There are so many films that come out every week let alone every year, aren’t there? We can get so caught up in trying to keep up with the latest awards contenders, box office hits, and culturally relevant pieces that we just don’t have enough time to turn back the clock and check out films from the past. But it is so important to expand our horizons and experience the art that has set the stage for today’s cinema. You might need to find the time, so it is important to make wise choices with what you spend that time watching. Whether we head back 10 years, 50 years, or even 100 years, there is great cinema throughout the years. But let’s rewind the clock and here are some reasons why you should check out… Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
| Directed by Philip Kaufman Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Leonard Nimoy |
The Story
Paranoia runs deep. There have been quite a few adaptations of Jack Finney’s “The Body Snatchers” but few can play out the events of this alien invasion quite like this 1978 adaptation. The 50’s version is quite the sprint, but this turn is a slow and mysterious burn that heightens the mystery around what is going on. First, there are a few characters not “themselves”. Then the next step sees paranoia overtaking the few people not affected. The gaslighting begins to squash any theories or concerns they might have. But then the duplicates arrive. Once the pods are revealed, that is when things become so true and impactful. We have a group of characters to latch onto, but we fear their safety (especially any time they are not directly on screen). If we keep seeing them, they are safe. But if they disappear…are they still the same?
The End
There are few films with quite the impactful ending that Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers delivers. The shock is worth thousands of words. There is a chance that we can still have hope. But it is an ending like this that tells us that all hope is lost, and we have reached the end of this story. The iconic shot of Donald Sutherland…the sound…the vanished hope…it all comes together in an ending that rams you like a runaway train. A great paranoia and mystery-filled story come to a cold and impactful end that you will not see coming.
The Cast
From the start, we are introduced to Matthew Bennell, a health inspector portrayed by Sutherland. His performance is wry and sharp. There is sarcasm to be had and a prickly disposition that makes him a complex protagonist to latch onto. But Sutherland’s charisma is impressive enough to make things work. Brooke Adams is a sympathetic character who is the first victim of a “lost” loved one. Her husband is cold and distant, and we get to see Adam’s struggle as Elizabeth, and it works so well. Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright are a pair of charismatic additions to the cast (how couldn’t Goldblum be?). But it is Cartwright who must deliver at the end of the film. Leonard Nimoy is a cool and intellectual presence who makes a great antagonistic presence for our heroes of the story.
The Tension
Paranoia would mean nothing without the tension that surrounds it, right? Kaufman can maximize the tension in every scene. The little details that mount and the hints that build the intrigue are expertly weaved together by this director. The subtle hints of the infection of this invading entity cause plenty of suspense. As the audience notices a bloody nose or fungal moss growing on the skin, we can feel the heightened fear of who is going to be next. They can be anywhere, and Kaufman makes sure that you feel that. This thriller is an iconic 70’s piece that will continue to build that energy and flavor that makes it a classic.
