Main Cast: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy, Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldblum
Release Year: 1978
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This remake of the 1956 horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers moves the action from small-town USA to 1970s San Francisco and replaces at least part of the original's psychological horror with special effects. Spores rain forth, unseen, from outer space, and soon strange flowers begin popping up all over the city. After bringing one of these hybrid specimens home with her one night, biologist Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams) notices that her live-in boyfriend, Geoffrey (Art Hindle), doesn't seem like himself; he's cold and distant and somehow just not quite there. When she turns to her friend Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland), a colleague at the Department of Public Health, he convinces her to see his friend Dr. Kibner (Leonard Nimoy), a pop psychologist who argues that the problem is all in Elizabeth's head. Soon, though, Matthew and Elizabeth begin to notice that people all over the city are changing subtly and inexplicably. When their friend Jack Bellicec (Jeff Goldblum) and his wife Nancy (Veronica Cartwright) find a lifeless, half-formed doppelganger covered with plant fibers in the mud baths they own and operate, the group of friends finally begins to understand that a sinister transformation is sweeping their city. Kevin McCarthy and Don Siegel, respectively the star and director of the original film, have small roles in the new version, as does an unbilled Robert Duvall. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
Although it relies on special effects as much as psychological shadings to summon up its atmosphere of paranoia and alienation, this horror remake fairly successfully updates the Cold War subtext of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers to poke fun at the psychological and spiritual excesses of the late '70s. From Leonard Nimoy's sinisterly self-assured pop psychologist to Veronica Cartwright's babbling hippie chick and Jeff Goldblum's persnickety poet, the supporting characters all scream "me, me, me." It's up to Donald Sutherland and the wonderful Brooke Adams to play it straight -- a feat both actors accomplish with typical class. San Francisco itself also plays a major role in the film, from shady goings-on in the streets near Civic Center to a creepy traffic accident on Nob Hill. A large team of makeup and special-effects artists blur the line between plant and human with queasy proficiency, while several actors get the chance to squeal and screech with alien voices quite effectively. Although he keeps the pace moving and credibly juggles actorly angst with gross-out set pieces, director Philip Kaufman isn't as masterful here as he would be with more literary material in the years to come. In fact, subtext aside, Jack Finney, author of the source novel The Body Snatchers, always insisted that his book was nothing but light entertainment, and, chilling as it is, the same can be said of this popular adaptation. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Art Hindle - Geoffrey; Lelia Goldoni - Katherine; Kevin McCarthy - Running Man; Maurice Argent - Chef; Joe Bellan - Beggar; Tom Dahlgren - Detective; Garry Goodrow - Boccardo; Sam Hiona - Policeman #1; Wood Moy - Mr. Tong; Al Nalbandian - Rodent Man; Jerry Walter - Restaurant Owner; Robert Duvall - Priest on Swing (uncredited); Jerry Garcia - Banjo Player; Rose Kaufman - Outraged Woman; Tom Luddy - Ted Hendley; Don Siegel - Taxi Driver
Credit
Mary Goldberg - Casting, Philip Kaufman - Director, Douglas Stewart - Editor, Denny Zeitlin - Composer (Music Score), Thomas R. Burman - Makeup Special Effects, Edouard Henriques III - Makeup Special Effects, Charles Rosen - Production Designer, Michael Chapman - Cinematographer, Alan Levine - Production Manager, Robert Solo - Producer, Doug von Koss - Set Designer, Russ Hessey - Special Effects, Dell Rheaume - Special Effects, Art Rochester - Sound/Sound Designer, W.D. Richter - Screenwriter, Jack Finney - Book Author
