THEY LIVE (1988):

They Live (1988):

"They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live."

Nada (Roddy Piper), a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. Wearing the shades, he realizes that the world's social elite are skull-faced aliens, and they put subliminal messages in the media to subdue the population, while the aliens plot global domination. He sets out to liberate his friends from mind control and stop the aliens. I like this movie because it's about the meaning of life, but blown up to the size of an action movie!

Piper's working class charisma and pro-wrestling background really shine here as he discovers the aliens. He brings intensity and comedy to the role in a way that, I feel, could only be done by him. He effortlessly brings out one-liners and action scenes like it's an old school wrestling promo; even when he's saving the world. There's a famous 6-minute fight scene with Keith David!

Truly, you have to see this movie to believe it! Put the glasses on! It's a wild one. It's fun, has a good message about seeking the truth, and great action; all mixed together! Give it a watch whenever you can find this true sci-fi classic. There's no clearer case of watching through "alien" eyes.

Sci-Fi Fighters (1996):

Sci-Fi Fighters (1996):

"Boston, 2009. A police detective (Roddy Piper) searches for Adrian Dunn, his ex-partner (Billy Drago) who murdered his wife. Dunn has escaped from prison on the moon and returned to Earth with an alien virus."

I love this movie. Roddy Piper makes a great Blade Runner-ish noir detective tough guy with some AMAZING dramatic chops. Apart from They Live, this was the film that convinced me that "Holy crap. Piper can ACT!" This movie began my love of Roddy Piper films, even though it's totally just a low-budget Blade Runner, with some Alien in there. Anyway, just thought I'd put it out there because a lot of people don't know about it. Check it out. Free on Tubi.

Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies (2014):

Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies (2014):

"Famous Wrestlers are pitted against hordes of undead when they unknowingly walk into a death trap."

Pretty good. Roddy Piper, Kurt Angle, and others vs. an undead army. Gotta love Piper sleeperholding a zombie, and beating them with a toaster. Piper truly is one of the greats. He gives 100% in every movie he's in. Low-budget, but great fun.

Alien Opponent (2010):

Alien Opponent (2010):

"The owner of a small-town junkyard offers a cash reward to whomever can kill her uninvited, space-suited alien guest when its spacecraft crash-lands into her barn. Every wacko within 100 miles turns out, and before long, the junkyard is transformed into a war zone of man vs. man vs. machine vs. alien vs. God only knows what."

Goofy action-comedy with Roddy Piper as a supporting character: a foul-mouthed priest. This one is more a pastiche of trashy reality TV shows. Imagine if Predator was a comedy. I found it entertaining. As always, Roddy Piper elevates the film by his energy, and gets a few wrestling scenes in there. Otherwise, barely a movie. But, a good and weird amateur spoof.

Hell Comes To Frogtown (1988)

Hell Comes To Frogtown (1988):

"After a worldwide nuclear war, where 68% of the male population was wiped out and virile men becoming a rarity, Sam Hell, a scavenger and a highly virile man, is assigned to help rescue a group of fertile women kidnapped by humanoid frogs."

That summary should be enough to qualify as a strange movie. Plus, I always like Mad Max-ish films. Pretty good acting here. Piper brings his trademark wildman antics to the fore. Pretty funny to see him fistfight with frog mutants. Also, good use of puppets, if that's your thing. Give it a watch!