Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Limited Edition 4K UHD
4K UHD Blu-ray: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Remakes of movies very often don’t fare well when compared to the original. However, Philip Kaufman’s brilliant update of the 1956 classic is now regarded as a classic itself too, and with good reason.
A superb cast that includes Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright and Leonard Nimoy keep the tense W.D. Richter screenplay flowing under the direction of Kaufman, while the relocation of the story to San Francisco adds a grittiness to the caustic social commentary about the selfishness of the 1970s “me generation” that remains all too relevant today.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a timeless tale of when trust is completely eroded from society. Not just from those in positions of power and authority, but also in everyone around you, with the possibility (probability?) that you yourself will be amalgamated into a hive mind society.
With a lot of the movie happening during the night and in dimly lit interiors, this 4K UHD release really helps to identify some of the details that were otherwise not visible in previous releases, while the choice of uncompressed stereo 2.0 and 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio makes for chilling listening throughout…especially that iconic ‘scream’ at the end of the movie.
A slow burn of a movie that uses every minute of its almost 2 hour running time to ramp up the tension and leave you gasping for breath at the end.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 and 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio sound
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary with director Philip Kaufman
- Discussing the Pod, a panel conversation about Invasion of the Body Snatchers and invasion cinema featuring critic Kim Newman and filmmakers Ben Wheatley (Kill List) and Norman J. Warren (Satan’s Slave)
- Writing the Pod, an interview with Jack Seabrook, author of Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney about Finney’s original novel The Body Snatchers
- Re-Visitors from Outer Space: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod, a documentary on the making of the film featuring Philip Kaufman, Donald Sutherland, writer W.D. Richter and more
- The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects Pod, a look at the film’s pioneering sound effects
- The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography Pod, cinematographer Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) discusses the look of and influences on the visual style of the film
- Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod, a look at the creation of the special effects from the opening space sequence
- Original theatrical trailer
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
- Six postcard-sized artcards
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by David Cairns and Charles Freund, and archival interviews with director Philip Kaufman and writer W.D. Richter
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films via Fetch Publicity.
