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"I RECOGNISE TERROR AS THE FINEST EMOTION AND SO I WILL TRY TO TERRORISE THE READER. BUT IF I CANNOT TERRIFY, I WILL TRY TO HORRIFY, AND IF I CANNOT HORRIFY, I'LL GO FOR THE GROSS-OUT. I'M NOT PROUD." --- STEPHEN KING ::::::::::::: Spoilers for plot points and resolutions can occur within my movie reviews with or without warning. Read at your own risk.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

October 22nd 2007 03:04
Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie poster
Originally conceived and produced as a low-budget B-movie in the vein of the then popular 50s alien invasion movies such as It Came From Outer Space and The Thing From Another World director Don Siegel transcended the genre trappings and turned Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) into a bonafide cult classic.

Made for around $US380,000 with only fifteen grand on special effects the movie capitalized more on what you don’t see, the fear behind the fear. Just as John Carpenter’s seminal fright machine Halloween (1978) played brilliantly with the fear of the “boogeyman” - that supernatural shape in the night - so does Invasion of the Body Snatchers, mercilessly treading on the audience’s fear of a steadily encroaching menace. In this case, seeds drifting from deep space which planted on earth to slowly and surely clone us with unfeeling, insidious replicas of our former selves.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Virginia Christine
Dr. Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) and Becky (Dana Wynter) visit Wilma (Virginia Christine) whom is suspicious of her husband
Movie experts and intellectual cinephiles have for years read into the screenplay by Daniel Mainwaring (based on a novel by Jack Finney) a subtext of McCarthyism; witch-hunting the Communists. It doesn’t matter what kind of social/political symbolism and allegories you read into the plot and sub-text, at the end of the long night, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is just a damn fine science-fiction horror thriller about fear and paranoia.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers King Donovan, Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter
Jack (King Donovan), Dr. Bennell and Becky inspect an alien clone of Jack
In a prologue sequence Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is restrained by police at a hospital. He recounts to a psychiatrist the events leading to his desperate state of mind. He had returned to his small town from a medical conference after his nurse was flooded with patients. Oddly most had canceled their appointments, but a few cases spoke of the same dilemma; that someone close to them was acting strangely as if they were no longer themselves.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers greenhouse
The discovery of alien pods in Jack's greenhouse
Dr. Bennell concludes a kind of mass hysteria, until he is called to his friend Jack’s home where they have uncovered a partially formed humanoid body baring a striking resemblance to Jack. A little later Bennell becomes concerned for his girlfriend Becky and much to his dismay discovers a replica of her forming in her father’s basement. Events quickly escalate and it is revealed the town has been taken over by emotionless aliens who have claimed the original bodies. Dr. Bennell and Becky find themselves on the run pursued by the town. Will they manage to escape in time and warn the rest of the country and the world?!
Invasion of the Body Snatchers spread of the seeds
Spreading the seeds of doom
At only 80 minutes Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a taut and expertly paced movie. Not a scene is wasted. The dialogue although at times a little ripe, still crackles with wit. Curiously it was actually filmed more as a comedy, but executives felt that as a horror-thriller it shouldn’t be played for laughs (and for once I agree with the bigwigs). However the same execs also felt the movie ended too downbeat, and insisted on the opening and closing scenes of Dr Bennell with the police and psychiatrist trying to warn them of the danger. They also had McCarthy lay down a voice-over narration to help explain some of the urgent behaviour. Hmmm, sounds remarkably like another sf cult classic based on a novel which ran into massive executive interference for being too downbeat.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers pod
Dr. Bennell sets fire to an alien pod
At one point the movie was to be called Sleep No More, but execs wanted to maintain the B-movie title aesthetic, despite criticism from everyone involved with the production.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers the township chase
One of the movie's most famous images speaks volumes
The cast is superb, especially the two leads Kevin McCarthy and stunning British beauty Dana Wynter as Becky. Also excellent are King Donocan as Jack Belicec and Virginia Christine as Wilma Lentz, whom early on insists her husband Ira is out of sorts.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers kiss
Dr. Bennell gives an exhausted Becky a kiss for life
The black and white widescreen cinematography by Ellsworth Fredericks is expertly handled and the score by Carmen Dragon is innovative and creepily effective. Also chilling is the pod special effects all cosmic detergent and pulsating bulbs.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers best scenes are during the movie’s last third as the township pursues Miles and Becky and when they hide and seek shelter in an abandoned mine on the outskirts of the town. It is here that the movie’s most poignant moments embrace with the tragedy of horror.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers highway cry for help
Dr. Bennell at wits end, desperate for help
Remade in 1978 by Phillip Kaufman and starring Donald Sutherland as Dr. Bennell, which is actually rather good. Then remade again by Abel Ferrara as Body Snatchers (1993), again surprisingly effective, and remade once more and released in the States just recently as The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman. The Invasion bombed.

Y'see nothing surpasses the original for sheer, lean, mean horror-thriller story-telling.

Here is the original trailer:


Here are two curious behind the scenes pics:
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Kevin MCCarthy & Dana Wynter colour pic
Rare colour production still

Invasion of the Body Snatchers Dana Wynter bodycast
A grinning Dana Wynter has her body cast for her pod replica

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews
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9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Mountain Fog

October 22nd 2007 07:53


Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
GREAT post Bryn!

I remember seeing it, as a kid, soooo vividly... IT SCARED THE UTTER CRAP OUTER ME!!!

And anyone else who saw it...even though they may not have wanted to admit it!!

I didn't realise it had been remade so many times...must check them out!

Except, of course, the Kidman one. Funnily though, going by her usually frozen facial expression off camera..and often on it...I would have thought she would make a perfect clone!!

cheers...and remember to check the basement...

fog

P.S. I was born in 1956....shudder....

Comment by JohnDoe

October 22nd 2007 08:00


Film & TV on DVD
One of the best sci fi horrors ever made...period....I love this fracking film and the Phillip Kaufman remake too...The Abel Ferrera version took an interesting military angle too..


great review of a classic my friend.

Comment by Bryn

October 22nd 2007 08:33


Horrorphile
Fog, maybe you're a clone and you don't even know it? Although from the passionate slant of your posts, I'm fairly assured you're human.

JD, so good to watch it in its proper aspect ratio and not some dodgy pan and scan VHS copy ... and Dana Wynter hubba hubba woo hoo!!!

Comment by Michaelie

October 22nd 2007 10:58


Flick Wit
God this film has had a lasting impact! How many times have you heard someone ask if someone has changed into a pod?

I know a few people who I'm sure have been invaded...

Wonderful post, Bryn.

Michaelie

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

October 22nd 2007 12:01


Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
It's posts like your that reminds me that too much of my time was spent with mates going to the Drive-In and watching double features.

Unfortunately they rolled the dice once too often with the Kidman girl.

Great memories - thanks.

MNG

Comment by James Rickard

October 22nd 2007 21:55


unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
You post make me want to see this movie again!!!!!!

Comment by Bryn

October 23rd 2007 04:10


Horrorphile
Glad to see so many of you have either fond memories of this great movie, and/or want to relieve the experience ... !!!

Comment by Joe F.

June 22nd 2008 03:43
Ever notice that Richard Deacon (as Dr. Bassett) and Whit Bissell (as Dr. Hill) didn't receive screen credits? It's because the original version of the film didn't have the opening and closing that we now see in the current version of Body Snatchers. The original opened with Dr. Bennell returning home and closed with him yelling in traffic. I've been told by some people who saw it in the theater in its original release that it really scared the hell out of them. The producers must have felt that a more optimistic tag was needed, hence the revised version of the film. I guess nobody thought about redoing the credits, so Deacon and Bissell got stiffed. Also have to mention that Carmen Dragon's score was dynamite, and it really added to the suspense of the movie. Maybe I'm a little lavish in my praise, but I feel that The Invasion of the Body Snatchers ranks among the greatest movies of all time!

Comment by Bryn

June 23rd 2008 02:55


Horrorphile
Joe F ... Don't be shy, it is one of the greatest movies of all time! Glad to hear you appreciate it as much as I do.

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