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Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1978
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 55m
In San Francisco, a group of people discover the human race is being replaced one by one, with clones devoid of emotion. (imdb)
Directed by:
Philip KaufmanWriters:
W.D. Richter, Jack FinneyStarring:
Veronica Cartwright, Robert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards over the course of his career. He began appearing in theatre during the late 1950s, moving into small, supporting television and film roles during the early 1960s in such works as To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). He started to land much larger roles during the early 1970s with movies like MASH (1970) and THX 1138 (1971). (Wikipedia)
Donald McNicol Sutherland, OC is a Canadian character actor with a film career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of Sutherland's more notable movie roles included offbeat warriors in such war movies as The Dirty Dozen, in 1967, and MASH and Kelly's Heroes in 1970, as well as in such popular films as Klute, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Ordinary People. He recently starred in the American television series Dirty Sexy Money. He is the father of actor Kiefer Sutherland. (Wikipedia)
Jeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and since then he has appeared in major box-office successes including Jurassic Park (two films), Independence Day, and The Fly. From 2009 to mid-2010 he starred as Detective Zach Nichols on the USA Network's crime drama series Law & Order: Criminal Intent... (Wikipedia)
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series 1966-1969, multiple films, television and video game sequels. Nimoy began his career in his early twenties, teaching acting classes in Hollywood and making minor film and television appearances through the 1950s, as well as playing the title role to Kid Monk Baroni. In 1953, he served in the United States Army...(Wikipedia)
Coming out of a musical family and trained as a stage actor, Don Siegel became one of the most respected directors of action films in Hollywood. He directed whatever material came his way, often transcending the limitations of budget and script to produce interesting and adept works. He died at the age of 78 from cancer in Los Angeles, survived by his son.
Franchise:
Invasion of the Body SnatchersCountry:
USAInvasion of the Body Snatchers
1978
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 55m
Your probable score
Average Percentile: 61.98%
Unlike most remakes, this one attempts to update the source's thematic ideas. While the original confronted 50's social conformity, this one tries to tackle its era's counterculture psychology and post-Watergate paranoia. But the melodrama/romance subplot isn't that strong. And the production quality isn't as good as Siegel's due to distracting visuals, off-kilter acting, and average mood music. Marginal recommendation for sci-fi/horror fans who can't see themselves watching the 1958 version.
04 Jun 2021
Creepy, tense, atmospheric and unsettling. A fine attempt at delivering on the promise of the (similarly good) original, with strong direction and characterisation; the endearingly oddball cast really works well, Sutherland in particular proving very watchable. I really liked the unusual and inventive score as well. The 70s San Fran setting is effective, and there are lots of hints in the background and around the edges as to what is going on. And that ending...
07 Jan 2015
A deeply disturbing, dark portrayel of the inevitable. The smothering atmosphere that drapes itself over the entire movie is what makes it outstanding. The direction is outstanding in its creation of that paranoid atmosphere. The acting is outstanding in parts, and mediocre in others. The two leads never falter though. It should be more widely praised than it currently is.
23 Sep 2007
Despite a few problems I had with the movie's tenuous hold on its own internal logic, there's a lot to love about this one, from the practical effects to the pacing and direction of the movie's first 1/3, which does a fantastic job of building dread and paranoia in a believable way. Doesn't hurt to have Sutherland (great, as always), Goldblum and a game Brooke Adams on board. Gets a little repetitive in the final 1/3 with a series of samey chases but it's all worth it for the final shot.
06 Jan 2015
Two things stopped me from watching this till now 1. I don't really believe in aliens 2. I'm not a huge fan of monster movies( l assumed this would be a monster movie) Much to my surprise it's intelligently written well thought out and acted out superbly by a fantastic cast Coolest visual effect is the dog being transformed with a alien head and dog body And I know I say this a lot but I honestly didn't see the ending coming at all
22 Aug 2018
A superior remake which cleverly transplants the original story into a bustling modern metropolis, Kaufman's Body Snatchers is a tense and gripping sci-fi thriller that has aged exceptionally well. His control over the atmosphere is so exacting and complete that even slight disturbances in nature depicted in the opening scenes are chilling. Chapman's photography is eerily evocative and the sound design enhances the feelings of paranoia and dread with its intricate otherwordly textures.
08 Jan 2017
A sci-fi/horror masterpiece, directed for maximum tension by Kaufman, and perfectly enacted by a well chosen cast on top of their game; Nimoy in a rare departure from Star Trek is the standout as the subtly malevolent doctor. Perfectly picks up on uneasy post-Watergate paranoia in 70s America and leads to a perfect, intriguing and uncompromising finale.
11 Jan 2014
I haven't seen the original as of yet, I have seen The Invasion which this film is definitely better than, so I cannot comment on it's relation to that film. While I feel some aspects of the film are dated the vast majority is still holds up today. It really is a fantastic paranoid and tense sci-fi thriller with a relatively small cast for the majority of the film. Well worth seeing.
03 Mar 2009
This is an incredibly good film. Subtle in so many ways, it examines questions of what it means to be human, whether survival really is enough, and whether or not the pod people are correct. Brilliantly acted. Veronica Cartwright is amazing, and D...(read more)onald Sutherland and Brook Adams have some of the best on-screen chemistry I've ever seen. Leonard Nimoy is also fantastic in a major departure from his normal roles. In short, this is a severely underrated film.
14 Nov 2007
We are at the verge of the great neoliberal transformation into surveillance, governmentally, and societies of control. The last men turn into zombies while "healthcare" people are not listened and we have individualized psychotherapy replacing public welfare for citizens, which serves the denial of the spread of body snatchers. Only the aspiring artist and the protagonists resist that force as everything gets reified and sucked by the capital. Could easily be one of Romero's zombie flicks.
19 Apr 2024
One of those movies where I can't help but channel my inner Immortan Joe and just yell "MEDIOCRE!" at the screen. Had high expectations for this but sadly didn't amount to anything more than its premise and thus quickly overstayed its welcome. Would've been far more intriguing and suspenseful had the film unfolded its mysteries in a more timely and satisfying way. The ending is cool on a superficial level, but loses impact the more you reflect on it.
12 Nov 2020
The direction and the soundtrack work so great together for the monumental sense of paranoia. Especially liked the scene where Sutherland is trying to call someone, anyone in the government and the calls are layered as he gets the run around and you see him from phone to phone in desperation getting nowhere while the sound just gets more and more intense. The pod people are great, as in the original, keeping them from being snarling killers makes it so much creepier.
18 Feb 2016
This was well-acted and made very well. The 70s/80s were definitely the golden age for horror, and this film mostly continues that tradition, but falls slightly flat somewhere in its execution. It is very gripping and super intense, but I felt like the pacing was a little off at points, and the body horror in this hasn't aged very well unfortunately. Jeff Goldblum is a sweet angel though and I love him, he was too cute in this.
15 Aug 2015
Well, it was a very character-driven story. There isn't a lot of explanation about the Body Snatchers' motives and methods, aside from what the main characters are able to figure out for themselves. And basically, once all the main characters are accounted for, the movie is over. To be fair, it was pretty good at being a character-driven story, but it would have been nice if it could also have had a more thoroughly explored plot outside of that realm.
12 Dec 2014
There are some issues with the film, pacing, script is abrupt at times & loose in others, some shots linger long & suspense-less. But there is a quite adventurous/exotic sound mix going on. I'm glad they took the time to try and paint the world in which this fungal plague is occurring. There's a lot for the audience to piece together themselves however. With all that said, the entire film seems like a lengthy set-up for the final shot, worth it though. Great choice on the silent end titles too.
03 May 2013
A prime example of a remake that greatly improves on a rather lousy original. The original did have that imaginative spark, but Kaufman's version adds what was sorely missing (in most sci-fi/horror films, really): a basic grasp of reality. Better writing and a fantastic cast are what makes the difference, but Kaufman's directorial mastery also helps.
27 Jul 2012
A decent update, because the idea that a perfect world is a world with no human emotions was still fresh for New Hollywood filmmakers, and Kaufman understood that perfectly. I still prefer Ferrara's version, though, and I think the Duvall cameo and the thing that Brooke does with her eyes are more chilling than the whole thing.
02 Jun 2012
What I dig the most about this is mainly the body horror and the premise about how an alien invasion occurs in this narrative. Here aliens are not overtly conquering people but doing so through bizarre mutations and it's really neat how they use this to stir constant paranoia, elevated by its earrape sound design. The movie does run into the issue of being plodding at certain points but it has so many cool scenes like the cocoon hatching and the ending scene that make it an undeniable classic.
21 Mar 2025
One of the creepiest movies I’ve seen in a long while, if not ever. Kaufman’s directing is a work of pure genius, perfectly capturing that feeling that things are just slightly off, even when they look fine. It’s such an unsettling film. It also boasts some excellent practical effects and a lot of twists and turns that legitimately surprised me. It helps that the characters are likable and really well acted. An unpredictable, chilling film with scarily relevant themes. Highly recommended!
19 Oct 2023
A slog. It doesn't even really make sense how the pod people thing works. Some people need pods to grow and it takes a long time. Other people are duplicated instantly...without any pods? I can't get through this film. The bunch of people we're supposed to care and identify with barely know each other. At least the original had small town close family and friends and a memorable finale.
15 Nov 2022
A solid cast giving solid performances, good practical effects, & effectively eerie atmosphere are all things this has going for it. Honestly, though, it just didn't wow me like it seems to wow almost everyone else. The characters are easy to root for, but they also aren't all that interesting & make tons of beyond questionable decisions for plot's sake. The third act seems to drag on forever, & the pure nihilism of the ending just isn't really for me, either. Still, it's a classic for a reason.
30 Jun 2020
Its observation of how organically the alien life-forms spread (beginning from an excellent scene abstractly showing their departure from their home-world) is a horrific joy, as their slow spread conjures up a slow dread. This film does become a tad too standard in its second half, becoming just too adventurous and explosive, all the while keeping too tight-knit to convey a city-wide panic -- might've been better if set in a large town.
31 Oct 2019
It dragged sometimes, but then other times it really hit the paranoia that the characters were experiencing. While I wouldn't say it was that scary, the ending was certainly horrifying; also unexpected even though I guess technically the aliens give it away a bit before. Good special effects, watching the aliens clone was gross, if this wasn't paced like it was then it would be much better... but even still it's pretty great.
11 Oct 2018
Any movie that can get Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy in the same room together is sure to charm, and there are so many iconic moments that you can practically feel its influence on the next generations of sci-fi and horror. Sadly, though, it seems kind of shallow. It doesn't seem to lean at all into the social commentary of the original, and even the personal stakes of the movie feel somewhat flimsy. Solid entertainment, but its best ideas have been improved upon since.
09 Sep 2018
What a phenomenal portrayal of paranoia and doubt. The acting by Sutherland and Adams is great, and then you also have a host of others that serve to give this B-movie idea an A-level cast of characters. The practical effects are great, but they are sparse enough to shock each time they flash onto the screen. This is remembered fondly but it should be held in higher regard as Kaufman's work captures an authentic fear that plagued the world during the cold war.
29 Aug 2018
President Snow does speed in order to stay awake and not get turned into an alien. This is right up there with Ben-Hur (1959), The Fly (1986), and True Grit (2010) in the "best remakes ever" conversation. That shrieking thing the body snatchers do still sends chills down my spine, especially in that iconic ending.
07 Mar 2016
So, so good. Among the most paranoid movies ever made; the atmosphere, thick with tension and dread, seeps its way into you. The entire film is delightfully unnerving, and the ending is downright brilliant. Just as good as, if not better than, the original. Perhaps the 70s grit gives this one a bit of an edge. "What's a conspiracy?" "Everything."
12 Nov 2015
The McCarthyism allegory was never necessary to induce fear. It worked in the first place because assimilation and ostracization are a natural human phenomenon in any culture. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a good movie that avoids becoming a great one by ignoring the unique venues promised by its own concept. The tense hot seat scenes of suspicion and hysteria somehow don't exist, and for some reason the movie instead chooses to focus on the characters outrunning the aliens like monsters.
05 Nov 2015
Pretty darn effective horror that hits the pedal to the floor pretty early on and never lets off the gas. Even though all the beats are telegraphed, it never takes away from it. The central, possible, romance is pretty forced and unnecessary but this is nothing new. The cast is great and there are a ton of excellent scenes at play. It may not be among the top tier of horror films from its day, but it's not too far off.
10 Oct 2014
A fairly predictable remake: the concept is the same and the effects are better, but the plot differs and the ending is drastically different, though I'll admit it's effective. Matthew and Elizabeth are interesting enough to keep you attached, but Jack and Nancy were so terribly written!
13 Jun 2014
I personally prefer the original, but this one was pretty good too. Like the original felt very much like a piece of the '50s, this one felt like a piece of the '70s. It was a bit too long though. The music was pretty cool, if a bit erratic, and the practical effects were awesome. The sense of paranoia the film created was nice. The ending was totally brilliant, too.
11 Feb 2014
The story is classically simple: alien organisms infiltrate human bodies and create duplicates who are the same in every way--but without emotions. A health inspector (Donald Sutherland) soon finds himself, and all humanity, increasingly outnumbered. Philip Kaufman's direction builds a distinct sense of unease: shots often last a moment or two longer than you'd expect. It's not all that SCARY, per se (the horrifying final moments aside), but it's consistently engaging and well-acted all around.
01 May 2013
I liked this one a bit more on the second viewing and would now call it a a successful update on the whole, but I still prefer the original, despite this having a stellar cast and being less campy. The first half is very good, but the second half lacks tension, despite some very effective moments.
31 Jul 2012
This version does a good job expanding the story while adding more touches of horror. I find that the acting can be a bit off and I'm not a fan of the camera work but the ending was and always is great. I still prefer the original one because its better paced and just more fun to watch overall.
25 Jun 2012
Cast & Info
Directed by:
Philip KaufmanWriters:
W.D. Richter, Jack FinneyStarring:
Veronica Cartwright, Robert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards over the course of his career. He began appearing in theatre during the late 1950s, moving into small, supporting television and film roles during the early 1960s in such works as To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). He started to land much larger roles during the early 1970s with movies like MASH (1970) and THX 1138 (1971). (Wikipedia)
Donald McNicol Sutherland, OC is a Canadian character actor with a film career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of Sutherland's more notable movie roles included offbeat warriors in such war movies as The Dirty Dozen, in 1967, and MASH and Kelly's Heroes in 1970, as well as in such popular films as Klute, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Ordinary People. He recently starred in the American television series Dirty Sexy Money. He is the father of actor Kiefer Sutherland. (Wikipedia)
Jeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and since then he has appeared in major box-office successes including Jurassic Park (two films), Independence Day, and The Fly. From 2009 to mid-2010 he starred as Detective Zach Nichols on the USA Network's crime drama series Law & Order: Criminal Intent... (Wikipedia)
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series 1966-1969, multiple films, television and video game sequels. Nimoy began his career in his early twenties, teaching acting classes in Hollywood and making minor film and television appearances through the 1950s, as well as playing the title role to Kid Monk Baroni. In 1953, he served in the United States Army...(Wikipedia)
Coming out of a musical family and trained as a stage actor, Don Siegel became one of the most respected directors of action films in Hollywood. He directed whatever material came his way, often transcending the limitations of budget and script to produce interesting and adept works. He died at the age of 78 from cancer in Los Angeles, survived by his son.
Franchise:
Invasion of the Body SnatchersCountry:
USA
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