Site icon AHB

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” instills paranoia, fear | Arts & Entertainment

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” instills paranoia, fear | Arts & Entertainment

On October nights, people tend to crave thriller films that will leave them jittery with electric anxiety. Look no further than the 1978 science fiction horror film, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Although the title gives the impression that this movie is an object of laughter, with cheesy graphics that no longer retain realism, this must be reconsidered. Featuring big names such as Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy and Jeff Goldblum, this film will invade your thoughts for days, leaving you alarmed and paranoid by its conclusion.

What happens when you can’t risk falling asleep? Especially as a sleep deprived college student, I think we’d all be toast. What happens when you wake up one morning and everything seems the same as the day before, but something is radically and dangerously different with everyone around you? “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” will grant terrifying answers to these questions.

After viewing this movie for the third time, I felt like I was watching it with fresh eyes. Even though I knew the outcome, I still held my breath and felt the nerves rise within me. This movie is one of my all-time favorites because it maintains a constant air of eeriness. As the viewer, you enter into the film as one of the characters, alongside the main group of four. You are with them as everything becomes altered in their environment, while they become obsolete due to their intellect amid the invasion they suffer through. 

The camerawork is beyond phenomenal. I genuinely believe that the reason this film has stood the test of time is because of the brilliant cinematography. One of my greatest beefs with modern filmmaking is the constant shifting of shot changes. Pay attention next time you watch anything on TV, it’ll drive you insane watching the camera flip every two seconds from one frame to the next. However, you won’t find that with this film–quite the opposite actually. The camera shots sometimes hold for uncomfortable lengths of time, reinforcing the realistic feel and grainy image. Viewers cannot escape this film’s atmosphere, with impeccable shadow work, a sinister score with recurring renditions of “Amazing Grace” haunting the background and everyday sounds that take on a new, anxious vibe. 

The relationship between the four main characters is masterfully established in an organic manner, fueling the tragedy and perturbation experienced during the two-hour saga. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is a film laced with tension– an inkling of hope grows and rots into corroded dreams. While not a zombie movie, this film contains many aspects of mainstream zombie and science fiction media and incorporates psychological thrilling elements. This is a movie that expertly displays how terror and crisis completely dissolve a society. 

The ending is not something I would dare spoil, but I sincerely think about the final scene regularly. To me, it is the most fitting finale to this devastating escapade. This film is about humanity, depth of emotion and love. It will leave a disturbing taste in your mouth with its shrill conclusion– a perfect watch for a spooky evening.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of The Torch. 

link

Exit mobile version