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The Emotional Devastation of 1978’s ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ [Horror Queers Podcast]

Tufts of Hair and Skin.

Trace and I are firmly in the thick of Doppelgängers and Deception month. We began with Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan (listen) before heading into the world of sex work with Daniel Goldhaber’s Cam (listen). Now we’re up to Philip Kaufman‘s 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers AKA one of the greatest horror remakes of all time.

In the film, Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) initially discounts Elizabeth (Brooke Adams)’s observations that her partner Geoffrey (Art Hindle) is behaving oddly. As identical reports surface, however, Matthew recruits his writer friend Jack Bellicec (Jeff Goldblum), Jack’s wife Nancy (Veronica Cartwright) and therapist Dr. Kibner (Leonard Nimoy) to investigate. They quickly discover that a nefarious plot is in motion to replace people with emotionless automatons…and anyone who falls asleep is at risk.

Prepare to shriek because we’re talking about Philip Kaufman’s remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) for week 3 of ‘Doppelgänger and Deception’ month.

There’s a lot to unpack in this technical masterpiece, including the vital early character work, the amazing practical effects, and that fatalistic ending.

Plus: directing bukkake, debating Leonard Nimoy’s Kibner, the “Me Decade” of the ’70s, one of cinema’s most devastating deaths, and comparison to the other Body Snatcher remakes.

Cross out Invasion of the Body Snatchers!