Blu Ray review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Kino Lorber has released, on blu ray and 4K, one of THE great sci-fi features of the 1950s, Don Siegel’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

While it has been remade several times, most notably John Carpenter’s 1978 version which was quite good itself, it is this 1956 film, with its McCarthyism subtext, that continues to resonate most strongly.  Siegel approaches the film with a noir style that was somewhat unusual for period science-fiction films.  It’s inclusion of “pod people” created a phrase that entered the American slang lexicon.   

It was a low budget film, being made for just over $400,000, and was released by Allied Artists which had evolved from poverty row Monogram Pictures and was best known for its Bowery Boys series.  When first released, it was coupled in double features with another sci-fi feature, usually The Atomic Man or The Indestructible Man. 

However, Invasion of the Body Snatchers emerged as a deeper and more fulfilling sci-fi drama, and has lived on as one of the towering classics of its genre and era, ranking alongside the likes of The Day The Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet.

Kino has released this classic in both 4K and blu ray formats with a new HD master from a 4K scan of the best available 35mm elements.

The 4K and blu ray both include many special features, including:

Both the 2.00:1 and 1.85:1 Version in Newly Remastered 1080P HD

Audio Commentary by Actor Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, Moderated by Legendary Filmmaker Joe Dante

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith

New Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson

New Audio Commentary by Professor and Film Scholar Jason A. Ney

It came be purchased at this link:  SNATCHERS