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 Siegel.  But Siegel 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.  It's 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.  

Or you can simply 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.

Kevin McCarthy is unforgettable in the lead role, as Miles, totally committed to the material.  The film also benefits from noirish cinematography and location shooting in southern California.

RATING: ✓✓✓ Absolutely Fabulous