With summer finally near, horror movies are at the back of most sane peoples minds. Except for today – #halfwaytohalloween.
Exactly six months ago we reviewed the horror classic “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Today we follow up with the 1978 remake of the same name. Remakes often fail miserably, though in this case some renovation was not only warranted due to the substantial advancements in technology and movie effects, but well needed modifications to the story as well.
“Matthew, I’ve lived in this city all my life, but somehow today I felt everything had changed. People were different. Not just Geoffrey, but everybody. Yesterday it all seemed normal. Today everything seemed the same, but it wasn’t. It was a nightmare. It really became frightening. It was like the whole city had changed overnight.”
The premise for the remake remains the same – alien beings have begun an invasion of Earth and are slowly taking over by replacing the human inhabitants with exact replica pods – pods that look and sound the same as the original being but are completely devoid of emotion.
This go around the lead role is that of San Francisco Health Inspector Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland). Sutherland is great, and its interesting to see him as a younger man take on the reigns. Matthew Bennell is an average man who gets sent to the center of an extraordinary circumstance. Bennell is the type of character you can easily relate to and root for throughout.
Sutherland is joined by a cast of science fiction film hall of famers with a then novice 26 year old Jeff Goldblum and the recently deceased Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek Fame. Goldblum shows just how fantastic he is in the role of Jack Bellicec, a friend of Matthew’s. Goldblum has a certain way of delivering lines that have made him an enjoyable treat to watch, and his peculiar demeanor has sent him to stardom in blockbuster sci-fi roles in “The Fly,” and “Jurassic Park” among others.
The remake corrects several of the flaws associated with the first film – flaws that rendered an otherwise scary movie somewhat benign. Director Phillip Kaufman manages to keep the eeriness of the original, while adding the chills and screams for a perfect horror tale without going overboard on a gore-fest.
What makes the story work is the mixture of absolute suspense with an unidentifiable terror. As Bennell and company begin to piece together the mystery of the invasion, they learn there is no where else to turn for help, except each other – and even that avenue may not be safe.
As horror movies go, the remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is a very good movie. I suggest watching both – the first for the nostalgia of classic horror, the second for an actual scare.
by – Matt Christopher
