Time: 131 Minutes
Cast:
Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Bennell
Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll
King Donovan as Jack Belicec
Carolyn Jones as Theodora “Teddy” Belicec
Larry Gates as Dr. Dan Kauffman
Virginia Christine as Wilma Lentz
Ralph Dumke as Police Chief Nick Grivett
Director: Don Siegel

I had definitely heard of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, mainly that it was a sci-fi horror, and there was a version released in the 50s, and a version released in the 70s with Donald Sutherland. I watched the former, which turned out to be quite good. 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers uses a familiar premise about people being taken over by aliens, but nonetheless creates a solid mystery story filled with paranoia, distrust, claustrophobia, and creeping horror. The first act does a good job at building up the tension and the film moves at a good pace. The dialogue and characters are melodramatic and very much of the time, but still they work decently for this film. With it being a paranoia thriller in the 1950s, some people have interpreted this as an anti-communist/red scare commentary, and having seen it, I completely see it (even though it apparently was unintentional and accidental). The movie does a good job at escalating over the course of the runtime, and the climax doesn’t disappoint, even if the ending was perhaps a bit too neat and tidy. 

The cast are pretty good in their parts, but it’s Kevin McCarthy who shines the most, and particularly sells the horror of the situations he finds himself in. 

Don Siegel directed this really well. The black and white cinematography is simple but nonetheless effective. There isn’t a great amount of effects (mainly used for the people who are infected) but they are pretty good and they get the job done. 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) is an iconic and influential sci-fi horror thriller, suspenseful, well directed and with great performances.