FREE EVENT
They Live Is Coming to The Emporium—and It’s Time to Put On the Glasses
What if the world around you wasn't quite what it seemed?
What if the advertisements were telling you what to buy, the people in power weren't exactly who they claimed to be, and the entire system was hiding something in plain sight?
And what if the only way to see the truth was with a really awesome pair of sunglasses?
Well, John Carpenter's They Live has some thoughts about that.
Maine DSA and The Emporium are teaming up for a free screening of the 1988 cult classic, giving fans a chance to see Roddy Piper's legendary sci-fi action movie on the big screen—and stick around afterward for a conversation about just how eerily relevant Carpenter's satire remains.
“I Have Come Here to Chew Bubblegum…”
Let's get this out of the way.
Yes, Roddy Piper stars in this movie.
Yes, there is an iconic fight scene.
Yes, there are sunglasses.
And yes, They Live contains one of the most gloriously memorable lines in science-fiction cinema.
But beneath all the action, Carpenter's film is a sharp piece of social and political satire, taking aim at consumerism, advertising, economic inequality, media, and the structures that influence everyday life.
It's a movie that somehow manages to be an alien-invasion thriller, an action movie, a sci-fi adventure, and a commentary on society all at the same time.
Not bad for a pair of sunglasses.
A Free Screening at The Emporium
The doors open at 6:30 PM, with the movie starting at 7:00 PM.
And here's the important part:
Admission is FREE.
The less-good news?
Seating is limited.
Once the room is full, it's full. So if you've been thinking, “I'll just wander in whenever,” you may want to reconsider that strategy.
This is They Live. The movie is literally about realizing what's happening before it's too late.
Take the hint.
Stay for the Talkback
The evening doesn't end when the credits roll.
After the screening, the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America will host a talkback exploring the film and its themes—and, as they put it, how much of what Carpenter was warning about seems to have come true.
That makes this more than just a movie night.
It's a chance to watch a fascinating piece of 1980s science fiction and then talk about why its ideas still resonate decades later.
Because sometimes the best part of a cult movie screening is the conversation that happens afterward.
Why They Live Still Hits
Great genre movies don't just entertain us. Sometimes they give us a way to look at the real world from a slightly different angle.
They Live takes familiar anxieties—money, power, advertising, conformity, inequality—and turns them into an over-the-top alien conspiracy.
The aliens may be fictional.
The questions the movie asks?
Those are considerably harder to dismiss.
And that's exactly why They Live has remained a cult favorite for generations of science-fiction, horror, and movie fans.
Get There Early. Put On the Glasses.
If you've never seen They Live, this is a great opportunity to experience it with an audience.
If you've seen it a dozen times, you already know why you should be there.
And if you haven't watched it in years, well…
Maybe it's time to put the glasses back on.
Maine DSA and The Emporium present John Carpenter's They Live.
Doors: 6:30 PM
Film: 7:00 PM
Admission: FREE
Seating: Limited
Post-screening: Talkback with Maine DSA
Come for the aliens.
Stay for the discussion.
And whatever you do, don't blindly trust the advertising.
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