A well directed, if frequently mocked, narrow little metaphor for the perils of group-think and McCarthyism. It's certainly a product of both its genre and the era, from the wide-eyed straight man constantly running to escape a hidden threat to the blunt, hammer-to-the-temple methods of the plot structure.
I most enjoyed the opening act, when the jury was still out on whether the monstrous mimics were real or imagined. Though we can gather our answers from the title alone, it's fun to explore things from the other perspective and the film seems to enjoy dallying in that uncertainty, too. Once the giant, clumsy, man-sized sea pods start showing up, it's time for a hard turn into the cheesy stuff and a subsequent tumble into the usual pit of 1950's sci-fi tropes. The ending is a horrible mismatch, too, quite obviously crammed in at the last moment and completely at-odds with the message and the pace of the preceding seventy minutes. I couldn't stop thinking about one particular episode of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.
It causes insomnia and then inevitable nightmares.
7/10
Really really good,
My all time favourites number 1 horror movies are
body snatcher ones.
I own them all on
Blu Ray and as I have just done a run with them recently apart from this one I thought it was time
again to give it a watch.
It certainly did not disappoint, the way it's set out and the way the story is told, it is all well set out
and so interestingly done.
Damn the Doc sure knows how to tell a good story and hold your attention all the way through it.
I thought the acting was spot-on and I loved the slow build-up to the point thing's get very serious
very quickly.
Definitely still just as chilling as I remembered it from my childhood.
I loved how Doc Miles the same actor pops up
in the 1978 remake with
Donald and Spock in it
Still screaming about the Pod People, having him pop up in that remake was pure genius and kudos to whoever had that idea,
It was Awesome.
Good movie and I'm sure it won't be long before we have another round with them because I am a sucker for all things Body Snatched and Duplicated.
I wish they would make more movies on them
Many more.
"So, where you gonna go? Where you gonna run? Where you gonna hide? Nowhere, 'cause there's no one like you left".
Boom...
ChillBumps Everytime
It was a decent enough movie. Fun to watch but of course really outdated. I know there's a remake (1978, I think?) with Donald Sutherland in it and I'm hoping to watch it again. I'd actually seen bits and pieces of both this one and the 1978 remade version but don't recall ever watching the film from beginning to end. This was an interesting way to spend a late Saturday evening; a tiny bit spooky (cheesy, of course, by today's standards) but nothing real mind-numbing or soul-gripping. I felt that the acting was superb - at one point, I actually felt sorry for Dana Wynter having to do all that running/falling down in a skirt and heels! - and the ending was a bit of a twist…certainly not what I was expecting. If you can handle old black-and-white films, this would probably entertain you for an evening. Just remember: this is the 1953 version, so there's not a lot (hint: NONE!) of CGI and special effects. LOL Enjoy it!
I thought this film about plants taking over peoples bodies was pretty good and entertaining. The scene in which they discover the plants that have been taking over the bodies of human beings for example, was very good in my opinion. There were also some really predictable things in this film however, the fact that Becky becomes one of the people whose bodies have been taken over for example.
Image 3.25 / 5 sound 3/5 This version I had not seen and that I like it
Shout by whitsbrainVIP 6BlockedParent2022-01-15T16:38:17Z
It seems the primary thing taken away from this movie is parallels between this film's plot and McCarthy-era paranoia. I choose to view it as an alien invasion movie. Silly, unenlightened me.
This is really frightening as you truly feel the helplessness of the cool Dr. Bennel (Kevin McCarthy) and the beautiful Becky (Dana Wynter). As they slowly discover the assimilation of humans by the aliens, things get more desperate and frustrating and you really feel their plight. Later, it's heartbreaking when Bennel and Becky are separated.
Even though the special effects are limited, they bring the perfect level of impact to the film. The ending is incredible. "They're here already!!! You're Next! You're Next! You're Next!"