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

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

So, is ``The Body Snatchers'' an anti-communist film? This is the key point, but in fact, the completely opposite interpretation is also possible. In other words, this film can be interpreted not as a film depicting the horrors of communism, but as a film depicting the horrors of the Red Scare (McCarthyism) that cracked down on communism.

"As you all know, there is no such thing as eternal love. It is easier to live without love, desire, ambition, or belief."

In the film, Dan Kaufman (Larry Gates), a psychiatrist who has been taken over by pod people, says the following line: ``It's easier to live a simple life without any beliefs'' is thought to have encouraged a change in thinking, ``You can live a simpler life in America if you don't have communist ideology.'' The character of Dan Kaufman can also be compared to Congressman Joseph McCarthy, who promoted the Red Scare.

"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!"

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (c) Photofest / Getty Images

When you think about it that way, Miles' scream takes on a completely different meaning. By "those guys," I don't mean the Soviet Union or China, but the House Committee on Un-American Activities (the House special committee that was the stage for the Red Scare), right? What is truly great about ``Body Snatchers'' is that it does not bias ideologically and allows for ambiguous interpretations. The most important human right is that individuals are free to have whatever ideas they wish, and this will never be violated. Don Siegel himself has said that he created the film as a psychological rather than a political metaphor.

The original ending of this movie was exactly this scene where Miles screams on the highway. The ending packs a powerful punch, just as Don Siegel would have liked. However, the studio rejected the ending due to its tragic nature and ordered it to be changed to a happy ending. Although Don Siegel strongly objects, the ending is changed to ``Miles' warning (suggests) that the Pod People's invasion of Earth will fail''.

Ironically, the ``freedom'' of thought that ``The Body Snatchers'' most likely wanted to convey was made somewhat difficult to convey due to the ``inconvenience'' of the production environment.

The protagonist as a “rebel of society”