Philip Kaufman’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”
December 31, 2024 5:07 PM Subscribe
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978): The Loss of Self” [SPOILERS]
It’s a wonderful relief to see a movie made by people who know what they’re doing. … For undiluted pleasure and excitement, it is, I think, the American movie of the year — a new classic. … This set of variations on the 1956 film has its own macabre originality; it may be the best movie of its kind ever made. — Pauline Kael, When the Lights Go Down
I watched this movie three times over the past couple of years, and if you had asked me before reading this review whether the Bellicecs were married, I would have said no, of course not, they're siblings. I really question my movie literacy. But what a movie! What a way to set up a milieu, a world, and to start it crumbling long before the viewer realizes what's happening! Is it worth it to watch the others, though, as a kind of contrast? I've been hesitant. (I enjoyed just now looking up the wikipedia article on Jack Finney's original story--the reviews are brutal for a book that would inspire that many adaptations!) (Oh also, every time the topic comes up, I have to remember The Plant People, a YA book that felt like an adaptation, that came out a year before the 1978 movie. A mysterious fog that turns you into cacti!)
posted by mittens at 6:59 PM on December 31 [2 favorites]
posted by mittens at 6:59 PM on December 31 [2 favorites]
Is it worth it to watch the others
The 1993 movie is watchable, though not anywhere in the same league.
This is by far the best scene.
posted by Lemkin at 7:10 PM on December 31 [3 favorites]
The 1993 movie is watchable, though not anywhere in the same league.
This is by far the best scene.
posted by Lemkin at 7:10 PM on December 31 [3 favorites]
Love those random bagpipes on the soundtrack.
posted by ovvl at 7:45 PM on December 31 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 7:45 PM on December 31 [1 favorite]
The 1993 movie is watchable, though not anywhere in the same league.
This is by far the best scene.
Meg Tilly wrote that monologue herself.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:18 PM on December 31 [8 favorites]
This is by far the best scene.
Meg Tilly wrote that monologue herself.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:18 PM on December 31 [8 favorites]
> Love those random bagpipes on the soundtrack.
I've always loved that too, for some reason, perhaps because they're playing Amazing Grace, and it seems somehow to create an emotional intensity, even though there's a violent discordance between the positive, hopeful music and the absolute despair of realising the world is completely doomed, when you see the aliens exporting their pods around the world on the container ships, and Donald Sutherland realises there's really no hope. I think it's the stark contrast between the positivity of the music and the sheer inescapable doom being portrayed, the bitter irony of it really strengthens the emotion of the scene. It's a scene that's stayed with me ever since I first saw the film many years ago.
Another random but compelling scene is the brief appearance of the dog with a human head, which is never really explained, I don't think.
From the article:
What happens in an environment, (or to protagonists), who actually welcome the alien invasion, because it means an end to their suffering. The war has suddenly stopped. No more police brutality. No more racism. The prisoners have all been freed. Your husband no longer hits you.
This would be interesting, some characters probably would welcome the aliens, at least until the point where they themselves were replaced. But would some people even see that as an acceptable bargain (perhaps more so if they were not replaced but merely had their emotions amputated)?
It is such a chillingly effective film, though, a great portrayal of paranoia, and the fear of isolation, and alienation, and also ruthless in the way the characters are progressively stripped of hope. The final scene in particular is just superb, and surely a strong contender for the best film ending ever. One of my favourite films.
posted by mokey at 3:23 AM on January 1 [4 favorites]
I've always loved that too, for some reason, perhaps because they're playing Amazing Grace, and it seems somehow to create an emotional intensity, even though there's a violent discordance between the positive, hopeful music and the absolute despair of realising the world is completely doomed, when you see the aliens exporting their pods around the world on the container ships, and Donald Sutherland realises there's really no hope. I think it's the stark contrast between the positivity of the music and the sheer inescapable doom being portrayed, the bitter irony of it really strengthens the emotion of the scene. It's a scene that's stayed with me ever since I first saw the film many years ago.
Another random but compelling scene is the brief appearance of the dog with a human head, which is never really explained, I don't think.
From the article:
What happens in an environment, (or to protagonists), who actually welcome the alien invasion, because it means an end to their suffering. The war has suddenly stopped. No more police brutality. No more racism. The prisoners have all been freed. Your husband no longer hits you.
This would be interesting, some characters probably would welcome the aliens, at least until the point where they themselves were replaced. But would some people even see that as an acceptable bargain (perhaps more so if they were not replaced but merely had their emotions amputated)?
It is such a chillingly effective film, though, a great portrayal of paranoia, and the fear of isolation, and alienation, and also ruthless in the way the characters are progressively stripped of hope. The final scene in particular is just superb, and surely a strong contender for the best film ending ever. One of my favourite films.
posted by mokey at 3:23 AM on January 1 [4 favorites]
A cool film. Thanks to this essay, I finally understand the scene where the woman talks about her husband's scar and the fact that he got a haircut that revealed it. "And the scar was gone?" "No…it's still there." I thought that was just a funny non-sequitur—because she was distraught. But she was pointing out that her husband no longer cared to hide the scar behind his long hair.
the dog with a human head, which is never really explained
The dog/man is the result of the homeless guy and his dog both falling asleep next to a pod.
Something you only notice after a few viewings is the constant presence of trash trucks picking up trash at all hours of the night. Hint—they're not picking up household trash.
Body Snatchers (1993) is a fun variation. It takes place on an army base with a strict, non-emotional hierarchy, so the confused characters take a long time to catch on. Another good film in this vein is Puppet Masters (1994), based on the Heinlein book and also starring Donald Sutherland. Invasion (2007), I can't recommend. It goes off the rails into reshoot territory about halfway through. You can almost hear the studio execs asking, "But can't we give the film a happier ending?"
The 1978 film is timeless not just because of its quality but also because the condition of Human alienation is timeless. We are the sum of our neuroses. I hate to say it, but I fear that the only way we would ever get a Star Trek future is if the pods took over.
posted by jabah at 4:23 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
the dog with a human head, which is never really explained
The dog/man is the result of the homeless guy and his dog both falling asleep next to a pod.
Something you only notice after a few viewings is the constant presence of trash trucks picking up trash at all hours of the night. Hint—they're not picking up household trash.
Body Snatchers (1993) is a fun variation. It takes place on an army base with a strict, non-emotional hierarchy, so the confused characters take a long time to catch on. Another good film in this vein is Puppet Masters (1994), based on the Heinlein book and also starring Donald Sutherland. Invasion (2007), I can't recommend. It goes off the rails into reshoot territory about halfway through. You can almost hear the studio execs asking, "But can't we give the film a happier ending?"
The 1978 film is timeless not just because of its quality but also because the condition of Human alienation is timeless. We are the sum of our neuroses. I hate to say it, but I fear that the only way we would ever get a Star Trek future is if the pods took over.
posted by jabah at 4:23 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
the only way we would ever get a Star Trek future is if the pods took over
Starfleet Academy headquarters were (will be?) located in San Francisco.
posted by Lemkin at 6:22 AM on January 1
Starfleet Academy headquarters were (will be?) located in San Francisco.
posted by Lemkin at 6:22 AM on January 1
would some people even see that as an acceptable bargain (perhaps more so if they were not replaced but merely had their emotions amputated)?
For me, the most powerful moment in the film is when Kibner tells Elizabeth, “There’s no need for hate now.” Then adds, “Or love.”
Just two flatly delivered words of dialogue, but they instantly convey the immense scope of the tragedy.
posted by Lemkin at 6:31 AM on January 1 [5 favorites]
For me, the most powerful moment in the film is when Kibner tells Elizabeth, “There’s no need for hate now.” Then adds, “Or love.”
Just two flatly delivered words of dialogue, but they instantly convey the immense scope of the tragedy.
posted by Lemkin at 6:31 AM on January 1 [5 favorites]
If your brain trips on the post title and stubbornly conjures an Andy instead of a Philip, I'm right there with you
Good essay. I see no downside to a conversion to pod people, the horror reaction is just a manifestation of my broken ape ego
posted by ginger.beef at 8:04 AM on January 1 [1 favorite]
Good essay. I see no downside to a conversion to pod people, the horror reaction is just a manifestation of my broken ape ego
posted by ginger.beef at 8:04 AM on January 1 [1 favorite]
in star trek lore, people create a near utopia for themselves by embracing brotherhood - their love for and understanding of one another.
realistic or not, it is the exact opposite of a body snatcher situation.
however, the nuclear arms race and near destruction of humanity that occurs before this is undoubtedly a product of "rational" competition, ie MAD, the RAND corporation etc.
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 10:00 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
realistic or not, it is the exact opposite of a body snatcher situation.
however, the nuclear arms race and near destruction of humanity that occurs before this is undoubtedly a product of "rational" competition, ie MAD, the RAND corporation etc.
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 10:00 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
The bagpipe scene
As the insightful Zongoo comments on the YouTube vid, "I hate it when that happens".
posted by mokey at 12:07 PM on January 1 [2 favorites]
As the insightful Zongoo comments on the YouTube vid, "I hate it when that happens".
posted by mokey at 12:07 PM on January 1 [2 favorites]
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