The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 10, 2024

Does Arrow Video know something we don't, and is trying to tell us all something? Earlier in 2024, Arrow's UK branch offered Region B fans the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K, and now, just in case folks on this side of the pond have become too sanguine about being replaced by either pod people or at least something, Arrow's US division is offering this less acclaimed 2007 version of Jack Finney's inimitable source novel, again in both 1080 and 4K UHD formats. This particular Invasion is probably more than ripe for a reassessment in a (hopefully largely) post-Covid world, as several of the supplements on the disc get into, as the film is almost weirdly prescient about both what the world went through during the pandemic, but also the hugely variant reactions to the pandemic, including anti-vax sentiments and burgeoning conspiracy theories.

While this film has had a previous 1080 release by home studio Warner Brothers way back in the nascent days of the Blu-ray format, and Martin Liebman's The Invasion Blu-ray review provides ample plot information, I might also recommend those interested to drop by my own Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Blu-ray review at least for some of the information about the tragically largely unremembered Jack Finney it imparts. I'd also argue that, per the above sentiment, for all its stumbles (and they are legion), The Invasion probably will resonate better for many audiences in a post-Covid environment than it did during its original theatrical release.

The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: While this is a standalone 4K release without a 1080 disc, I am offering screenshots from Arrow's standalone 1080 release as I think it actually provides a better representation of the look of the palette in particular, rather than offering screenshots from the 4K disc which are by necessity downscaled to 1080 and in SDR. Because this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

The Invasion is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow provides the same insert booklet for both its 1080 and 4K UHD releases, with the following information on the presentation:

The Invasion has been restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with 5.1 audio. The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR and Dolby Vision.

The 2K DI feature master data was supplied by Warner Brothers. The film was restored and graded in 4K resolution at Duplitech.

All materials sourced for this restoration were made available by Warner Brothers via Pixelogic.

Despite being made well into the digital capture era, The Invasion was shot on good old fashioned 35mm and (as mentioned above) finished with a 2K DI. This is another 4K presentation where detail levels probably do exhibit at least some improvement when compared to Arrow's 1080 release, but where the palette highlights courtesy of HDR / Dolby Vision probably offer the most instantaneously visceral changes. As with Arrow's 1080 release, the aspect ratio here has been corrected from the older Warner Brothers 1080 presentation (that release was 1.78:1, not much of a difference, but still not OAR), and offers what to my eyes looks like a slightly darker and better saturated palette than the old Warner Brothers 1080 release. Saturation in particular is noticeably more vivid throughout this 4K UHD presentation than even in Arrow's 1080 presentation. Detail levels are typically impeccable throughout, with the possible exception of some frankly pretty unconvincing CGI in moments like the opening explosion of the space shuttle, to the many later interstitials documenting cells being replaced by whatever this film's version of "pod people" is. Otherwise, though, fine detail on practical sets and costumes, as well as "everyday" things like facial features, is typically excellent. I'd point out "little" items like the patterns on Kidman's natty tweed jacket or the knitted sweater Veronica Cartwright wears in her memorable scene as just two examples where at least some improvement in fine detail can be noted when stacking this up against Arrow's already excellent 1080 presentation. The film's rather interesting grading choices, which tend to ping pong between ice cold blues to teals and warmer yellows to sepias, is very well represented throughout and HDR / Dolby Vision adds some observable highlights in the cooler tones in particular. Grain resolves tightly (and those who regularly read my 4K UHD reviews know I'm not always a fan of how grain can look in 4K presentations).

The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Invasion offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which judging by Marty's comments in his review seems like it mimics the old Warner Brothers' Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. As Marty mentions, while there are definitely moments of discernable immersion, kind of interestingly they tend to be "bookends", with some of the most noticeable surround activity at the beginning and ends of the film. Several of those aforementioned interstitial "cellular" moments do offer sporadic engagement of the side and rear channels, and some of the outdoor material in particular is populated with good ambient environmental effects. Scoring also resides in the surround channels effectively. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary is new to this release and features film critics Andrea Subisati and Alexandra West, co-hosts of The Faculty of Horror podcast.


• Body Snatchers and Beyond (HD; 23:53) is a new visual essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, revisiting the film in the wake of Covid.


• The Bug That's Going Around (HD; 16:17) is another new visual essay, this one by Josh Nelsen, which also explores the film as a "pandemic prophecy".


• We've Been Snatched Before (HD; 18:56) is an archival featurette looking at how science combats infectious diseases.


• Behind the Scenes offers three brief archival EPKs:

  The Invasion: A New Story (HD; 2:59)

  
  

  The Invasion: On the Set (HD; 3:25)

  
  

  The Invasion: Snatched (HD; 3:17)

• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:00)


• Image Gallery (HD)

Additionally, this Limited Edition comes with a nicely appointed illustrated booklet featuring new writing by William Bibbiani and Sally Christie. The keepcase features a reversible sleeve and encloses a double sided fold out poster. Packaging features a slipcover.

The Invasion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Invasion is arguably much more "relevant" now (for better or worse) after the Covid situation we've all been going through for years, and it's probably in the film's approach toward disease and reactions to it rather than some of the original subtext of Finney's book (however that has been reinterpreted by the many remakes through the years) that has the most impact here. Arrow is offering a release with secure technical merits and some outstanding supplements, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.