Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – Review

Tackling a remake of a much-beloved classic was certainly a daunting task but in 1978 director Philip Kaufman set his sights on helming a remake of the 1950’s classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a film that blended the communist scare and science fiction in a not-too-subtle way, and made his own masterclass in paranoia.

Unlike the original, which was set in a small town, the remake is set in the bustling city of San Francisco, and the protagonists this time out are health inspector Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) and his colleague Elizabeth Driscoll (Brooke Adams) who becomes concerned when her boyfriend, Geoffrey Howell (Art Hindle), starts behaving strangely with her claim that his personality has changed overnight, becoming distant and unemotional. She confides in Mathew her belief that Geoffrey is no longer Geoffrey, and while initially skeptical, Matthew begins to notice other people around him also exhibiting similar changes.

It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you.

As Matthew and Elizabeth investigate further, they discover the shocking truth: an alien species of plant-like organisms has invaded Earth. These extraterrestrial beings create pods that produce perfect physical replicas of human beings while the original sleeps. However, these duplicates are devoid of human emotion and individuality. The original humans are destroyed in the process, leaving only their soulless copies behind. Dr. David Kibner (Leonard Nimoy), once a friend and now a pod person, explains to them “We came here from a dying world. We drift through the universe, from planet to planet, pushed on by the solar winds. We adapt and we survive. The function of life is survival” with the added chilling words “There’s no need for hate now. Or love.”

“I am not Spock.”

The pods begin to spread rapidly throughout San Francisco, as more and more people fall victim to the invasion. Matthew and Elizabeth, along with their friends Jack Bellicec (Jeff Goldblum) and his wife Nancy (Veronica Cartwright), try to warn the authorities, but their pleas fall on deaf ears. The alien conspiracy spreads, infiltrating every level of society, including the government and the police force. As the situation becomes increasingly desperate, Matthew, Elizabeth, Jack, and Nancy realize that they must flee the city if they hope to survive. However, the aliens are everywhere, and it becomes nearly impossible to tell who is human and who is not. The tension escalates as the group is pursued by the relentless pod people.

How far can you run and how long can you stay awake?

It’s well known that the original film’s dark ending was changed by the studio – they didn’t want to frighten the kiddies or depress the adults – but lucky for us, director Philip Kaufman’s even bleaker ending was released to the public. The remake’s chilling conclusion sees Matthew seemingly blending in with the pod people, only to reveal in the closing moments that he, too, has been replaced. His haunting scream, directed at a horrified Nancy – who had managed to avoid detection until that moment – leaves the audience with a sense of hopelessness and dread. This gut-punch ending is painful to watch no matter how many times you see it and it remains one of the greatest and darkest moments in cinema history.

This scene defines unforgettable.

Stray Observations:

• The opening scene of uncredited Robert Duvall as a priest weirdly playing on a swing perfectly set the off-kilter tone that Kaufman brought to this remake.
• Casting Leonard Nimoy to play a cold analytical and emotionless character is a bit on the nose.
• Nancy Bellicec tells a customer that “Plants have feelings, just like people.” Which in the case of the plants in this movie, it’s quite the opposite.
• Jeff Goldblum would go on to star in another fantastic remake, playing the protagonist of David Cronenberg’s The Fly.
• Don Seigel, the director of the 1956 original, plays a cab driver who rats our two protagonists to his fellow pod people.
• Of course, the best cameo in this movie is by star Kevin McCarthy who may be reprising his role from the original as he accosts our heroes screaming “They’re coming, they’re coming! You’re next! You’re next! We’re in danger!”

Will no one ever believe this man?

As was the case with the original, 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers is more than just a horror movie; it’s a psychological thriller that plays on our deepest fears of losing ourselves to a faceless, oppressive force. The film’s final moments are a chilling reminder that sometimes, the most terrifying monsters are the ones that look just like us. What makes this remake so effective is its ability to maintain the core themes of the original—fear of the “other” and loss of identity—while updating them for a contemporary audience. The film’s pace is methodical, allowing tension to build naturally without relying on cheap scares.

Shout out to the film’s creepy practical effects.

This film is not just a remake but a reinvention, amplifying the original 1956 film’s themes with a sharp commentary on the anxieties of the late 1970s. Kaufman’s direction is taut and deliberate, creating a sense of creeping terror that escalates with each scene. What sets this version apart from its predecessor is its pervasive sense of dread. Kaufman uses the city of San Francisco almost as a character in itself, with its labyrinthine streets and cold, sterile spaces contributing to the film’s unsettling atmosphere. The cinematography, by Michael Chapman, is claustrophobic, often framing characters in ways that suggest they’re being watched or trapped, heightening the sense of paranoia. As for the cast, everyone here is at the top of their game and you can’t help but be drawn in as things go from bad to worse.

And then there were none.

In conclusion, the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers stands as a high watermark in horror cinema. It’s a film that combines atmosphere, performance, and theme into a cohesive and terrifying whole. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or just appreciate finely crafted cinema, this is a movie that deserves to be seen, and once seen, it’s not easily forgotten. Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the story, this remake is a must-see for anyone who appreciates intelligent, atmospheric horror.