One of a handful of truly chilling horror classics, Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) is a disturbing update of the sci-fi tale of paranoia first made famous in 1956. Then, producer Walter Wanger played Jack Finney’s novel strictly for camp with a foreboding anti-communism slant that was well suited for the McCarthy era. Kaufman’s revamp is a far more sinister excursion, delving deeply into the sinister supernatural. The book's cosmic terrors are real and terrifying.
W. D. Ritcher's screenplay opens with a migration of the ‘pods’; aliens from outer space cast down onto the atmosphere of an unsuspecting earth. Disguised in a cleansing spring rain, the pods soon attach themselves to other living plant life in and around San Francisco, producing a colourful purple flower that proves enticing to the human population.
The flowers are first observed with curiosity by micro-biologist, Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams) as she heads home after a long day, working as a chemist in the public health offices. Liz’s live-in boyfriend, Dr. Geoffrey Howell (Art Hindle) thinks her speculation about parasitic plants is farfetched. Very shortly, however, he discovers the truth when one of the pods grows into his counterpart – a human/alien hybrid. The new Geoffrey Howell looks the same, but he is utterly void of an emotions or sentiment. At first Elizabeth suspects Geoffrey is having an affair but dispels this interpretation of his strange behaviour when she witnesses him engaging in the transfer of materials between both men and women in deserted parking lots and back allies.
To get a better handle on what might be going on Elizabeth consults her friend, Board of Health investigator, Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland). At first, Matthew is just as reticent about accepting Elizabeth’s theory of alien colonization. Then, he begins to witness the changes first hand as he frequents local establishments in the city, only to discover an emotionless population staring blankly back at him. Keen viewers will recognize actor Kevin McCarthy's brief cameo as a frightened man who runs into Matthew's car on a crowded Frisco street as he is pursued by pod people.
Meanwhile across town, massage therapist Nancy Bellicec (Veronica Cartwright) and her husband Jack (Jeff Goldblum) begin to suspect that their establishment has already been frequented by the pod people. Eventually, the Bellicec's approach Matthew and Elizabeth with their findings. But it's too late for San Francisco. The pod people outnumber the human populace. Now this foursome must flee the city limits – masquerading as pod people to infiltrate the city, only to learn that they are already too late to save either their city or, in fact, the human world from complete extinction.
Kaufman’s apocalyptic vision generates an ever-growing sense of dread, fear and paranoia. The special effects are gruesome and hold up very well under contemporary scrutiny. Yet, it is the overall believability of the actors who really sell this monster mash that makes this version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers one of the best loved all time scare fares in movie history. Chilling on every level and sure to lead to a few sleepless nights besides; Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a film not so easily ignored. True of the best horror movies – once seen it is never entirely purged from our collective consciousness.
MGM/Fox Home Entertainment's Blu-Ray delivers marked improvements over their previously released Collector's edition DVD. Most noticeable the tightness of the image owing to Blu-Ray's higher bit rate. Where the DVD was merely sharp, the Blu-Ray is razor sharp with a modicum of fine detail revealed as a result. The ugly orange flesh tones on the DVD are more accurately rendered on the Blu-ray. Contrast levels are also more crisply defined. Film grain at last looks like grain, not digital grit for a very film-like presentation. Truly, there's nothing to complain about visually.
Or aurally as it seems. The audio is the same Dolby Digital 5.1 mix from the aforementioned DVD and is remarkably crisp for a film of this vintage that was, after all, first released in 1978 in mono. Extras include a thorough audio commentary, original theatrical trailer and 3 featurettes detailing the film’s creation and impact. There's the pointless inclusion of the DVD version as well. Highly recommended!
FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)
4.5
VIDEO/AUDIO
4
EXTRAS
3
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