INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956)

This film might not seem to have much going for it - it's basically a black-and-white 'B' movie, with a silly plot, no stars and a then unknown director, Don Siegal.  But Siegal directs the proverbial out of this unpromising material, to create a classic, one of my all-time favourite sci-fi films.

There's something about 1940s and 1950s small-town America I find very appealing, and especially the idea of evil lurking beneath the innocent surface, as in 'Shadow of a Doubt' or 'Blue Velvet' for example.

Here the evil takes the form of pods which have arrived from outer space, which can develop into an exact copy of a human, albeit without any emotion or soul, replacing the original.  Sure it's a bit daft, but it's also a scary and powerful idea, of people being taken over, which can serve as a metaphor for whatever worry is predominant in society at the time.  In 1950s America it was a fear of Communism, so you can see this film as a warning about Reds infiltrating and subverting society.

Or you can enjoy it as a gripping and exciting story, with several memorable scenes, notably the discovery of pods in a greenhouse, the protagonists Miles and Becky being chased by the entire town, or the chilling moment when Miles kisses Becky and realises she too has been replaced and is no longer the woman he loves.

RATING: ✓✓✓ Cancel All Arrangements