7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
Mistaken for insane, a man arrives in San Francisco to inform the world that strange aliens have arrived on earth to overtake human life.
Starring: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan, Carolyn JonesHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
There are some films that make such a strong first impression they virtually imprint themselves into the subconscious at an almost unfathomable level. I can’t say for sure when I first saw the Don Siegel version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, only that I was very young—probably only six or seven—and had stayed up way past my bedtime to see it on some late show airing that my eldest sister repeatedly warned me not to. (Any child psychologist will tell you not to argue so vociferously unless you actually want your child—or pesky little brother—to do what you’re arguing against.) At any rate, I remember to this day watching transfixed with horror as poor Kevin McCarthy recounted the nefarious happenings of his bucolic and seemingly perfect little American town, where all the inhabitants were slowly but surely being replaced by pod people. The one salient piece of information I took away from that first, primal viewing is that I must never, ever fall asleep under any circumstances, and so I lay in bed that night trying with all my six or seven year old might not to drift off to slumberland. Of course I failed, and I awoke the next morning with a violent start, wondering if I were still the same kid or had been replaced by a slimy pod version of myself which no doubt had been growing in the dank climes of my bedroom closet. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of those films whose cachet grew considerably in the years after its initial release, a release which in fact received almost no significant notice at the time. But slowly over the course of several years, and aided by those very late night broadcasts that first ensnared me in the fear of sleeping, the film has emerged as one of the most iconic horror – science fiction offerings of the mid-fifties. Invasion of the Body Snatchers has been endlessly debated in terms of supposed subtextual elements, including its supposed allegorical treatments of Communism and McCarthyism, but the bottom line is, every possible subtext and/or allegory can be stripped away from this film and there’s still one of the most disturbing depictions of incipient paranoia ever caught on celluloid. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is just downright scary in a way few if any modern day, “show it all and then some” horror flicks ever are.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.00:1. This somewhat unusual aspect ratio is the result of the film being repurposed prior to release in "Superscope", a short-lived widescreen process that producer Walter Wanger was vehemently opposed to since he felt it deprived the image of clarity and fine detail. Interestingly, Superscope was a post-production process which converted nonanamorphic source elements to an anamorphic format. The result is that there is a certain softness to some aspects of the film and this transfer, specifically with regard to midrange and far shots. That said, this high definition presentation is remarkably crisp most of the time, with very pleasing fine detail in the many close-ups, and decent if occasionally problematic contrast and some very deep and convincing black levels. The elements here are in remarkably good condition, though eagle eyed videophiles will notice some very occasional damage, including some odd cloudly black mars that crop up on the far right side of the frame a time or two (look closely in the sequence when Miles is talking with "Uncle Ira" early in the film for a good example). Olive continues its tradition of releasing product that does not appear to have been even slightly digitally tweaked, so this retains a very natural filmic appearance. This is certainly heads and shoulders above the previous DVD releases, and despite some niggling problems should please the film's ardent fans.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that sounds surprisingly full, considering its age and its built in narrowness. Dialogue is very cleanly and clearly presented and the track reproduces the wonderfully effective score of Carmen Dragon beautifully. (Trivia alert number two: Dragon's son Daryl is The Captain of pop group The Captain and Tennille.) Fidelity is excellent throughout the track and there isn't even any really noticeable hiss or other age related issues.
Unfortunately there are no supplements on this Blu-ray disc. This is certainly one film that could have used a commentary or retrospective featurette, especially since previous DVD releases had at least some minimal supplemental features.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers has achieved its enviable reputation for a reason. This is one of the most startlingly effective films of its era, a beautifully wrought exercise in growing paranoia that achieves substantial chills without egregious violence or overly hyperbolic plot machinations. In fact the most salient thing about this film is how eerily calm it all is, even as Miles and Becky find themselves cornered by invading alien pods. Very smartly written and impeccably well directed, this is one of the great science fiction films of all time and it is one of those "must see" films that any classic movie aficionado should include in their personal viewing experience. This Blu-ray features generally excellent video and very good audio, and even without supplements, this release comes Highly recommended.
Signature Edition
1956
1956
1956
Special Edition
1956
1956
1978
Warner Archive Collection
1951
Standard Edition
1953
Collector's Edition
1988
Special Edition | The Creeping Unknown
1955
Enemy From Space
1957
1958
2000
Universal Essentials Collection
1953
2K Restoration
1958
1954
Five Million Years to Earth
1967
Спутник
2020
70th Anniversary
1953
1957
1953
Warner Archive Collection
1958
Warner Archive Collection
1964
1958