Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 22, 2024

Don Siegel's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include two exclusive new audio commentaries and two archival audio commentaries; archival program with directors Larry Cohen and Joe Dante; original trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Don Siegel's cult film Invasion of the Body Snatchers has received multiple Blu-ray releases from Olive Films. A review of the label's original release from 2012 can be accessed here. A review of the label Signature Edition from 2018 can be accessed here.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-21 are from the 1080p presentation of the 1.85:1 version.
Screencaptures #24-30 are from the 1080p presentation of the 2.00:1 version.
Screencaptures #32-37 are from the 4K presentation of the 1.85:1 version.

Currently, I have only one other release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers in my library, which is this release produced by Olive Films in 2018. I used it to do a number of comparisons.

Kino Lorber's release presents Invasion of the Body Snatchers in two ratios - 1.85:1 and 2.00:1. Both versions can be viewed in native 4K and 1080p. In native 4K, the two versions can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the 1.85:1 version in its entirety with Dolby Vision.

In native 4K, the 1.85:1 version looks good. It has a strong, stable organic appearance. However, the source limitations remain as pronounced as they are on the previous Blu-ray release. In fact, I believe that in 1.85:1 some are even marginally exacerbated. While switching between the native 4K presentation and 1080p presentation from the previous release, I could not see any areas where delineation, clarity, and depth were unquestionably superior on the former. On the contrary, I decided to upscale the previous release and observed virtually identical strengths and weaknesses in native 4K and 1080p. What impact does Dolby Vision have? Minimal. It is a very gentle grade whose greatest impact is probably on the daylight footage. The darker footage, and especially the one where the source limitations are pronounced, looks pretty much identical, and in some areas perhaps a tad too dark. (If I had to choose the superior darker areas, I would say that they are on the 1080p presentation). There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. However, because of the source limitations, you will see numerous fluctuations in terms of sharpness and clarity. The surface of the visuals is healthy.

What is the final verdict on this release? Its greatest strength is its inclusion of the 1.85:1 version of the film, which is not available on the Olive Films release. However, I felt that in a number of areas the native 4K presentation has a tendency to exacerbate source limitations, sometimes rather significantly, that an elaborate, proper 4K restoration would have addressed. The rest is fair to describe as negligible discrepancies, going both ways, and ultimately not having a meaningful impact on the overall quality of the presentation.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers are presented with English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. Both be viewed with optional English SDH subtitles.

I did not perform direct comparisons with the audio track from the Olive Films release. The lossless track on this release sounded very good on my system. Occasionally, it does reveal thinning that reveals its age, but I am unsure if this is something that a modern Atmos mix, for instance, can address. The dialog is clear and easy to follow. There are no audio dropouts, hiss, pops, etc.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival commentary features actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and director Joe Dante (Matinee). It is a fabulous commentary with a lot of technical information about the conception and production of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as well as historical information about Don Siegel's interactions with the cast and his vision for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Fans of the film should find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, film historian Richard Harlan Smith discusses in great detail the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the socio-cultural climate in which it emerged, the strengths of the characterizations, the casting choices and career paths of the leading actors, the film's lasting appeal, etc.

• Audio Commentary Three - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Audio Commentary Four - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by film scholar Jason A. Ney.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival commentary features actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and director Joe Dante (Matinee). It is a fabulous commentary with a lot of technical information about the conception and production of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as well as historical information about Don Siegel's interactions with the cast and his vision for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Fans of the film should find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, film historian Richard Harlan Smith discusses in great detail the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the socio-cultural climate in which it emerged, the strengths of the characterizations, the casting choices and career paths of the leading actors, the film's lasting appeal, etc.

• Audio Commentary Three - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Audio Commentary Four - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by film scholar Jason A. Ney.

• The Fear is Real - in this archival program, directors Larry Cohen (Special Effects) and Joe Dante recall their first experiences with Invasion of the Body Snatchers and discuss the unique qualities of the film's narrative, the lasting impact it had on generations of filmgoers and future filmmakers, and Jack Finney's novel. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• The Stranger in Your Lover's Eyes - this two-part visual essay features the son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, who reads from his father's book A Siegel Film. The bulk of the content addresses the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wagner - in this archival program, film scholar and author Matthew Wanger discusses the life and unusual career of producer Walter Wanger, who greenlighted Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 1080p).

• Trailer One - original theatrical trailer for Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - original theatrical trailer for Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The original camera negative for Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers is missing, and without it, it is virtually impossible to deliver a proper definitive release of the film. Kino Lorber's two-disc set introduces new presentations of two versions of the film, sourced from recent, exclusive 4K remasters. I would describe both presentations as good. However, these 4K remasters tend to exacerbate different source limitations, and the more significant ones are of the kind that can be addressed only by an elaborate and very expensive restoration. Should you consider picking up the two-disc set if you already have Olive Films' Signature Edition from 2018? If you like the film a lot, yes. However, you will be pleased with it only if you approach it with the right expectations, one of which must be that it will not provide you with a flawless presentation of the film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.