“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” 1950s American science fiction nightmare *Note! Contains spoilers.

*This article touches on the ending of the story, so we recommend watching the movie before reading it.

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” synopsis

Miles runs a private practice in a small town in California. When he returned from a conference for the first time in a few weeks, he noticed something strange about the town, and as he investigated, he eventually discovered a shocking truth. The town has been invaded by an unknown life form from outer space, and the people's bodies have been taken over by it. Miles and his girlfriend Becky try to escape from town.

Index

• “Science fiction always expresses human anxieties, delusions, and nightmares.”
• Is it an anti-communist movie? Is it an anti-Red Scare movie?
• The protagonist as a “rebel of society”

“Science fiction always expresses human anxieties, delusions, and nightmares.”

Science fiction is a mirror that reflects the times. In the 1950s, with the rise of communism centered on the Soviet Union, invasion science fiction films such as `` The Planet X '' (51), `` The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (51), and `` War of the Worlds '' (53) were produced. are being made one after another. The social unrest in America, which had fallen into anti-communist hysteria due to McCarthyism, was directly connected to the motif of ``the earth being taken over by Alien.'' A representative example of this is the classic film ``The Body Snatchers'' (56), directed by Don Siegel.

The original novel is " The Stolen City " by Jack Finney, published in 1955. A mysterious life form from outer space appears in the small town of Santa Mira, California. It is a science fiction thriller in which humans are cloned from a giant pod and the people of the city are taken over. Pod People (human clones born from Saya), who lack human emotions, advocate a commune-like social system and believe in collectivism. An all too obvious communist metaphor. What's more, Don Siegel has the main character, Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), shout this line while cars are passing by on the highway.

"You're being targeted. Your wife and children will be taken away. They're right there! You're next! You're next! It's you!"

No one will listen to crazy claims. Still, Miles desperately summons his voice to complain about the world's crisis. Eventually, his face fills the screen, pointing his finger at the audience and screaming... "You're next!" By daringly creating a production that breaks the fourth wall, he presents the fear of being forced to change one's thoughts and beliefs.

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” trailer

Author Jack Finney has denied that The Body Snatchers is merely a thriller and has no political overtones. However, works often transcend the author's intentions and allow the audience to freely fly the wings of their imagination. In the 1950s, it may have been more natural to take this as a political Arrival. Director James Cameron, known for `` Titanic '' (1997) and `` Avatar '' (2009), also made the following comments regarding this film.

``In the 1950s and early 1960s, the fear of nuclear apocalypse was expressed in B-grade monster movies, and the fear of communism was expressed in ``body snatchers'' (56). Science fiction always expresses human anxieties, delusions, and nightmares.I am forever fascinated by the diverse angles of science fiction.'' (*1)

Is it an anti-communist movie? Is it an anti-Red Scare movie?