As a fan who has seen more than my fair share of films, I can confidently say that John Carpenter’s 1988 masterpiece, They Live, stands tall among the giants. This movie, with its roots deeply embedded in the Reagan era, continues to resonate powerfully even in our current political climate.
A truly impactful cinematic satire requires a timeless essence to remain relevant over the passing years. Frequently, films that mock specific eras, locations, or governments struggle to maintain their relevance unless they incorporate an ageless element in their production.
A rare example of a film that continues to have plenty to say — bubblegum, or not — is John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi satire, They Live. Adapted from Ray Nelson’s 1963 sci-fi, short story, “Eight O’Clock in the Morning,” Carpenter rewrote the premise to take place smack in the middle of Reagan-era politics, lampooning the commercialized excess of the time to be the actual work of a covert alien takeover of humanity.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel excited with “They Live” now available on Peacock, especially during this heated political season. It’s the perfect moment to revisit this timeless classic that continues to stand as one of the director’s most impressive works. And who better to join me in this nostalgic journey than Keith David, the co-star from “They Live,” as he shares his memories of the film during an exclusive interview for its 30th anniversary with SYFY WIRE.
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Why Keith David thinks John Carpenter’s They Live has aged so well
In terms of setting and style, the film “They Live” – featuring wrestler Roddy Piper as the lead character and showcasing ’80s fashion and affordable sunglasses – is distinctly a product of the time it was made (the gritty streets of Los Angeles). Unlike other sci-fi films that portray futuristic sleekness, this film serves as Carpenter’s critique of materialistic American culture during the Reagan era. He likens the rampant capitalism to an unwelcome takeover by aliens who seek to exploit Earth for their own purposes, symbolizing the impact of Reaganomics on the common people.
In seven years prior, the director had chosen David for the role of Childs in his suspenseful horror film, “The Thing,” which dealt with paranoia. Seven years later, they collaborated once more on the film titled “They Live.” This marked their professional reunion after all that time.
The classic film that inspired They Live‘s fight between Roddy Piper and Keith David
David portrays the character of Frank Armitage, a down-to-earth construction worker living in Los Angeles who becomes friends with the newcomer, Nada (Piper). When Nada stumbles upon an extensive alien scheme to dominate mankind, Frank initially dismisses him as delusional. However, their contrasting beliefs lead to one of the most iconic action movie confrontations.
David mentioned that the battle sequence between his character and Nada was modeled after a memorable fight scene from the 1952 John Ford Western, “The Quiet Man.” As he put it, “The fight held its own narrative. It had a start, a progression, and a conclusion.
Larry Franco, a frequent collaborator of Carpenter and producer of “They Live”, recollected that the initial script merely indicated the scene as “They fight”. Carpenter handed Franco five blank pages, stating they represented a significant action sequence, but it required further planning and development by stunt coordinator Jeff Imada. When it was eventually filmed, the fight took a total of three days to be fully captured.
David remarked, “It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had, hands down. The way it was orchestrated by Jeff Imada was flawless, and Roddy played a significant role in teaching me how to make it convincing. I occasionally gave him a light tap, but he never retaliated.
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2024-09-09 21:01