Invasion of the Body Snatchers

It seems the primary thing taken away from this movie is parallels between this film's plot and McCarthy-era paranoia. I choose to view it as an alien invasion movie. Silly, unenlightened me. This is really frightening as you truly feel the helplessness of the cool Dr. Bennel (Kevin McCarthy) and the beautiful Becky (Dana Wynter). As they slowly discover the assimilation of humans by the aliens, things get more desperate and frustrating and you really feel their plight. Later, it's heartbreaking when Bennel and Becky are separated. Even though the special effects are limited, they bring the perfect level of impact to the film. The ending is incredible. "They're here already!!! You're Next! You're Next! You're Next!"

When watching the first film version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers," it quickly becomes clear why it has such a good reputation. The movie looks great, is suspenseful, and even has a bit of a scary atmosphere. The easily comprehensible premise still works very well today. Furthermore, it certainly has an intended message, but there is also room for different interpretations. Consequently, it is absolutely clear to me why there have been several reinterpretations of the material in the following decades. However, what tarnishes my enjoyment somewhat is, for one thing, my aversion to “Old Hollywood” films. It's mainly the exaggerated acting and the not very subtle music that don't exactly appeal to me. And with “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” there's also the frame story, which is kind of unnecessary. The beginning gives far too much away about where the journey is going, and the ending feels contrived. All in all, it's true that the movie has probably inspired many later genre hits. But I would wager that I will leave it at this one viewing.