They Live: Underestimating Camp
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document in english
film studies
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published 19/11/2007
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SummaryDistinguishing a film as “campy” is, arguably, as difficult as determining whether or not a film is “good.” The definition of “camp” is utterly malleable and, moreover, exists almost purely in the eyes of the beholder. Similarly, a film is rarely definably solely as “good” or “bad”; these are merely opinions. It is oddly fitting, and quite unfortunate, that films which become marked as “campy” are rarely described as “good”. This can be partly explained by the fact that the majority of movies known as “camp films” are largely unintentional camp; put simply, camp films with a “so-bad-they’re-good” quality receive the most attention. The films of Edward D. Wood Jr. are examples of classic, unintentional camp; movies made famous by the degree to which they do not “work.” While unintentional camp is certainly an important part of cinema history, intentional camp often goes unnoticed, or at least underappreciated. Many intentionally campy films are quite noteworthy, and, moreover, are simply good films. John Carpenter’s They Live (1988) is an example of a camp film that not only “works,” it has something meaningful to say. It is, in fact, a campy film, a socially parodic film, and a good film. Upon its initial release, They Live was dismissed as a campy sci-fi/horror movie with dreadful special effects and poor acting.
Table of Contents
- When They Live was released in 1988, film critics were, to say the least, unimpressed.
- There is no real depth to 'Nada,' nor should there be, for he exists only as a supremely campy avenue for the audience to access the weighty undertones of They Live.
- They Live uses camp, largely, as a method of permeating intelligent and important social satire into the minds of the audience.
- While They Live fell flat with many critics, others were able to embrace the film's campy exterior while appreciating its thought provoking social commentary.
- The weighty issues They Live deals with may, in fact, have been too much for mainstream audiences and critics to accept.
- They Live is not a perfect film, but it is a good film. Not only does it provide still-pertinent social commentary/satire, it also works as an enjoyable, campy film.
- The essence of intentional camp, arguably, lies within its ability to make fun of itself before it can be made fun of by others.
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