Blu-ray Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Distributor: Olive Films (Signature Series)

Release Date: October 16, 2018

Region: Region A

Length: 01:20:19

Video: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC)

Main Audio: 2.0 English DTS-HD Master Audio (48 kHz, 1854 kbps, 24-bit)

Subtitles: English

Ratio: 2.00:1

Bitrate: 31.50 Mbps

Notes: This title has been released previously on Blu-ray and DVD by Olive Films, but this “Signature” edition represents a notable upgrade. It contains a better transfer and several worthwhile supplemental features that were not included on that earlier release. However, it should be made clear that this release has been limited to 5,000 units.

The 1950s isn’t a decade that springs to mind when it comes to terrific science fiction or horror films. Such films in this particular decade tended towards ridiculously large bugs, blobs, mutations, the tamest of space creatures, and the ravages of nuclear fallout. It is simply much too difficult to take such films seriously as they weren’t terribly well written, technically proficient, thought provoking, or scary. However, one particular film from this genre does seem to stand above the others and that film is Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It isn’t without its flaws, but it manages to captivate the imagination despite itself.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers was directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) and stars Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Carolyn Jones, Larry Gates, and King Donovan. McCarthy portrays a doctor in a small California town whose patients begin to suspect that their loved ones have been replaced by emotionless imposters. When their concerns eventually prove to have validity, it is too late to save the town—but can he save himself and his small group of friends (not to mention the rest of the world)?

The thematic concerns of the story have divided fans for generations. Some believe the film to be an allegory about McCarthyism while others claim that is was alluding to Communism. The truth of the matter is that if the film was solely about either one of these issues, it would no longer be seen or discussed today. It is more accurately about the dangers of blind conformity in general, and this is a theme that is unlikely to go out of style. There are simply too many people in our society willing to sell their identities to the lowest bidder. Individuality is out! Everyone feels the need to be like everyone else, and those who are unwilling or incapable of falling in line are damned to the margins of society. This is the reason that Invasion of the Body Snatchers has already been remade three times (in 1978, 1997, and 2007)! Seriously, who doesn’t know their fair share of pod people?

There is a line from the end of the film that should sum up this review and answer this question rather admirably: “They’re already here! You’re next!”

The Presentation:

4.5 of 5 Stars

The Blu-ray disc is protected by a clear case that showcases a dual-sided sleeve with film relater artwork on the outside cover and a production still that decorates the inside of the case.

A small booklet featuring a scholarly essay by Kier-La Janisse is also included. The essay is entitled At First Glance Everything Looked the Same: Identity Crisis in Don Siegel’s ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ and it discusses the themes of identity and conformity that are inherent in the film. It also gives contextual information about the sociopolitical environment of the time that it was released. It is a nice and attractive bonus that is illustrated with production stills.

The attractive static menu utilizes the same artwork featured on the cover and is easy to navigate. However, there is a strange misalignment on the words “English Subtitles” (see above).

Picture Quality:

4 of 5 Stars

Olive’s “Signature” edition transfer of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is actually sourced from the same elements that were used for their previous release. This does seem to be a slight upgrade, but there really isn’t an overwhelming upgrade in terms of image quality. However, it is a dramatic upgrade from any other release of the film on home video. It isn’t at all a terrible transfer, but it isn’t nearly perfect either. The encode is superior to their 2012 release—at least from a technical standpoint, but this is a film in need of a new scan of the best available film elements (at a resolution of at least 4K). There is obvious crushing of detail in the darker sequences and it is quite a bit softer than it needs to be. Obviously, this softness may very well be the result of the “Superscope” process (they artificially render an image as anamorphic in post-production after shooting in the academy ratio). This lends a softer look to the image. Density and depth are somewhat problematic as well. It is nice to find that Olive hasn’t made any effort to artificially correct these issues, because this would have only made matters worse. Film damage is never really problematic or distracting, but there is the occasional blemish.

Sound Quality:

4 of 5 Stars

The 2.0 English DTS-HD Master Audio transfer is also quite solid as the various sound elements are well prioritized in the mix, and given room to breathe in high definition. It is a technical upgrade from the film’s previous Blu-ray release (the previous transfer was a 16-bit render while this transfer is 24-bit). Age related issues such as distortion or hiss seem to be absent. In short, we are given a very clean representation of the film’s original audio.

Special Features:

4 of 5 Stars

Feature Length Audio Commentary by Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, and Joe Dante

Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins, The ‘Burbs) moderates a conversation with McCarthy and Wynter that is always engaging, usually charming, and occasionally informative. Dante is an obvious fan of the film and contributes quite a few nuggets of trivia while McCarthy is quick with anecdotal memories. However, Wynter is a bit less vocal—though she does attempt to discuss one of her recollections only to be cut off by Dante and McCarthy. Such interruptions happen all throughout the track, but Wynter never gets back around to whatever she was going to discuss. This seems a shame.

Feature Length Audio Commentary by Richard Harland Smith (Film Historian)

Richard Harland Smith’s commentary is less engaging but more informative than the Dante-McCarthy-Wynter track. He covers topics such as the film’s production history, biographical information about the cast and crew, the fifties sociopolitical climate, his personal observations and interpretations, and so much more that it moves rather rapidly. While some commentary tracks suffer from long periods of silence, this one has the opposite problem. Smith covers so much information that his delivery is too fast for the listener to completely digest. The occasional brief pause is essential and would have helped him punctuate the various points that he is trying to make. His commentary about the imagery of the pod-birth scene is especially interesting and might alter the way the viewer experiences the sequence for the rest of their lives.

Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited – (26:35)

Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), Stuart Gordon, and Bob Burns (Historian) discuss the production and legacy of Invasion of the Body Snatchers in this short documentary that sits somewhere between a “making of” account of the production and a generic “appreciation” of the film. It’s not a very comprehensive “making of” program, but it certainly beats nothing at all.

[Note: Mick Garris doesn’t seem to have any real understanding of the Hitchcockian “MacGuffin.” He misuses the term in this segment. This was one of this program’s weaker moments.]

The Stranger in Your Lover’s Eyes – (11:54)

This may very well be the disc’s best video-based supplement. The first portion of the two-part essay finds Kristoffer Tabori (Don Siegel’s son) reading from Siegel’s autobiography (A Siegel Film) about the production of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This is illustrated with a wealth of stills and footage from the film. The second part can be best described as Tabori’s personal observation of the film’s themes as they apply to his father’s life and personal concerns. It really packs a lot of information in a relatively short span of time. It is essential viewing for fans and a true asset to the disc.

The Fear is Real – (12:26)

Larry Cohen (The It’s Alive Trilogy, The Stuff) and Joe Dante both discuss the film and its significance—though Cohen seems to be the more prominent presence. Frankly, he seems more enamored with his own work than the film that he is supposed to be discussing (which is strange considering his films are so terrible). One assumes that he is featured because he had a hand in the horrible 1993 remake of the film, but this is neither here nor there. Both participants share their memories of seeing the film as children and the impact that it had on them and the genre. Dante has more useful comments (while Cohen has more screen time)—including his memories of meeting author Jack Finney with Kevin McCarthy in the eighties.

I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger – (21:08)

I No Longer Belong finds Matthew Bernstein discussing the life and career of Walter Wanger. It is an incredibly interesting and informative discussion and well worth twenty minutes of the viewer’s time.

The Fear and the Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon – (08:19)

The Fear and the Fiction is really a conversation about the themes of the film, and how people are divided as to whether it addresses McCarthyism or Communism. Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynters, Stuart Kaminsky (Don Siegel’s assistant), Stuart Gordon, John Landis, Mick Garris, and others address the issue.

1985 Interview with Kevin McCarthy – (07:25)

Tom Hatten hosts this television interview with Kevin McCarthy, and it is one of the disc’s true treasures. The segment is much too short, but it is certainly nice to hear McCarthy discuss the film and its enduring legacy.

What’s In a Name? – (02:16)

What’s In a Name is an extremely short clip that addresses the various titles considered for the film before they finally landed upon Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Return to Santa Mira

Return to Santa Mira is a collection of clips that detail where the various scenes in the film were shot and (in most cases) what these locations looked like in 2006 (which is when the clips were shot). It’s a nice addition to the disc but isn’t terribly substantial.

There are a total of eight clips:

Intro – (01:48)
Town Square – (01:34)
Homes – (02:07)
Alley – (01:14)
Cave – (01:41)
Staircase – (01:43)
Overpass – (01:03)
Wrecking Ball – (01:42)

Original Theatrical Trailer – (02:18)

It is nice to see that the original theatrical trailer has been included on the disc. It is a nice addition to a supplemental package that was already far above average.

Rare Documents

Thirteen production documents are featured here. There are call sheets, a list of actor’s considered for the leading role, the screenplay’s cover page, memos about censorship (mostly concerning the fact that both of the leading characters are divorced), and an opening narration featuring Orson Welles that would have been completely superfluous and overwhelmingly cheesy had it been shot.

At First Glance Everything Looked the Same: Identity Crisis in Don Siegel’s ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’

This is the same essay by Kier-La Janisse that was included in the booklet. One can also read it on their television screens if the whim strikes them, but it is difficult to imagine that anyone would prefer to read it in this particular manner when the booklet is much more convenient.

Final Words:

This reviewer has never been terribly fond of the horror and sci-fi films of the 1950s but this film is an exception. This is the best that Invasion of the Body Snatchers has looked on any home video format (even if it is only a marginal improvement over the previous Olive Films release). Fans will want to add it to their collections, and curious parties who haven’t already seen the film should check it out. It will make an excellent addition to your Halloween festivities.