Ep 150 - INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956–2007) - "They're Coming! They're Here Already!"

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) d. Don Siegel (USA) INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978) d. Philip Kaufman (USA) BODY SNATCHERS (1993) d. Abel Ferrara (USA) THE INVASION (2007) d. Oliver Hirschbiegel (USA) The theme of an alien entity occupying or replacing the bodies of those nearest and dearest to us had been utilized in horror cinema throughout the years. But it is producer Walter Wanger's 1956 production of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by Don Siegel, and starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, which has come to exemplify the concept. The legacy of the 1956 original endured through countless theatrical reissues and television viewings, establishing itself as one of the high-water marks of '50s sci-fi cinema. However, director Philip Kaufman's worthy 1978 update proved to be reverential to its predecessor whilst striking its own quirky, innovative, and more graphic chords, with surprising scenes of PG-rated violence and nudity. Two other official adaptations followed, 1993's Body Snatchers and 2007's The Invasion, both of which suffered the indignities of studio interference and failed to land with viewers or critics. The legacy of the Body Snatchers remains alive and well, reflecting back our worst fears, as well as exploring the eternal struggle of being human. It's no wonder that scholars and critics have found Finney's story and its four official film adaptations perfect subjects for social commentary. From Communist red scares to self-preoccupied "Me Generations" to militarized mindsets, the shoe continues to fit each and every generation. Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Dodd Alley, Christianne Benedict, Neil Calderone, Mike Mayo, John Kenneth Muir) as we celebrate 70 years of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS! ------------------------------------------------- DODD ALLEY is an author (Gamers and Gorehounds: The Influence of Video Games on the Contemporary American Horror Film) and has a Masters in Film Studies from Ohio University, where he taught courses on Cult Cinema and Hollywood Reflexive films. CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com NEIL CALDERONE is the founder of The Chicago Cinema Society, a 35mm print collector, film programmer, musician, science educator and former chemist. MIKE MAYO has written several books about film and popular culture, among them VideoHound's Horror Show and American Murder. He is also the author of the Jimmy Quinn historical suspense novels set in Prohibition-era New York. https://www.mike-mayo.com/ JOHN KENNETH MUIR is the creator of the award winning-web series, Abnormal Fixation, which returns for its second season in 2026, and award-winning audio drama Enter The House Between. He is also the author of Horror Films of the 1970s (2002), and Eaten Alive at a Chainsaw Massacre: The Films of Tobe Hooper (2001). ------------------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!