Disc Reviews
Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Review
45-years later and I still don’t know if I’ve very seen anything quite as freaky as a Banjo-Man-Dog. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Enter this way.
1978’s retelling, and often referred to as the preferred version, of the sci-fi story Invasion of the Body Snatchers sees microbes come to earth and gestate into the form of giant pods. What do these pods do? Well, if you happen to fall asleep near one, then you’ll likely never wake up. A doppleganger version of you from a pod will emerge but you will be gone and your emotions will be vacant in the doppleganger. Your body in effect has been snatched!
And so is the tale of this conspiracy as people start to get snatched on a nationwide level and only Donald Sutherland and few others wise up to what is going on and set about to destruct the plan.
IOTBS maintains the conspiracy threat, but also contains a good dose of humour as well along the way. The practical effects are pretty good, and in some ways very effective compared to the age of digital effects we now live in.
There is plenty of appeal here for fans of the sci-fi, thriller and horror genres to appreciate. For fans who already know the film, they are likely here to find out if it is worth buying or buying again!
The extras are uniformly excellent. Phil Kaufman delivers a commentary for the movie which is informative. Clearly a director who picks his work carefully.
There are archival extras on the making of the film which include:
Discussing the Pod, a panel conversation about Invasion of the Body Snatchers and invasion cinema featuring critic Kim Newman and filmmakers Ben Wheatley (Kill List) and Norman J. Warren (Satan’s Slave)
Dissecting the Pod – Interview with Kaufman biographer Annette Insdorf.
Writing the Pod, an interview with Jack Seabrook, author of Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney about Finney’s original novel The Body Snatchers
“Re-Visitors from Outer Space: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod” is a great name for a making of documentary. Sadly, it’s only 16-minutes long.
“The Man Behind the Scream” Yeah! If this film is known for one thing only then it would be the scream. You’ve all seen the meme, now discover about the origins of the scream. Ben Burtt (of Lucasfilm fame) talks through his process on the film.
The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography Pod, cinematographer Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) discusses the look of and influences on the visual style of the film.
Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod – a short but focussed look at some of the practical effects from the opening sequence.
Original theatrical trailer
Many of these extras were produced for the previous Blu-ray editon of the film – SO if you hsve that then you are covered. What this edition does is presents a 4K master of the film with UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). The Audio comes with original uncompressed stereo 2.0 and 5.1 DTS HD Master sound.
On the hard materials you get:
Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella.
Six postcard-sized artcards.
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by David Cairns and Charles Freund, and archival interviews with director Philip Kaufman and writer W.D. Richter.
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options.
Both sound and visuals are in terrific order. Arrow Video continues to put its name on worthy products for physical media buyers and remain a reason to stay a consumer. It’s a new level of entertainemnt when you can return to an old favorurite but with the good treatment being dished out to it.
45 years on from this film and the story has been re-told at least a couple of more times. This version itself is a remake and now seems like the an appropriate time to maybe have another go. In absence of that though – this 1978 version stands tall as the strongest and most relevant to watch again.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is available on Blu-ray, 4K and 4K Special Editon from 12th Feb 2024.
Steven Hurst