They Live

They Live (1988)

Genres - Science Fiction, Horror, Comedy  |   Sub-Genres - Alien Film, Political Satire, Sci-Fi Action  |   Release Date - Nov 4, 1988 (USA)  |   Run Time - 93 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Paul Brenner

John Carpenter wrote and directed this science fiction thriller about a group of aliens who try to take over the world by disguising themselves as Young Republicans. Wrestler Roddy Piper stars as John Nada, a drifted who makes his way into an immense encampment for the homeless. There he stumbles upon a conspiracy concerning aliens who have hypnotized the populace through subliminal messages transmitted through television, magazines, posters, and movies. When Nada looks through special Ray-Bans developed by the resistance leaders, the aliens lose their clean-cut "Dan Quayle" looks and resemble crusty-looking reptiles. Nada joins the underground, teaming up with rebel-leader Frank (Keith David) to eradicate the lizard-like aliens from the body politic.

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Keywords

alien [not human], invasion, class-clash, drifter, brainwashing, bum, consciousness, conspiracy, glasses, hypnosis, indoctrination, manipulation, mind-control, poverty, subliminal-message, upper-class, media, deprogrammer