MovieChat Forums > Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Discussion > Has lost none of its ability to fri...

Has lost none of its ability to frighten.

posted 13 years ago by lezardormeurgeant
20 replies | jump to latest

I just watched it again for the Nth time and still marvel at the skill of
the authors.
No roaring rockets, no rumbling armies, a dearth of special effects, and yet
the horror is secreted by ever increasing doses with each new revelation, until
the climax of despair.

And for those who complain that the movie is a thinly veiled whipping of xenophobic
hysteria, is it because, without even trying, it cuts too close to the truth for comfort ?

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

Every time I see it it still creeps me out, the very idea and the way they executed it, it worked a LOT better than the 70's remake.

[–] lezardormeurgeant 13 years ago

And the 90s one too.

[–] tedchaynes 13 years ago

my friends look at me like I'm crazy when I call this one of the scariest films of all time. I saw this for the first time as a child. Think about being a child, waking up one day.. and discovering your Mom isn't your Mom anymore. I can't think of many things more terrifying to a child. Sometimes, psychological scares are deeper and longer lasting than cheap
graphic thrills.
The more complex the mind.. the greater the need for the simplicity of play"

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

Totally agree, tedchaynes. And it also doesn't help if as a child you have nightmares that your parents are trying to kill you, which some of us did. Which is ironic because my mother is the closest thing to a perfect mother there is, but HER mother was the one that actually would've tried to kill her. But I digress, as a child, yes, what could be scarier than realizing that your mother is not your mother but everybody else says yes she is and you're stuck with the duplicate?

[–] cdjunkee-1 13 years ago

I don't want to live in a world where people don't have free will and have no emotions. That to me is the scariest thing of all. I fricken love this movie! Watched it late at night when I was 12 with my parents and never forgot it.

~I love the rhythm it is my methoood!~

[–] cybopath 10 years ago

There is nothing scarier than they idea of people (Things) turning against you. Mob mentality etc. It is all in the back of our minds.

[–] ElectricWarlock 12 years ago

I agree. I just watched it for the first time ever today and found it to be very fascinating. I would've liked the original ending planned better than the happy ending, but that doesn't ruin the film for me in any way. I found the film very enjoyable and wish films with it's level of suspense were made today.

Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.

[–] vestdennis 12 years ago

I agree! The creepiness factor far exceeds some of the CGI that is overused today. Just the idea of not knowing who to trust and not knwing where you could be safe at is very scary. When Dr. Bennell calls the capitol and the operator keeps making excuses as to why she can't connect- that is CREEPY!

When you can't even trust your spouse, your mother or your best friend...that is creepy! And therein is the horror of this whole concept.

The dead look of the alien's faces, their expression is devoid of any care, any feeling or human touch. This is one of my favorite sci-fi classics! So much better than 90% of today's garbage...

[–] barbarossa4188 12 years ago

Absolutely terrifying. The remake is good , but not terrifying good.

"Stalingrad. . . The fall of Stalingrad was the end of Europe. There's been a cataclysm."

[–] DracTarashV 11 years ago

I agree with everyone, I'm amazed how well it holds up, too. There are some genuinely frightening and tense scenes in the film, but the idea of being replace by "alien doppelgängers" is scary enough. Plus, it also helps that it has great performances and provides plenty of suspense.

When most people think of 1950s science fiction films (especially the young 'uns) they think of something cheesy and outdated. Invasion of The Body Snatchers, however, is a chilling film that has stood the test of time.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

This ones` main drawback is the bluntly heavy handed dialogue... and I think the 1978 film also benefited from its longer running time - allowed to flesh the process of dehumanization out in more nuance. In Siegel`s film stuff seems a bit rushed.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] zharth 10 years ago

I agree. This was the most gripping black and white film I've seen since the original Night of the Living Dead.

[–] cybopath 10 years ago

Yea when you think of the other sci-fi horror films of the era it really is a far more chilling tale. Not that I don't enjoy The Blob, The Forbidden Planet etc but they in no way have the level of 'realism' this film did. Well ahead of its time.