Plot: A small-town doctor learns that the population of his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Pure Classic
Story: Invasion of the Body Snatchers starts when Dr Miles Bennell (McCarthy) being restrained claiming to have a big story behind it all. We flashback to hear his story of how he returned to his town to find his patients book and cancelling appointments as well as resident claiming their relatives are not relatives.
When Miles learns that there have been many other cases in the area he starts to suspect foul play. Things take a terrifying turn when Jack Belicec (Donovan) finds a strange body not quite complete with a similar size body as himself only to find out there is another one of his love Becky (Wynter). Turning to Dr Kauffman (Gates) he dismisses everything but Miles finds himself battle what he thinks is his friends changing into these body snatchers.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is always going to be a classic story about paranoia and what it creates within a small community. This does what many horrors fail to achieve and that is create suspense and terror in nearly every scene and you much like the characters we just don’t know who to trust through the film. The flashback feel does create the terror but also does take away any peril from Miles character. That would be the only bad side to this story but for the time it comes off very effective.
Actor Review
Kevin McCarthy: Miles Bennell is the local doctor who is telling the story of what is going on sharing he experiences back in his small town. He starts getting a large number of cases leading to nothing before a strange body shows up. He has to get to the bottom of the reason why there are body snatchers in this small town. Kevin is great in this leading role showing the strength needed in a world completely against you with something you just don’t understand.
Dana Wynter: Becky Driscoll has recently moved back to the small town too she is the love interest of Miles who has always been one step away from becoming a couple. She is on the run with Miles as they are trying to get the bottom of this case. Dana is great in this role back when the woman would be the sidekick to the lead.
Larry Gates: Dan Kauffman is a fellow doctor who dismisses anything going on in the town as just mass hysteria, but we learn that he has alternative motives. Larry is good in this role being the voice of reason if this was real.
King Donovan: Jack Belicec is the first one to discover the body before it has taken over him he calls Miles to look into what is happening only to work with him to uncover the truth. King is good in this role but you know which direction his character will go.
Support Cast: Invasion of the Body Snatchers has your typical horror supporting cast with most of the cast being people who have been captured or has their body snatched.
Director Review: Don Siegel – Don gives us a suspense driven horror that was one of the best for the time and still holds up today.
Horror: Invasion of the Body Snatchers uses the horror elements of not knowing what is happening to make this one really shine through the horror genre.
Sci-Fi: Invasion of the Body Snatchers has the elements of the sci-fi angle by having the snatchers coming from out of space making this a true sci-fi classic.
Thriller: Invasion of the Body Snatchers keeps us on edge from start to finish because the panic created from the opening scene lets us know what we are heading into.
Settings: Invasion of the Body Snatchers keeps the story set in a small town showing how taking over could make this a reality for the time.
Special Effects: Invasion of the Body Snatchers uses great effects t the time period in question.
Suggestion: Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one I think all horror fans should watch just to see how far the genre has come with its great ideas. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: Pod births.
Worst Part: Could have been longer.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $417,000
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Tagline: The original Black & White classic
Overall: Brilliant sci-fi classic that will make you think twice when talking to anyone you know.
Rating
