Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

The Bottom Line:

A clever and (suprisingly) not irrelevant remake of the classic 1956 film with a final shot to rival all others, Invasion of the Body Snatchers' depiction of 70s San Francisco may seem a bit dated, but its chills are most definitely not.

Let me say that I am usually against all remakes of classic movies, even if it is meant to update the subject and bring it forth to younger audiences.

In my view, younger audiences should make a culture for themselves, by watching the classics as they were and then, eventually, move on, not the other way round.

It is just watching "Romeo + Juliet" (Leonardo DiCaprio's vehicle), and pretending to know Shakespeare.
It is simply an insult to good taste and culture as such.

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) is no Shakespeare and does not pretend to be an everlasting classic.
It is not even a remake as such. It is a follow-up to the original 1956 counterpart of the same name, which still remains a chilling and effective movie to this day (a bit like Hitchcock movies).

It is serious and respects the parameters of the earlier movie, only adding some more scientific detail and auto-ironic undertones to the subject.

The cast could not have been better chosen. Donald Sutherland, who also later appeared in Robert Henlein's "Puppet Masters", Jeff Goldblum (The Fly, Jurassic Park), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock of Star Trek lore), Veronica Cartwright and Brooke Adams, are all very dedicated actors.
The brief appearance of Kevin McCarthy adds to the ties with its original counterpart and reminds us that the threat is still among us,... and spreading.

I have watched it through the years, and must say that this is one hell of a movie.
The only thing that may set it in its own age, are the clothes (the fashion) worn in the late seventies, but once you get dragged into the story, you might even forget that and be really "sucked" in it.
From then on, it is a movie that really grips you and keeps you alert.

It is more than just a common Sci-Fi flick. Like the classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still", it is science fiction for the thinking man.

It is more metaphor than just plain and simple sci-fi and addresses issues of ethnology and sociology in a manner not usually seen in other movies.

For that, this Collector's Edition, which also sports a cleaner image and a conventional, but very clean Surround sound, and a few extras for the cinephile in you, is well worth your attention and your money.