Episode 118: Invasion of the Body Snatchers x 4

How do you know that you're you? What makes us human? These questions, and more, await in the four versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers that your intrepid Planet 8 crew watched and discuss in this episode. We will take a look at the original, 1956 version, and then move on to consider the 1978, 1993, and 2007 films. 

Of course, the 1956 film, titled Invasion of the Body Snatchers, is a sci fi classic and the one that all of the others is measured against. It's also the only one in black and white, which it gives it a moodiness the others can't match. It sets the standard for paranoia and fear and plays off the cold war tensions of the time.

The second film, also titled Invasion of the Body Snatchers, incorporates many aspects of the original, but skillfully updates it to the 70s. This one plays off the distrust of authority post-Viet Nam and Watergate. And the end - it's a scene you never forget!

The next iteration in 1993 discards the "invasion" part and is just titled Body Snatchers. It shifts the scene to a military base and the protagonist is a teenage girl. It relies much more on action than suspense, but it keeps the pods and many other elements of the story.

Our final entry, 2007's The Invasion, drops the pods for microbes from space who arrive on a crashed space shuttle and proceed to take over the populace and turn people into emotionless drones. This one has a surprisingly upbeat ending, which separates it from the others.

What do you think? What would you do if you made a body snatchers film today? What would the pods be a metaphor for today?

For this episode's Sensor Sweep, Bob would like to plug his upcoming Ultraman show with Bay Area Film Events! Coming the weekend of July 21st, you Ultraman fans won't want to miss it! You can also submit your Ultraman art to their art gallery. Check out https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman for all the details.

Bob is also excited about his new book: Kong: An Original Screenplay by Edgar Wallace (at fine booksellers or at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Original-Screenplay-Edgar-Wallace/dp/1786368811.) This book prints the original screenplay for the 1933 film and has plenty of other goodies, including a beautiful cover by friend of Planet 8, Bob Eggleton!

Karen shares her new purchase, the Kolchak: The Night Stalker the complete series blu-ray  by Kino Lorber. It was about time she got that!

Larry shares his cool bumper sticker from Mahoning Drive-In, one of the biggest drive-ins in the US. The sticker features a plethora of 50s sci-fi creatures and was designed by Mitch O'Connell (https://www.mitchoconnell.com/) who draws a lot of crazy and cool stuff! 

This brings our show to a close. Let us know your thoughts, and remember -

They're coming! You're next!

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