Invasion of the Body Snatchers (film)
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is a 1956 science fiction horror film directed by Don Siegel, based on Jack Finney's novel. The story centers on Dr. Miles Bennell, played by Kevin McCarthy, who becomes alarmed as he witnesses strange changes in the people of his hometown, Santa Mira. He discovers that alien plants are producing replicas of the townspeople in giant pods, replacing them while they sleep. As Bennell attempts to warn others, he finds himself in a race against time to stay awake and spread the truth before he too is transformed.
The film's unsettling premise taps into themes of paranoia and loss of identity, resonating with viewers during a time of heightened Cold War tensions. Many commentators have interpreted the film as a reflection of societal fears regarding external threats and internal conformity. Its chilling exploration of alien invasion has made it a significant work in the science fiction genre, influencing countless adaptations and discussions around the implications of losing individuality. As such, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" remains a poignant commentary on human nature and societal anxieties.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (film)
Identification Science-fiction film about the takeover of a California town by alien life-forms
Date Released in 1956
Director Don Siegel
A provocative story line and relentless pacing made this low-budget film one of the best science-fiction and horror productions of the 1950’s.
Key Figures
Don Siegel (1912-1991), film director
Based on a novel by Jack Finney, Invasion of the Body Snatchers opens as a hysterical Dr. Bennell (played by Kevin McCarthy) tries to convince police in San Francisco that his town of Santa Mira has been taken over by aliens. When another doctor agrees to listen, Bennell’s story unfolds as a flashback.
Bennell notices that his patients complain of changes in loved ones so profound that they no longer seemed to be the same people. However, a day later, many assure Bennell that they had been mistaken. One night his friend finds a body in his house, a body that resembles him but that seems “unfinished.” The film’s characters realize that the residents of Santa Mira are being replaced by replicas growing in the giant pods of alien plants and that those so replaced are aiding the invasion. The process occurs while humans are sleeping, so Bennell struggles to stay awake and get word to the outside world.
Impact
Invasion of the Body Snatchers alarming theme struck a chord with audiences, leading commentators to suggest that it played upon national anxieties that were emerging over external aggression and internal subversion and served as an apt metaphor for Cold War paranoia.
Bibliography
Biskind, Peter. “The Mind Managers: Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Paranoid Style in American Movies.” In Seeing Is Believing: How Hollywood Taught Us to Stop Worrying and Love the Fifties. Rev. ed. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000. Biskind interprets the film as reflecting the strained ideological atmosphere of the 1950’s.
McCarthy, Kevin, and Ed Gorman, eds. “They’re Here . . . ” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”: A Tribute. New York: Berkley Boulevard Books, 1999. Coedited by the star of the film, this volume includes essays and interviews with key figures from the film.