MovieChat Forums > Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) Discussion > Theory: Were there two Matthews at the E...

Theory: Were there two Matthews at the End?

posted 10 years ago by Guernicaman
15 replies | jump to latest

Knowing the ending & re-watching it again, I've come to the conclusion that The Matthew who is back at work, following the podded Elizabeth around is the real Matthew. He seems too aware of her & deliberately follows her around, which suggests there's some emotion there, he just can't show it & therefore must live a life cursed w/o being w/the woman he loves.

Then there's a second Matthew, a podded copy of the original, who is the one walking around in the trench coat & who shrieks at Nancy when she calls out to him.

With the copying pods needing to destroy their original host, could this theory even be possible?

[–] greg-233 10 years ago

"With the copying pods needing to destroy their original host, could this theory even be possible?"

No. As viewers, we WANT to believe that Matthew somehow avoided capture and hid his emotions to blend in with the pod people. But the ending with Nancy shatters that illusion.

On subsequent viewings we see that Matthew wasn't really following Elizabeth down the hall, he was merely walking in the same direction. This is definitely a movie where the leading man dies.

[–] Guernicaman 10 years ago

The acting & the way the scenes are directed seem inconsistent to the more obvious ending, is all.

[–] james-cerne 9 years ago

But why was he cutting out magazine articles?

[–] greg-233 9 years ago

"But why was he cutting out magazine articles?"

Because pod people do the same things the originals did. The pod version of Mrs. Tong was still doing the dry cleaning.

"Everything remains intact."

[–] MontyD 9 years ago

It seemed also like he was cutting the article poorly, like not even bothering to stay within the margins, like he was doing it almost out of habit, and not because he had any real interest. Makes it even creepier.

[–] ObscureAuteur 9 years ago

There were never two of anyone once the pod person was fully functional as the pod-Matthew is at the end. That seems well enough established in both versions. In the first it was apparent that the pod was a temporary device preparing for a purely psychic swap during sleep, as when Becky(Elizabeth) has changed right in front of Matthew with no opportunity for a physical exchange.

After trashing the pod nursery it looked very unlikely that he could elude capture in the subsequent chase. So no two Matthews, or anyone shortly after the ending.

CB

Good Times, Noodle Salad

[–] Jetfire1959 9 years ago

I saw this film in the theaters and numerous times since. I don't think it's possible for two versions of Matthew to exist. I interpreted the duplicating process as follows: The spores need the bio-electric energy in the human body to complete the process and, after it's complete, to power their new "human" body. This means they have to drain it from the victim which is why the victim dies and disintegrates.

Superior intelligence doesn't necessarily equate to superior intention.

[–] Naughty-God 9 years ago

I don't think the two Matthews theory works either BUT, the OP has a point about Matthew's strange behavior not just around Elizabeth but his general inquisitive nature as he strolls around the city observing other Pod people and regular humans. There's a sense of self awareness to his glances that are inconsistent with the behavior exhibited by all other Pod persons shown to us throughout the film.

[–] SayNay 9 years ago

In my opinion, the director chose to have him showing signs of emotion and humanity to make the viewer question whether or not he had managed to escape, this way the final shot has more of an impact. If he acted EXACTLY as the other imposters, the final moment wouldn't have the same shock factor as we would pretty much KNOW he wasn't human anymore. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[–] macken74 (658) 7 years ago

Spot on ! totally agree ! It's a tragic and haunting ending as the viewer really wanted it to be the real matthew ! But sadly he is now dead !

[–] Keremy-Jyle 9 years ago

A pod can only exist when the original is fully absorbed (and dries up like old dead leaves) - so, no!

😀THE BIGGEST PODCAST - Bloopers!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E

[–] Strannger (2007) 8 years ago

Yep it literally sucked the life out of you.

[–] MovieFhan (129) 7 years ago

Keremy is right.

[–] Torniojaws (116) 7 years ago

Just another day at the office :D

[–] heights91 (2) 7 years ago

The human Matthew was faking it at the end. He was pretending to be a pod so he wouldn't get caught. He betrayed his love at the end