Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Invasion of the Body Snatchers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 21, 2013

Winner of five Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film and Best Director, Philip Kaufman's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailer for the film; audio commentary by director Philip Kaufman; new video interview with Annette Insdorf; video interview with sound designer Ben Burtt; new panel conversation featuring film critic Kim Newman and filmmakers Norman J. Warren and Ben Wheatley; and more. The release also arrives with a 52-page collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Cairns, and re-prints of classic articles including contemporary interviews with Philip Kaufman and W.D. Richter, illustrated with original archive stills and posters. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

"What is that?"

In the city of San Francisco, a health inspector (Donald Sutherland, Don't Look Now, Ordinary People) and his best friend (Brooke Adams, Days of Heaven, Cuba) notice that people around them undergo dramatic character transformations for no apparent reasons. They get in touch with an old psychiatrist friend (Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek), hoping that he might be able to logically explain what is happening, but he proves useless.

Soon after, the entire city is transformed into a giant pool full of expressionless humanoids that begin breeding strange looking pods and dispatching them to other parts of the country. The health inspector and his friend discover why, but are forced to run for their lives after hordes of humanoids begin hunting them down.

Technically, Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a remake of Don Siegel’s 1956 film, but aside from using as a foundation a basic idea introduced in Jack Finney’s novel the two films could not be any more different.

Kaufman’s film has two different identities. The first is that of a stylish horror film shot as a neo-noir picture. The film’s visual style and its original sound design create and sustain a tense atmosphere that has nothing in common with that of Siegel’s film. The result is a film in which the classic horror element is effectively replaced with a sense of suffocating paranoia.

The film also works well as a social commentary. The gradual alienation and consequently the destruction of individuality witnessed after the invasion are indeed parts of a reality that occurred after the end of the hippie movement in America. In other words, the health inspector and his friend are not only witnessing an invasion, but the end of an era.

The narrative’s versatility is further enhanced by a truly spectacular sound design that places the film in a league of its own. Using organic and mixed sound effects, sound designer Ben Burtt singlehandedly transforms large parts of the film and makes them look genuinely spooky. In addition to the sound effects, there are also unique music themes that are linked to the presence of vehicles, objects, and even plants. This very unique relationship between sounds and images makes viewing Invasion of the Body Snatchers a truly unique experience. (After its premiere, Dolby also frequently used the film as a showpiece for their at the time new mixing technology).

Sutherland is outstanding as the methodical health inspector who slowly begins to realize that no one can be trusted. Adams is also excellent as the suspicious housewife. A young Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright also leave memorable impressions. Siegel, who directed the original film, also has a small role as a taxi driver.

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers was lensed by Oscar winning cinematographer Michael Chapman (Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, Andrew Davis’ The Fugitive).

*In 1994, the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

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

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video.

The following information appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers was transferred from a 35mm interpositive and original 35mm 2-track stereo printmaster mag. The film was transferred in High Definition on a Spirit DataCine at the Post Group in Hollywood, California. Digital restoration was completed at The Post Group using ASCIIIand DRS. The colorist was Brian Borne, and the entire project was managed by Jeanine Intindola for MGM."

Generally speaking, image depth and clarity are pleasing. During the darker footage there is light noise that occasionally becomes overexposed, but definition is not compromised. Contrast and sharpness levels are stable. Color reproduction is very good - there is a good range of organic, never appearing boosted blues, browns, greens, reds, grays, and blacks. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections. Sharpening adjustments also have not been applied. Overall image stability is very good and there are no inherited transition issues. Finally, there are a few tiny flecks popping up here and there, but there are no large damage marks, cuts, debris, stains, or warps to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

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

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

I prefer the LPCM 2.0 track. Depth and clarity are very good, while dynamic intensity is excellent. This makes a big difference when one compares the old R1 DVD release and this new Blu-ray release as Denny Zeitlin's soundtrack has an enormously important role (the ambient audio effects, in particular, sound great). The dialog is consistently crisp, stable, free of background hiss, and easy to follow. For the record, there are no audio dropouts or distortions to report in this review.

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

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

• Discussing the Pod - a very informative and entertaining panel conversation featuring film critic Kim Newman and filmmakers Norman J. Warren (Spaced Out, Horror Planet) and Ben Wheatley (Kill List, Sightseers). The three gentlemen discuss the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers film, the socio-political climate in America at the time when the film was made, the differences and similarities between Kaufman and Abel Ferrara's remakes, Denny Zeitlin's soundtrack, etc. In English, not subtitled. (52 min).

• Dissecting the Pod - in this new video interview, Kaufman biographer Annette Insdorf discusses the director's diverse work, the original film that inspired the 1978 remake, and the film's style and unique themes. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Writing the Pod - in this video piece, Jack Seabrook, author of Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney, discusses the life and legacy of Jack Finney, as well as his legendary science fiction novel (initially published as a three-part story in Collier's magazine), which inspired Don Siegel to shoot the first Invasion of the Body Snatchers film in 1956. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Re-visitors From Outer Space - a wonderful documentary film which focuses on the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, film's socio-political overtones, and the key themes in Jack Finney's novel. The film features interviews with director Philip Kaufman, writer W.D. Richter, Donald Sutherland (Matthew Bennell), and Veronica Cartwright (Nancy Bellicec), among others. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• The Man Behind the Scream - in this featurette, Ben Burtt, who created the special sound effects for Invasion of the Body Snatchers, discusses the film's unique sound design. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• The Invasion Will Be Televised - in this short video piece, director of photography Michael Chapman discusses the visual style of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and specifically the film's noirish qualities. Also included are comments from Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer's Journey, director Philip Kaufman, and writer W.D. Richter. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Practical Magic: The Special Effect Pod - this short video piece focuses on the special effects used in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Included here are comments from director Philip Kaufman and special effects creator Howard Preston. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Commentary - audio commentary with director Philip Kaufman. This is the same audio commentary with the American director that was initially included on MGM's R1 DVD release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

• Cover art - Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh.

• Booklet - a 52-page collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Cairns, as well as re-prints of classic articles including contemporary interviews with Philip Kaufman and W.D. Richter, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

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

Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a thought-provoking and very stylish film which undoubtedly deserves its classic status. It also has one of the very best soundtracks created for a genre film of this caliber. As expected, Arrow Video's technical presentation is very good. Do not hesitate to add this release to your collections, folks. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.