Alien Influence SCI-FI explores the idea that an Outside Force — like Extraterrestrial Intelligence — may be secretly controlling or influencing life on Earth from behind the scenes, by manipulation of Events or Human behavior … highlighting our Fears related to Power, Control and the Unknown.
They Live (1988)
They Live is an American SCI-FI action horror film written and directed by John Carpenter, based on the 1963 short story “Eight O’Clock in the Morning” by Ray Nelson. Starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster.
Storyline
A homeless drifter in Los Angeles, John Nada (Piper) meets fellow laborer Frank Armitage (David), who brings him to a soup kitchen and ad-hoc squatters’ community on the edge of the city. Early on, the local TV is occasionally interrupted by a pirated signal carrying the warnings of a bearded conspiracy theorist, who declares that the human race is being controlled by an unseen Force.
Nada learns that this signal is coming from a nearby church, home to an underground movement, whose mission is to awaken the world to this Force’s sinister plans. There he discovers a box of “Truth-Revealing” sunglasses. When Nada puts on a pair, he realizes that the richest, most powerful people in the world also happen to be … skeleton-faced ALIENS — concealing their appearance and manipulating people to consume, breed, and conform to the status quo via Subliminal Messages in mass media.
Will Nada be able to convince others to join his fight against the Aliens controlling humanity? Will he succeed in destroying their transmitter that disguises their True appearance and hidden propaganda? The eerie parallels between this story and modern attempts through Social Media to sway the masses are truly frightening — to say the least.
The most memorable parts of They Live are the scenes in which seemingly innocuous advertisements and pop-culture entertainments are exposed as nefarious means of Mind Control, delivering blunt subliminal messages like “OBEY,” “MARRY AND REPRODUCE,” and “NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT.”
The X-Files (1993-2018)
The X-Files is an American SCI-FI drama TV series created by Chris Carter, starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis.
Storyline
The story follows FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson), who investigate the “X-Files”: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder is a skilled criminal profiler, an ardent supernaturalist, and a conspiracy theorist who believes in the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life and its presence on Earth (springing from the claimed Alien abduction of his sister Samantha when he was 12) whereas Scully is a medical doctor and skeptic who has been assigned to scientifically analyze Mulder’s case files and debunk his nonconforming theories, often supplying logical, scientific explanations for apparently ‘unexplainable’ phenomena.
The main story arc involves the agents’ efforts to uncover a government conspiracy that covers up the existence of extraterrestrials and their sinister collaboration with said government. They come to trust only one another. Early on, Agent Skinner (Pileggi) is dismissive toward Mulder’s belief in Extraterrestrials, but later is moved to respect and agree with him. Mysterious men constituting a shadow element within the U.S. government, known as the Syndicate, are the major villains in the series; late in the series it is revealed that The Syndicate acts as the only liaison between mankind and a group of extraterrestrials that intends to destroy humanity. They are usually represented by the Cigarette Smoking Man (Davis), a ruthless killer, masterful politician, negotiator, failed novelist, and the series’ principal antagonist.
Mulder and Scully learn about evidence of a planned Alien Invasion piece by piece. It is revealed that the extraterrestrials plan on using a sentient virus, known as the black oil (also known as “Purity”), to infect mankind and turn the population of the world into a slave race. The Syndicate—having made a deal to be spared by the Aliens—have been working to develop an Alien-Human Hybrid that will be able to withstand the effects of the black oil. The group has also been secretly working on a vaccine to overcome the black oil; this vaccine is revealed in the latter parts of season five, as well as the 1998 film. (The X-Files: Fight the Future)
Counter to the Alien colonization effort, another faction of Aliens, the faceless Rebels, are working to stop Alien colonization. Eventually, in the season six episodes “Two Fathers” and “One Son”, the rebels manage to destroy the Syndicate. The colonists, now without human liaisons, dispatch the “Super Soldiers”: beings that resemble humans, but are biologically Alien. In the latter parts of season eight, and the whole of season nine, the Super Soldiers manage to replace key individuals in the government, forcing Mulder and Scully to go into hiding.
The Puppet Masters (1994)
The Puppet Masters is an American SCI-FI horror film, adapted from Robert A. Heinlein’s 1951 novel of the same title — starring Donald Sutherland, Eric Thal, Julie Warner, Richard Belzer and Keith David.
Storyline
When a flying saucer reportedly lands in rural Iowa, Andrew Nivens (Sutherland), who runs a secret branch of the CIA, sends two agents to investigate the crash site — who disappear shortly after their arrival. He then goes in person, accompanied by agents Sam Nivens, his son (Thal), and Jarvis (Belzer), as well as Dr. Mary Sefton (Warner), a NASA specialist.
At the crash site, now staged as a phony tourist attraction, they encounter people who appear to display no emotions. To test this theory when meeting with a local television station manager, Mary partially opens her blouse but gets no reaction from the manager who ignores her attempts to seduce him. Suspecting that the man is not who he seems, Sam attempts to take him into custody; however, a brutal fight takes place in the man’s office, killing the manager. The team then locates an Alien that looks like a slug attached to the man’s back. The team manages to capture the Alien and, after a chase during which multiple infected town citizens attempt to stop them, they return to their plane.
The slugs soon spread steadily from the infected town and during a staff meeting where the team discusses the situation, Sam notices that Jarvis has stopped chain-smoking. Suspecting that he may have been infected, Sam and the team attempt to restrain Jarvis and, after a brief chase, they locate the unconscious Jarvis who no longer has an Alien on his back.
After a search of the office building, unable to locate the Alien, Andrew orders all of his staff (at gunpoint) including Sam to remove their shirts. At this time, Andrew’s personal secretary refuses to remove her shirt and attempts to flee the building. Agents, including Sam, pursue her, and after a brutal one-on-one fight, Andrew and Alex Holland (David), Sam’s best friend and leader of the agency SWAT team, locate Sam and the now-dead secretary in the office’s kitchen. Sam tells his father that the Alien got away (but unbeknownst to them, Sam is infected.)
Andrew, Mary, Holland, and Dr. Graves (the lead medical researcher for the team) interrogate the infected Sam. They learn that the Aliens have complete control over their hosts, including killing them and bringing them back to life. (The race is on for the team to stop the invaders before they turn all of humanity into zombie slaves.) Andrew threatens the Alien by subjecting Sam to electric shocks, through which they then learn that electric shocks briefly break the Alien’s control, at the expense of injuring the host. The Alien tells Andrew that it will kill Sam to prove its power and when it stops his heart, Mary conducts massive electrical shocks to Sam, causing the Alien to leave his body after believing that Sam is no longer a viable host. After suffering significant withdrawal, Mary comforts Sam and they begin a personal relationship.
Later, Sam and Mary are back at Sam’s apartment discussing the events of the day and after Sam changes clothes, Mary attempts to seduce him. Sam then discovers that Mary had been infected by an Alien. After informing Sam that the Aliens now know everything that they know, and any attempts to harm the Alien would harm Mary, Mary makes a seemingly impossible jump from Sam’s third-floor apartment and flees in a car driven by Greenberg.
Sam finds Mary and, after nearly killing her to remove the Alien from her back, she informs him that they need to retrieve a child that had been kept in isolation from the infected townspeople. The child once suffered from encephalitis, which was apparently the reason a slug couldn’t possess him. The team tests the theory by infecting an Alien with the encephalitis virus, which causes the alien to explode and die. Biological warfare is adopted and seemingly all parasites die, freeing their victims.
During a later inspection of a hive, debris falls on Andrew. Sam realizes that his father is infected upon seeing him walk normally when he had previously needed to use a cane due to a leg injury. Sam pursues him when he tries to escape. After a brutal fight on a commandeered helicopter, Sam shoots his father, causing the Alien to flee — but is killed by the helicopter’s tail rotor. Now back on the ground, Andrew confirms that that was the last Alien and that he is aware of how much Sam loves him and how Sam and Mary feel about each other. While Andrew is treated for his injuries, Sam remarks to Mary that now she knows everything about him but he has to learn about her. Mary tells him that he has a lifetime to get to know her.
Dark Skies (1996)
Dark Skies is an American UFO conspiracy theory–based SCI-FI TV series that explores a hidden Alien invasion in 1960s America. Starring Eric Close, Megan Ward, J.T. Walsh and Jeri Ryan. The series tagline: “History as we know it is a lie.”
Storyline
John Loengard (Close) and Kim Sayers (Ward) are a young couple newly arrived in Washington, D.C. who become embroiled in a conspiracy involving an Alien race known as the Hive. This parasitic species has been covertly invading Earth since the late 1940s, manipulating historical events to facilitate their plans for domination. The couple’s journey takes them through various historical contexts, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which is depicted as part of the Hive’s strategy to maintain control over humanity.
As they uncover the truth, John and Kim must navigate the dangers posed by the Majestic 12, a secret government organization under Captain Frank Bach (Walsh) tasked with managing the Alien threat while simultaneously covering up their existence. When John and Kim become separated, he is later joined by extraterrestrial investigator Juliet Stuart (Ryan). The series intricately weaves real-life personalities from the 1960s, such as The Beatles and Robert F. Kennedy, into its narrative, enhancing the blend of fact and fiction.
Dark Skies explores themes of government conspiracy, Alien abduction, and the manipulation of history. The series is noted for its ambitious storytelling, attempting to connect various conspiracy theories and historical events into a cohesive narrative. (Despite its intriguing premise and production quality, the show was canceled after one season, leaving many plot threads unresolved.) Though short-lived, it remains a notable entry, particularly for its unique approach to blending historical events with SCI-FI elements.
Although the last episode produced provides some form of closure for the series, with John Loengard meeting his son and the head of Majestic 12 being apparently assassinated, the show’s creators had originally hoped to create five seasons, as indicated by the show’s Bible. According to Zabel and Friedman’s original plan, the pilot and first season (given the overall title “Official Denial”) would cover the period from 1961 to 1969, the second season (“Progenitor”) 1970 to 1976, the third season (“Cloak of Fear”) 1977 to 1986, the fourth season (“New World Order”) would cover 1987 to 1999, and the fifth and final season (“Stroke of Midnight”) would break from the decade-spanning format to encompass the apocalyptic final conflict against the invaders, taking place from 2000 to 2001.
Men in Black (1997)
Men in Black is an American SCI-FI action comedy starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as “men in black”, secret agents who monitor and police undercover Aliens who have integrated into human society, with some holding positions of power. Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Rip Torn also appear in supporting roles.
Storyline
In 1961, the Men in Black (MIB) organization is founded after secretly making first contact with extraterrestrials. The MIB designates Earth as a neutral zone for Alien refugees who live in secret among humans. Agents monitor Alien activity and use memory-erasing neuralyzer devices to maintain secrecy.
In 1997, MIB Agents K and D disrupt a border patrol operation at the Mexico–United States border to capture an alien named Mikey. When Mikey becomes violent, K kills him and neuralyzes the patrol officers. D, feeling too old to continue, asks K to neuralyze him so he can retire.
Soon after, NYPD officer James Edwards apprehends a suspect, unaware they are an Alien –who warns of a coming threat before committing suicide. K, impressed by James’s performance, recruits him into the MIB. After completing a series of tests, James becomes Agent J, and his previous identity is erased from public records.
Meanwhile, a hostile Alien known as a “Bug” crash-lands in upstate New York. The Bug kills a farmer named Edgar and uses his skin as a disguise. K and J, tipped off by a tabloid news article, question Edgar’s wife. They learn that the Bug has killed two aliens who were living on Earth in disguise. Their bodies, along with their pet cat, are sent to a morgue overseen by coroner Laurel Weaver.
At the morgue, the Alien tells J and Laurel that “the galaxy is on Orion’s Belt” before dying. After neuralyzing Laurel, K identifies the alien as Rosenberg, a prince from the Arquillian Empire. K and J visit Frank the Pug, an alien informant, who explains that Rosenberg was protecting a miniature galaxy. The galaxy is a powerful energy source which the Bug wants to use to destroy the Arquillians. An Arquillian warship soon arrives in Earth’s orbit and demands the MIB return the galaxy or they will destroy the Earth.
J and the Bug both realize the galaxy is on the collar of Rosenberg’s cat, Orion, which is now with Laurel. The Bug captures her and swallows the galaxy. As the Arquillians prepare to destroy Earth to stop the Bug, the MIB locks down all transportation. J guesses the Bug will head to the New York State Pavilion, where the MIB hid flying saucers during the 1964 World’s Fair.
At the site, the Bug tries to escape with Laurel. She briefly breaks free, and the agents shoot down the ship. The Bug sheds its human skin and reveals its true form, swallowing the agents’ weapons. K allows himself to be eaten so he can retrieve his weapon from inside. J distracts the Bug until K shoots the Bug apart from within. Laurel uses J’s gun to finish the bug off.
After returning the galaxy to the Arquillians, K reveals that he was training J to take his place. J neuralyzes him so he can retire. Later, J continues his work with Laurel, who has joined the MIB as Agent L.
Alien Influence SCI-FI explores important themes like Paranoia, Conspiracy, Hidden Agendas, and Humanity’s vulnerability to Unknown Forces. It plays on our anxieties about Control and the possibility that Unseen Powers are shaping the world.
In this case, Reality goes beyond Fiction — according to UFO Abduction researchers like David M. Jacobs (Walking Among Us: The Alien Plan to Control Humanity).
Consider yourself warned.
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