10 Conspiracy Theories That Inspired Horror Movies

In John Carpenter's They Live, a drifter called Nada stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see subliminal messages planted all over the world by aliens. After Nada realises these creatures are brainwashing humanity, he tries to warn everybody but is repeatedly ignored.

Carpenter's film may have only been a minor success but became a cult classic. Although the horror masterpiece is praised for its funny dialogue and astounding fight choreography, it's the premise that viewers were blown away by.

Despite the fact Carpenter intended the story to be a commentary on Ronald Reagan's failings as a president, many viewers thought otherwise. Neo Nazis saw They Live as an allegory for how the Jewish community secretly control the world. Unsurprisingly, the director repeatedly shut down this claim.

But it didn't stop there. Decades later, countless self-proclaimed "truthers" insist that Carpenter's work serves as a warning that the New World Order, Illuminati, or literal aliens are living among us.

Now that social platforms like Facebook and Twitter have made it easier for conspiracy theorists to share their beliefs, They Live has become more popular than ever in recent years. Sadly, it's for all the wrong reasons.