31 Days of  Drafts and Darkness:

"They Live" (1988)

      Seeing as we're just beginning our journey into brews and boos, let's start with something fun.

The Plot:

Rowdy Roddy Piper (yes, the wrestler) plays a drifter looking for a honest day's work. He's portrayed as the kind of well-meaning low-life that wanders from town to town picking up construction jobs whenever he can get them. Everything changes for Mr. Piper upon the discovery of a pair of seemingly-simple 80's-style sunglasses, wide-lens and all.

You see, once Roddy dons these shades, the world reveals its true identity. Some people that otherwise appear normal become grotesque skeletal creatures when seen through the sunglasses. Billboards reveal subliminal messages like OBEY and SUMBIT. Unbeknownst to the general public, aliens have not only invaded the planet, but have actually wormed their way into everything from politics and media to everyday life. Picture grocery shopping next to a red/blue skeleton. Bear with me. The point is that the invasion hasn't just started, but rather it's been going on for quite some time and the majority of Earth has no clue.

Before long Rowdy Roddy Piper (honestly, I have no idea what his character's name is, if he even has one, so let's just stick with R.R.P.) meets up with an human underground resistance movement bent on overthrowing the aliens and exposing them to the world. They've boxes and boxes of the special glasses, but are few in number and resources. If they can destroy a media tower transmitting the cloaking device hiding the aliens the world can realize what's happening and fight back. The problem is said aliens control much of television and the government, so breaking into the TV station where the antennae is held won't be easy. Double-crosses and big hair ensue.

Can our scrappy band of rebels reveal the alien conspiracy?

Will there be cheesy 80's-era cliques ridden throughout?

The Flavor:

Absolutely drenched in cheese, "They Live" is one of those movies that tries so hard to be scary, but because of everyone involved taking things 150% deadpan seriously, winds up hysterical. But charmingly so. Don't get me wrong, "They Live" is an incredibly enjoyable film, but while it's clear that the film maker - John Carpenter of all people - was trying so hard to jam a message about how the media controls the minds of society, the execution is so splendidly entrenched into 80's goofiness that it plays out like pseudo-parody.

R.R.P. and the rest of the cast play every scene completely straight. Not once is there a 'wink at the camera'-style moment to cue you in to the silliness. Rather, it just unfolds in front of you. The design of the aliens, for example, is disturbing. At first. The film draws the creepy factor out of their incorporation into everyday life, and it works. Seeing the skeleton-like aliens dwell among the banks and neighborhoods of urban sprawl is startlingly. It's how R.R.P. reacts to the situation that makes things funny.

Let the following words be forever immortalized in cinema history:

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum."

The above string of literary gold is spoken by a shot-gun toting R.R.P. moments before he begins a rampage of alien obliteration.

Such a vibe runs healthily through the entire movie and sets the perfect tone for what to expect.  R.R.P.'s attempt to show a friend the reality of the world results in what may be the longest fight scene in any movie I've ever seen. For twenty minutes, R.R.P. and Keith David (also in John Carpenter's "The Thing"....and Goliath from the Disney Gargoyles cartoon) brawl it out in an alley because Keith adamantly refuses, for some unspoken reason, to try on the sunglasses. Just when you think the fight is over, with both character stumbling around bloodied, someone tackles the other person and the fight begin anew. This happens no fewer than 5 times. And we're not talking straight up punches here, folks. Oh no, this fight includes straight-up body slams and wrestling. It's glorious.

Most certainly a cult classic, "They Live" not only is a great 80's era invasion flick, but also an attempt to take a shot at the brain-washing attitude of the media. Television is on the alien's side in this movie, and the plot makes sure to cram that message down your throat with a plunger. But the over-the-top nature of the film makes what would otherwise be pontificating into charming fun. Though parts of the movie are creepy, don't go in expecting frequent scares. You will have a lot of laughs however.

Best Paired with:

"They Live" is a fun, Friday night kind of movie to watch with a big group of friends. Order pizza and wings, crack a few beers, pop this baby in the DVD player, and enjoy. Make sure everyone has a solid sense of humor about B-movies, cause' if they go into this expecting serious horror, they're going to be let down. While this movie is also a perfect candidate for the "It's 3 a.m. and I'm still awake" viewing scenario, I recommend sharing this cult classic with buddies.

Accompanying Brew:

As "They Live" lends itself to a night of pizza and friends, where many beers are usually drank over the evening, I want to recommend something on the lighter side. Many people aren't used to heavy, higher alcohol brews, so let's begin with something lighter.

Seeing as we're just starting off "31 Days of Drafts and Darkness", I figured I'd start with one of the more popular seasonal beers: Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Ale.

Shipyard's Pumpkinhead is usually one of the first Fall brews you see lining store shelves into late August, and it certainly appears to be one of the most sought-after pumpkin beers, frequently selling out. Beer purists often scoff at how the brew is very light on pumpkin-flavor, instead blasting the drinker with spices and sweetness. Yes, the pumpkin flavor is faint, with the spices taking center stage. Depending on your tastes, that might not be a bad thing. If you're a fan of sweeter, spicier brews that are heavy on the cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, you'll enjoy Shipyard Pumpkinhead.

Though the pumpkin taste is very light, as an introduction into pumpkin beers, Shipyard Pumpkin is a solid, safe choice for most people. The flavor is sweet, but not as overwhelmingly as some of the higher ABV pumpkin beers can be. The hoppiness is very mild, so anyone not into bitter beers won't be put off. It also a popular choice for the cinnamon/sugar rim that many pubs have been dipping their pint glasses into as of late.

Shipyard Pumpkin goes down easy and is light enough to have multiples of without spending the night in the bathroom.

 Of all the beers I intend to review, Shipyard's is by far going to be the most akin to the typical American beers most folks are probably used to. Because of this laid-back nature, fitting with the enjoyable vibe of "They Live", Shipyard Pumpkinhead makes a good accompanying brew. The use of a cinnamon/sugar rim to up the fun-factor also goes well with the funky tone of the movie. Think of both the movie and the beer as that bowl of sugary cereal you had in on Saturday mornings as a kid. They may not be the most high-quality things in the world, but they taste good are sure are fun.