Invasion of the Body Snatchers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Invasion of the Body Snatchers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 9, 2018

Don Siegel's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. The supplemental features on the disc include audio commentary by film historian Richard Harlan Smith; audio commentary by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and director Joe Dante; new video program with directors Larry Cohen and Joe Dante; original trailer; rare documents about the film's production history; and a lot more. Also included with this release is a booklet with an essay by author and programmer Kier-La Janisse's essay and vintage stills. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Panic

Independent distributors Olive Films first released Don Siegel's cult film Invasion of the Body Snatchers on Blu-ray in 2012. For a complete analysis of the film, please see my colleague Jeff Kauffman's review of the first release here.

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

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.00:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Don Siege's Invasion of the Body Snatchers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The foundation for the new remaster that was used to produce this release is actually the old master that Olive Films worked with when they prepared the first release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 2012. What this means is that there are some inherited source limitations that basically make it quite difficult to have a dramatic upgrade in quality. For example, while the overall quality of the visuals ranges from decent to good it is very easy to tell that in a lot of the darker/nighttime footage nuances are not as convincing as they should be. Also, density levels are not optimal and a lot of the wider panoramic shots actually lack the solid depth that they should boast (see screencaptures #4 and 13). Some light but noticeable black crush is also present throughout the entire film, and coupled with the inherited softness from the old master it contributes to an overall flatness that a proper new master would very easily eliminate (see screencapture #14). Here are the positives: there are no stability issues; the grading is convincing, and even with the shortcomings that are highlighted above plenty of decent nuances are retained; no attempts have been made to digitally sharpen up the film; grain exposure should be better but the current density levels are mostly pleasing; overall the film does look quite healthy in high-definition. One more important factor to consider: this release is encoded better. All in all, as far as I am concerned the quality of the technical presentation ranges between 3.75/5.00 and 4.00/5.00, and this is good, but ideally the film could look quite a bit better if properly restored in its native ratio of 1.85:1. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

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

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional yellow English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I find the lossless track to be very solid. It has proper depth, excellent clarity, and stable overall balance. While viewing the film, I did not detect any background anomalies either. Now, a bonus vintage audio mix definitely would have been appreciated, but I am completely satisfied with what is on the disc.

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

• Audio Commentary One - in this 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 Two - this vintage 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 the film. Fans of the film should spend the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• 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, 1080p).

• The Fear is Real - in this new video 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, 1080p).

• I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wagner - in this new video 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).

• Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited - this vintage featurette focuses on the production history and historical significance of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Included in it are clips from interviews with Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), and science fiction historian Bob Burns, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (27 min, 1080i).

• The Fear and the Fiction - another vintage featurette with extracts from archival interviews with Kevin McCarthy, co-screenwriter Stuart Gordon (Body Snatchers), John Landis, cultural historian Leo Brandy, Don Siegel's assistant Stuart Kaminsky, and Dana Wynters, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080i).

• Interview with Kevin McCarthy - presented here is an archival interview with Kevin McCarthy in which he discusses his contribution to Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The interview was conducted in 1985. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080i).

• Return to Santa Mira - a vintage featurette that focuses on the locations where key segments from Invasion of the Body Snatchers were shot. In English, not subtitled. (1080i).
  
  1. Intro (2 min).
  2. Town Square (2 min).
  3. Homes (3 min).
  4. Alley (2 min).
  5. Cave (2 min).
  6. Staircase (2 min).
  7. Overpass (1 min).
  8. Wrecking Ball (2 min).

• What's In a Name? - a short archival video piece about the title of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and some of the changes that were made to get it right. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080i).

• Gallery - a large gallery of rare vintage documents detailing the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. (1080p).

• Essay - presented here is author and film programmer Kier-La Janisse's essay "At First Glance Everything Looked the Same: Identity Crisis in Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers". In text-format. (1080p).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 6-page booklet with a printed version of Kier-La Janisse's essay and vintage stills.

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

This upcoming special edition of Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers offers a very impressive selection of bonus features that I think cover everything that a fan of the film would be interested in. The two audio commentaries in particular provide a tremendous amount of historical information that any serious film fan would appreciate. The foundation for the new remaster that was used to produce this release is actually the old master that Olive Films worked with when they prepared the first release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 2012. So, the film can look even better in high-definition, but I still think that this release is well worth picking up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.