Director: John Carpenter
Screenplay: John Carpenter (as Frank Armitage) based on the short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" by Ray Nelson
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster
Running Time: 94 minutes
Genre: Science-fiction, action
Ever get the feeling that there is something not quite right about the world? That there is something going on behind the scenes?
Drifter "Nada" (Piper) arrives in Los Angeles looking for work. He discovers a pair of normal-looking sunglasses but when he puts them on he discovers subliminal messages hiding behind every billboard, advertisement and television signal instructing people to "Obey", "Consume", "Marry and Reproduce", "Conform" and so on. Moreover, wearing the sunglasses allows him to see that many seemingly normal people are in fact skull-faced aliens in disguise. The aliens are in the process of an insidious and successful take-over of Earth. Needless to say, Nada can't see eye to eye with the alien invaders and makes his feelings known through the medium of punching and the use of very large guns.
This is an enjoyable blend of science-fiction, action, satire and social commentary. On one level it is a fun twist on the alien invasion narrative, but on another it does have a very pertinent message about how we are controlled by the media and messages that we seem to be constantly bombarded with, now more than ever. In fact the film is possibly more pertinent now that it was back in 1988. Professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper makes for a charismatic leading man, and he handles the action scenes well, his nearly six minute punch-up with Keith David in an alley is a highlight. None of the rest of the cast really get to make much of an impression, because it really is Piper's show. Meg Foster in particular doesn't really have much to do. While the film was a moderate success on it's release, it has since become a major cult film, and it's imagery has been used many times in various places.
As well as directing and writing the screenplay (under a pseudonym), Carpenter also co-wrote the film's pulsating, noir-tinged score.
It's an important and memorable film that is gets ever more disturbing all the time. The film was distributed by Universal and it is unlikely that such a subversive film would be released by a mainstream studio today. In fact, according to Carpenter, when he first pitched the film to Universal, a baffled executive asked "Where's the threat? We all sell out every day." Carpenter used the line in the film.
"I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum."
- Nada (Roddy Piper)
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