MovieChat Forums > Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Discussion > The missing pod

The missing pod

posted 10 years ago by ohara825
11 replies | jump to latest

Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but when Becky is finally transformed into her new and better self, where was the pod? Why didn't Miles see this pod lying dangerously close to her before he went off to find the source of the music? Where did the pod come from? You do need a pod to be transformed, don't you? It seems as though she was just transformed without the benefit of a pod.

Or maybe I just totally missed the obvious, wouldn't be the first time.

You have two forms of expression, silence and rage: Midnight Run

[–] moviehawg59 9 years ago

This is an "oft-lamented" plot-hole. All other times, the pod had to be within 15 to 30 feet (or so) of the person being replaced. Obviously, no one knew Becky was going to run into THAT cave, so how could a pod have been there? And they never mentioned just randomely dropping pods on every street-corner, just in case, so we don't think they just left several out in the woods, and in various caves. Just typical Hollywood "magic", I guess ... LoL!

[–] novastar_6 9 years ago

I don't know. Miles theorized that maybe when the pod body was finished developing, the real body disintegrated. Also in theory the pods have to be so close to the body they're going to replace, but given a chance, Miles and his friends didn't leave a one behind while they were on the run, they destroyed them, who's to say if you leave a pod clone at the house, and go on the road, and to go sleep in a motel miles away, the transformation won't still complete and as soon as the pod body's finished, so are you?

[–] abajasds 9 years ago

I'm watching the movie now, and I think when Dr. Miles was in his greenhouse and the pods were forming him and his friends, he only used the pitchfork on his own duplicate because when he seen Becky's forming, he couldn't use the pitchfork on her, or his friends Jack and Teddie. Now if that's true maybe they only had to fall asleep for a few minutes and then they would change since the body was developed they just needed the mind.

My job is to inform, not persuade- Dan Rather

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 9 years ago

Did I miss something or did she just wake up transformed without any duplicate body involved? Or was the duplicate supposed to have jumped into her clothes and pretended to be asleep so she could get the jump on Miles? I've only watched this once so please forgive any dumbassery on my part.

[–] sylvienj 9 years ago

It's ambiguous, and everyone has their own theory. My own theory is that she fell asleep and was replaced while Miles was away, and yes the duplicate then pretended to be her so that it could get the jump on Miles when he returned.

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 9 years ago

Yeah, I watched it again today and that scenario makes the most sense to me. As for where the pod was, there must have been one growing in the wild near the cave.

[–] sylvienj 9 years ago

Considering that we see them carrying the pods all over the place, I don't think it's far-fetched to assume that there would be some laying around wherever anyone might try to hide. You're not safe anywhere!

[–] Navaros 9 years ago

It's ambiguous,

No, it's not. It's just a straight up plot hole, period.

everyone has their own theory

All of which are fabrications which try to justify a plot hole that cannot be justified.

The only true theory (actually it's a fact, not a theory) about this issue is that the director/screenwriters/producers/studio etc. screwed up big-time.

"Science creates fictions to explain facts" - Gilman

[–] sylvienj 9 years ago

Actually I never even realized people viewed this as a plot hole until I read about it here. Previously I always thought it was pretty straightforward that she had been replaced while Miles was away. But in retrospect I can see why people wouldn't necessarily make that connection, and would instead point this out as a mistake.

[–] rgibson-20 9 years ago

Who wouldn't want to jump into Becky's clothes?