Having just celebrated the 45th anniversary of the original Halloween movie and the release of the new sequel, another John Carpenter film is celebrating an anniversary – They Live was released on November 4, 1988 and is about to turn 35.
Starring the late, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Keith David (from The Thing), They Live was written and directed by John Carpenter and based on Eight O’Clock in the Morning by Ray Nelson.
This horror and sci-fi film is in part political commentary of commercialisation of popular culture and politics in the ’80s; I encourage you to read some of Carpenter’s interviews about the film.
Special sunglasses reveal the conspiracies and subliminal messaging being used to control the human race. But it’s not just humans behind it, there are alien creatures disguised as humans who use watches as communication devices. Those who learn the truth are in imminent danger and there begins a battle to regain control of the planet and their lives.
It’s actually crazy just how much the film relates to the current day and how (some) online “influencers” could be considered part of that ugly, evil alien race, constantly trying to sell us things. They Live, a film for those who were woke before being woke was ever a thing.
In a sense we’ve all become walking billboards, promoting the work of our chosen tattoo artists and the bands, television shows, films and characters tattooed on our bodies. Is there anything more meta than a They Live tattoo?
The Tattooed Archivist 
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