Movie Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Last Saturday they were showing "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" at the American City Diner & Cinema Café. I hadn't seen it in forever so I went again. I forgot what a hike it is to get there.

If you're not familiar with American City Diner & Cinema Café it's a 50's style restaurant that shows a old movie every night. Check the Washington City Paper for listings.

Last time I saw "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" it was just a good movie. The many years that have passed have allowed me to see the anti-communist message more clearly.

A doctor comes back from a several week convention to find that people are acting strange. Some people believe that their relatives aren't their relatives despite having their body, voice, memories, and behavior. Several people came desperately needing to see him while he was gone but now it's not important. In fact the waiting room is nearly empty.
Then someone finds a body in his closet and asks the doctor to come by. The body is very generic but has the height and weight of the guy who found it. Slowly it takes on his features right down to the fresh cut on his hand.
Soon they find what look like giant milkweed pods that crack open to produce the generic bodies. These bodies wait for you to fall asleep and then take your memories. They never mention what they do with your old body.
Our leading characters try contacting the FBI but the lines are all down. The whole town has been replaced by pod people. Our heroes skip town, but nearly get caught. They see truckloads of pods heading for nearby towns. They get picked off one by one until only the doctor remains, his ex getting replaced in nearly record time while he's investigating a giant pod greenhouse.
Finally the doctor is found running down the highway screaming like a nut. He's arrested and tells his story. They don't believe him until one of the trucks turns up. They call the FBI.
Fin.

That's what I saw as a kid.
This time I saw that the pod people were supposed to be communists. When they say "don't fall asleep" they don't mean "or the alien plant will steal your memories". They mean "remain ever vigilant to the communist menace in your community. If you allow yourself to relax your friends, family, or even YOU may become a commie."

Also, if they made this movie today the doctor would have snuck down to the pod people's greenhouse and blown it to hell. Also, I doubt the ex-girlfriend would have been wearing her prom dress to sit out on the lawn.

If you haven't seen this movie in the last twenty years you might want to.