Secret Invasion Who? John Carpenter Already Did It All 35 Years Ago
Seems like The Live 1988 was way ahead of its time.
Marvel has recently released the first episode of Secret Invasion series on Disney Plus. The story focuses on the invasion of Earth by shape-shifting aliens known as Skrulls.
Surprisingly, the premise of Marvel’s Secret Invasion bears striking similarities to the 1988 horror movie directed by John Carpenter.
In Carpenter's They Live, the protagonist named Nada, played by Roddy Piper, discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see the world as it truly is: overrun by aliens who have infiltrated human society.
In both narratives, the aliens maintain control by exerting their influence subtly. In They Live, the aliens use subliminal messages hidden in advertising and media to keep people unaware of their true intentions.
Similarly, in Secret Invasion, the Skrulls take over key individuals in society, including superheroes (in comic books), by impersonating them perfectly, which makes it nearly impossible to detect their presence.
Paranoia and the loss of trust are central themes in both works. In They Live, Nada struggles to convince others about the alien infiltration, leading to a constant state of suspicion and danger.
Likewise, in Secret Invasion, Marvel's heroes find themselves questioning their closest allies, unsure if they are genuine or Skrull imposters. This pervasive sense of uncertainty and fear creates a tense atmosphere that keeps audiences engaged.
John Carpenter also used his film to criticize consumerism and the power of mass media in shaping our perception of reality. By revealing the subliminal messages hidden in advertisements, he asks us to question whether we are truly in control of our choices or if we are being manipulated by external forces.
Skrulls first appeared in Marvel comic books in 1962, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But the major comic book event happened in a comic book crossover Secret Invasion in 2008.
However, John Carpenter didn’t take inspiration from Marvel comic books. Instead, the idea came from a short story called Eight O'Clock in the Morning by Ray Nelson. This story was first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction back in November 1963.
But still, the resemblance is quite amusing. If you didn’t like Marvel’s Secret Invasion for some reason, you should give Carpenter’s movie a try.