- Plot: A small-town doctor learns that the population of his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.
- Director: Don Siegel
- Writers: Daniel Mainwaring (screenplay), Jack Finney (Collier’s magazine serial), and 1 more credit »
- Stars: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter and Larry Gates | See full cast and crew
Story: This film uses the emotions and fears of the threat of communism and the fact that something or someone could come in at any moment and invade and control us. The communists being the body snatchers. But this was different in a way. It was unique. The ‘communists’ were right in front of our eyes to which only the loved ones could identify them as fakes. This film could actually be considered a psychological thriller somewhat, also.
Not only is this a horror film with a bit of a psychological thriller side to this, it is perfectly fitted with the characteristics of film noir. Lets put a little list down with some examples.
- Narrated by the main character
- Betty becomes the femme fatale at the end
- Low key lighting
- Chiaroscuro at parts
Don Siegel really did a great job directing this from the pacing to incorporating both film noir and 50s horror into the film to make it seem like the film could go either way.
This was also based on the novel by Jack Finney, and apparently, the film ditched the ending of the novel where the aliens decide to give up on their plan for world domination and return to their home planet or wherever they came from.
Cast & Characters: Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter both play very convincing characters as they run away while avoid being turned into one of the pod people while no one listens because there is no one there to listen except the pod people who don’t care one bit and just want to make the doctor and Betty one of them.
Verdict: An underrated 50s horror flick that uses the emotions and feelings of audiences of the late 1950s to its advantage in the story and the visuals on screen, this proves to be one of the greatest Sci-Fi films of all time.
Retrospect Realm 