I have to say, I’ve always been impressed with Philp Kaufman’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” from the first time I saw it at the age of 12.
Now that I’ve had the opportunity to do a back-to-back comparison, juxtaposing the 1956 and 1978 versions, I am inclined to double-down. Kaufman really ramps up the paranoia in his conspiracy-driven thriller, putting a distinctly 1970s spin on the Jack Finney classic (published in 1955 as “The Body Snatchers”).
The cast is pitch-perfect, with Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, and Leonard Nimoy. Kevin McCarthy, who played the protagonist in the 1956 original, has a nice cameo, as does its director, Don Siegel. Apparently, both McCarthy and Siegel were in on formulating the remake’s revised ending.
If you’ve not seen this movie, watch it. Then join Roy Bjellquist and me as we discuss it tonight, as part of our month-long celebration of Halloween. Take my advice: we’re always pretty free with the spoilers, so PLEASE ENJOY THE MOVIE FIRST. The show will be archived for your later enjoyment.
And just so you can get ahead, here’s a complete schedule:
October 11, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978)
October 16, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”
October 18, “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
October 23, “Soylent Green” (with Shari Bethman-Bjellquist)
October 25, “The Devil Rides Out” (a.k.a. “The Devil’s Bride”)
October 30, “Young Frankenstein” (with Michael Rizzo and Marybeth Ritkouski of SciFi Distilled, AND virtual costume party!)
Join us tonight, and share your observations. The seed is planted… terror grows! Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.
Roy and I will be boiling up some mighty large brussels sprouts, on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. The show is live-streamed on Facebook, every Friday and Sunday evening at 7:00 EDT.
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