Disc Reviews

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers Blu-ray Review

• 13th Nov 2013

Phillip Kaufman’s remake of the Don Siegel B/W classic has had the “cult” brand on it for a long time now. Simply put – we are being invaded by a biological organism from space that steals us in our sleep. How?  Well not to get too graphic, but when you are unconscious and one of them is near you, they will attach themselves to your body and then out of a giant pod comes your duplicate self that wakes up and takes over from when you left off. You in the meantime, wither and mould and die.

The Invasion movies have, at their best (Namely this and the original version – at least two others exist as well) act as a commentary on the war threat. But also the threat from within takes a huge toll on the film as well. Much like The Thing played on the drama of “who is who” in an isolated location. Here it is the whole world closing in on you where the majority of the tension arises.

Is the film actually a remake though or is it more a quasi-sequel as the Kevin McCarthy cameo suggests early on. Whatever it is – there is plenty of its own invention going on in this film, and it’s on deep rooted seeds of paranoia sewn throughout. And just wait until you see Banjo-Dog-Man if you want to see something truly bizarre and yet hilarious at the same time.

Arrow have done a decent job of patching up the sounds and picture quality to the standard we have come to expect from them. They have also gone all out on the extras as well. There is an excellent array of interviews and commentary supplements here to keep any avid fan of this film happy for the foreseeable future.

Directror Phillip Kaufman pops up in various of the featurettes as well as provides the commentary. There is a look back at the film by film critic Kim Newman who is joined by filmmakers Ben Wheatley and Norman J. Warren which has a ice outsiders perspective of the film. But for the inside there are various featurettes on the films production, writer, effects and sound featuring many of the key members of cast and crew.

Steven Hurst