Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) — Film Review
It is a delicate balance when mixing horror films with political messages. One inch too far, and the would-be enjoyable scare fest turns into a lecture about the Cold War and conformity. It is also a part of human nature to analyze films to the max while overlooking the enjoyment received from the little things in a movie. Ultimately, we could study Invasion of the Body Snatchers for its potential commentary on society, but it is more important to analyze whether or not it is a genuinely good horror film.
The story revolves around Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) and his group’s attempt to thwart the alien lifeforms in their hometown of Santa Mira, California. These aliens come in the form of giant seedpods that create exact duplicates of the humans around them. When someone goes to bed, they never wake up, instead replaced by an emotionless replica. The thought of this occurring is far-fetched, but it is also terrifying. What if you woke up one day to find your mother or father were not the same person? Most importantly, what if you attempted to tell the world about this problem only to be told you are crazy? These are all issues with a psychological flair that any human being can relate to, which makes this film particularly scary, even if it is improbable.
