Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Another movie I saw for the first time this weekend was the 1978 version of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers staring Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams. I had never seen any of the versions of this movie: not this version, or the 1956 original, or the recent remake, Invasion; so, though I knew the basic storyline I came to the movie with no prejudgements or comparisons. The film deals with the slow invasion of the population of New York by duplicates of people. These duplicates are born from pods and are looking to take over the world, replacing those they have duplicated.

The movie felt very 1970s. This was due not only to the 70s costumes and hairstyles (always good for a laugh!), but to a different way of acting that I have noticed in 1970s movies. I am not sure how to describe the difference, but it feels like a lot of the characters in 1970s movies lack a real emotional connection to one another and the audience. I certainly felt this again in this movie. Although I would say that most of the acting was good, it lacked a spark that made it more natural... Brooke Adams, as Elizabeth, was the real weak point in the acting. She seemed especially stiff.

The story itself was a bit slow paced for today's audiences, but the story is still interesting and especially unique for when it was conceived. M. Night Shyamalan owes this film and it predecessor a debt for the concept of his movie The Happening; though I am not sure the film-makers would claim that association (if you have not seen The Happening - don't, it is awful!).

What struck me most about Invasion of the Body Snatchers was its pro-woman attitude. Having just concluded an in-depth study of women in film this was something that I could not help but notice, and I applaud the film for the respect it shows women. A woman is the co-main character, a woman figures out what is going on, the two main women are professionals (one even working in a very traditional male field, as a scientist) and a woman is the sole "survior" at the end of the film. This falls in line with what I discovered in my recent study: the 1970s were the best decade by far for the positive portrayal of women on the movie screen.

Overall, despite some issues that may be attributed greatly to the passage of time and changing of styles, this was an interesting movie and worth a viewing.