Invasion of the Body Snatchers

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(the 1956 one)

the scariest film ever made?

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

no way - Singles!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

yes it is very scary. my friend and i used to have a running joke about certain people going away to college and becoming pod people. only we weren't entirely kidding.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The town square in the original Invasion... was actually filmed in Sierra Madre (near Pasadena) and for years folks in Sierra Madre used to put seed pods all over the square during Halloween.

Don't know if they still do it now, but it was way cool.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Great movie, very scary. And I love the '78 Phillip Kaufman version with Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum et al. Terrifically scary paranoid '70s movie.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 3 July 2003 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Well I just saw The House By The Cemetry (is that it? Zombie movie about Freudstein's House) and I must say it was the first pre-80s horror flick I've found genuinely disturbing rather than laugh-out-loud scary.

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 3 July 2003 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

What's Freudstein's House?

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 3 July 2003 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting you ask, because some friends of mine are in a band called Freudstein (once from Hitchin, now Brighton-based) who make nice Gothic Electronica and have sampled the film in several tracks. The story goes that a couple and their young son move into a creepy mansion only to find a locked cellar door. On opening it they find some scary stuff, but you'll have to watch the film to see what.

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 3 July 2003 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolfman, and the Mummy?

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 3 July 2003 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

yes.... but faster!

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 3 July 2003 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I prefer the '78 version, which is, of course, about the end of the '60s. Who better for the protagonists than a bunch of well-meaning, fuzzy-edged ex-hippies?

― Lee G (Lee G), Thursday, 3 July 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm looking forward to the low-budget sequel to this movie, which I will indulge in tonight: Invasion of my Body by Nachos.

Ha-ha, yes!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 3 July 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Pod nachos?

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 3 July 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

the 70s and 50s films are both G*R*A*T*E.

it's funny, we were having a Scariest Film Ever conversation the other day, and both were mentioned.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 3 July 2003 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

The '78 version RULES.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

did you see this instead of Motorcycle Diaries?

the final scene with donals sutherland scared me shitless when I saw it on TV as a kid in 1980 or so

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yes. I think maybe it is the best SF (as in SAN FRANCISCO not SCIENCE FICTION) that I have seen, in terms of atmosphere, locations, etc.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://retrocrush.com/scary/bodysnatch2.jpg

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

so fucked up!

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

the perm makes it worse

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it about AIDS?

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha Adam you need to see Bullit if you haven't!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

"Is it about AIDS?"

No it predated the epidemic by at least a couple of years.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

AIDS wasn't a recognized illness until at least 1979 or 1980 (xpost)

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I've seen Bullit. It was okay. For some reason, I always thought the 78 version was supposed to be about AIDS. I see know that I am wrong.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

No, the '78 version is about rising emotional detachment and instability of the institution of marriage. The '56 version is about Communism and the 94?95? version is about the military industrial complex.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the Game is probably my favorite San Francisco film (well, and Vertigo, but since it predates my birth there are only a few iconic images that resonate as San Francisco for me).

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Hippie moral relativism obliterated by alien totalitarianism

"it's a rat turd"
"it's a caper"
"no, it's a rat turd"

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Maltese Falcon is my favorite SF film.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

thats not a science fiction movie, alex.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i think i have a death wish.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

San Franciso, yeah.
"why'd you heet me?"
"when i hit you, you'll take it and like it"

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

So sez you!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I want to see The Game again. I remember quite liking it, and yet being kind of ambivalent about it.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Romeo Must Die is my favorite Oakland film filmed in Toronto.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck the '70s version is so awesome

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Grease and Patch Adams are my joint favourite movies shot in berkeley. Then The Graduate.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha I love how foreign it is now to imagine ANYONE one in SF being a Golden State Warriors fan anymore.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Best part of The Game is how Douglas pronounces "bra".
It's so pathetic.

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Patch Adams?!?!?!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I totally forgot 48 Hours was filmed here!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess RW didn't want to be far from home. The movie sucks, of course.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The '78 version is about New Ageism. '56 is better especially without the wraparound they imposed on it.

YOU'RE NEXT!

(SF... "Vertigo," you clowns...)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

The SF in Vertigo barely exists anymore!

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

did you know that kate hudson is producing a remake of vertigo, presumably with her in the kim novak role? that's enough to turn me into alex in nyc

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

This just finished shooitng in Berkeley and West Oakland.

xpost ugh

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Must... destroy... Kate... Hudson...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

That's terrible! That's worse than remaking Psycho!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I like The Maltese Falcon just a touch more than Vertigo but obv both are two of the greatest films ever made.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Dirty Harry don't like it.

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Kate Hudson looked great at the Golden Globes.

― .ada.m. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

i like vertigo better--it has a better lady

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

A prettier one, but not a bitchier one!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

better actor too!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha no way. Kim Novak isn't a better actor than anyone.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

she blew it

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Kim Novak's tentativeness as an actor was, of course, perfect for the role.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Morbius totally OTM.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

The plot kills her for not being able to pull it off. Hitch's like, you're no Grace Kelly, bitch!

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha so Janet Leigh goes in Psycho too.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

i dunno, i just enjoy watching her a lot more

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Tippi Hedren - Who you kidding? 1,001 takes of you being tortured coming right up!

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha except that in real life Hitch was spending a good portion of his time torturing young Melanie Griffith instead.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

He had his own daughter strangled in Strangers on a Train!

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

No, Pat (who plays Ruth Roman's sister) is not the character killed.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, she lives.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

shit, now my view of Hitchcock is shattered.

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

gets pretty close, though...
http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/42/42_images/Eye5.JPG

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

that's better.
http://www.taschen.com/media/images/190/excerpts_hitchcock_13.jpg

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

eight months pass...

Just checked. The ending of the '78 version still fucks my shit up.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 18 September 2005 05:07 (twenty years ago)

so good

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 18 September 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

The town square in the original Invasion... was actually filmed in Sierra Madre (near Pasadena) and for years folks in Sierra Madre used to put seed pods all over the square during Halloween.
Don't know if they still do it now, but it was way cool.

I was in Sierra Madre over the weekend and can confirm that a couple of houses were decorated with seed pods.

― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 4 November 2009 06:24 (sixteen years ago)

seven years pass...

back to the well

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-remake-warner-bros-1202500763/

I think casting ex-politcians in one of these would work. Howard Dean comes to mind.

― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Friday, 21 July 2017 17:22 (eight years ago)

I could probably whip up reboot treatments for fifty relatively forgotten '50s sci-fi movies that had a germ of a good idea but iffy execution. I don't know why we need fifty remakes each of the two or three '50s sci-fi movies Hollywood remembers.

― The miniaturized human skeleton in Martin Short's stool (Old Lunch), Friday, 21 July 2017 17:31 (eight years ago)

one year passes...

Watched '56 original again last night, still the champ of B-movies. Really need a new version to center on smartphone use, though.

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 March 2019 16:39 (seven years ago)

I think I'm gonna revisit the Abel Ferrara version soon. Warner Archives put together a Blu-Ray that's supposed to be quite good.

― grawlix (unperson), Thursday, 14 March 2019 16:52 (seven years ago)

five years pass...

Solid new interview with Philip Kaufman and Veronica Cartwright about the '78 film with a couple of new-to-me details.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 April 2024 18:22 (two years ago)

More from Chris Broughton on FB, who wrote it:

Veronica's mention of that last (to date) version [from 2007] was edited out, but here's what she said: "Until that (Donald's scream) happened, I figured there might be a sequel. I did have a sort of cameo in another remake, The Invasion, in 2007. That film had some reshoots, which changed the original director’s idea for my character. He’d wanted to give the sense she might actually be Nancy with a new name, having remained hidden all those years."....
(Kaufman) also mentioned that he and Ben Burtt used pigs squeals again when mixing the 'exploding rockets' sound effects for The Right Stuff, "...to add to the sense of terror."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 April 2024 18:23 (two years ago)

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