens. Nada essentially discovers a controlled world: an Orwellian society with planted individuals to break down society. The film was directed by John Carpenter. His direction is perfect for this frivolous but fun film, treating the events with serious tones. His fight scenes are well choreographed and allow for the audience to forget whatever political statements he's trying to make. His witticisms work in the same manner, and although they detract from the political points, it's okay because  those political points aren't really worthy of the fun direction. The same political undertones of George A. Romero's films work because they're so understated, and not overwhelmingly obvious as they are in THEY LIVE. Still, this is a fine science fiction film, with great direction from Carpenter and none of the depressing hopelessness of Romero, which often undermines his work.
They Live: ★★★1/2