Welcome back to Dark Corners Physical Media reviews. We’re looking at Imprint’s blu-ray and 4K box-set of 1978’s Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, directed by Philip Kaufman and gleefully referencing the 1956 original with this cameo from its star Kevin McCarthy. Whether it’s a remake of the 56 classic directed by Don Siegel, who also cameos, or just another version of Jack Finney’s 1955 book can be argued, I would say the former, but it doesn’t matter, either way, this is a rare case of original and remake both being great films. The first channeling 1950s cold war paranoia, the second channeling 1970s cold war paranoia. I would unhesitatingly call Invasion of the Body Snatchers a thriller before a science fiction or horror – though it is undoubtedly those too. And not just a thriller but that most 1970s of sub-genres, a conspiracy thriller. The whole thrust of the film is centered on who the protagonists can trust. That circle growing smaller and smaller – or seeming to; which is the point; they don’t know, you don’t know.
Stylistically Kaufman mixes a 40s noir-ish style with looser 70s technique creating an atmosphere of tension that has a verite reality to it – it doesn’t look like science fiction and certainly not like post-Star Wars science fiction. The film also boasts a really stellar cast featuring Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, and serial horror film victim Veronica Cartwright, alongside tremendous lead performances from Brooke Adams and the great Donald Sutherland. Whose love story manages to feel fresh and original, taking this a further step away from the typical Hollywood product. The film’s genius is to make a thriller first, and then make the science fiction elements completely matter of fact – just another conspiracy; could be about anything, just happens to be pod people.
Imprint’s release has brought over all the extras from previous releases including the excellent commentary with director Philip Kaufman which digs deep into the film’s visuals and the organic sound design by Ben Burt fresh off of Star Wars. Alternatively, there’s historian Steve Haberman’s track, looking at the bigger picture, drawing from the original film, Jack Finney's novel and the careers of the cast and crew. There’s also featurettes on special effects, cinematography, sound effects and so on, and over an hour of interviews with actress Brooke Adams, Screenwriter W.D. Richter, Composer Denny Zeitlin and more. New and unique to this set is the 40-page booklet containing an essay by critic Brian Eggert, production photos and reprinting of the press book. And of course the inevitable art cards. There’s not here that’s brand new, but it's made a comprehensive package of what already existed.
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers is a film that escalates from aggressively normal yet somehow insidious to high science fiction in an almost frighteningly believable way, the identifiable characters carrying us. I’m not going to pick between this and the Siegel film; I enjoy them both and to head off the question before it’s asked; I’ve actually never seen the Abel Ferrara version.