This is a film I've heard mentioned all my life, and with a name such as "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers", I've always presumed it was one of those campy 50's sci-fi movies. But while it might be a bit campy, TIofBS is neither a 50's movie or a sci-fi flick. (note: I just read this is a remake, so it *was* originally a 50s flick)
Watching it on a whim after it being recommended by a friend, I was pleasantly surprised to find out Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy were all part of the cast. Sutherland, playing Matthew, does a fine job portraying an investigator for the Department of Health, who uncovers an alien conspiracy to take over the planet.
My biggest complaints in terms of plot is that the the title and opening sequence of the film completely gives away what's to come, which hurts the opening act of the film, as the viewer waits for the lead characters to catch up on what's happening to their city. However, the performances given by the cast and the quick onset of paranoia kept things interesting as the unlikely (and unsuccessful) 'rebels' try to fight back against the inevitable.
The practical special effects are fantastic, the cinematography is spot-on (the dramatic lightning often gives it a noir tint) and I admit the unworldly sounds the 'snatched' produce is uncanny. While much of the plot revolves around the question, "how the hell are they going to turn this around?", which I kept pondering upon, I like the idea that the 'bad guys' win in the end. The characters end up in the DoH lab a few times and I was anticipating Elizabeth (Brooke Adams) to come up with some kind of sciency deus ex machina to thwart the invasion.
While I had some unanswered questions, like how the aliens actually communicate and how they kept knowing where Matthew and Elizabeth were at, and how the transformation was actually triggered (probably by the first contact with one of the 'tendrils'?), it didn't bother me that they were left unanswered; probably inherited from the fact that in many ways it felt like a old-school 50's flick.
It's not really scary, but tense at moments. I had a good time with it.
7.5/10.
Watching it on a whim after it being recommended by a friend, I was pleasantly surprised to find out Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy were all part of the cast. Sutherland, playing Matthew, does a fine job portraying an investigator for the Department of Health, who uncovers an alien conspiracy to take over the planet.
My biggest complaints in terms of plot is that the the title and opening sequence of the film completely gives away what's to come, which hurts the opening act of the film, as the viewer waits for the lead characters to catch up on what's happening to their city. However, the performances given by the cast and the quick onset of paranoia kept things interesting as the unlikely (and unsuccessful) 'rebels' try to fight back against the inevitable.
The practical special effects are fantastic, the cinematography is spot-on (the dramatic lightning often gives it a noir tint) and I admit the unworldly sounds the 'snatched' produce is uncanny. While much of the plot revolves around the question, "how the hell are they going to turn this around?", which I kept pondering upon, I like the idea that the 'bad guys' win in the end. The characters end up in the DoH lab a few times and I was anticipating Elizabeth (Brooke Adams) to come up with some kind of sciency deus ex machina to thwart the invasion.
While I had some unanswered questions, like how the aliens actually communicate and how they kept knowing where Matthew and Elizabeth were at, and how the transformation was actually triggered (probably by the first contact with one of the 'tendrils'?), it didn't bother me that they were left unanswered; probably inherited from the fact that in many ways it felt like a old-school 50's flick.
It's not really scary, but tense at moments. I had a good time with it.
7.5/10.