Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) (Imprint Films Limited Edition) (Australian Import) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

While there is much to love about Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, one particular scene remains a longtime favorite. The late Kevin McCarthy (Piranha, Twilight Zone: The Movie) will likely be best remembered as the star of the original 1956 classic on which this movie is based (as well as the Jack Finney novel, of course). In one very cool moment of meta and self-reference, McCarthy makes a brief cameo appearance that reminds viewers of the closing moments in the first movie. And he's even credited as Dr. Miles Bennell. It also, in its own way, gives fans a more satisfying, albeit gloomy and cynical, finish to that movie's open-endedness, a conclusion closer to what was originally intended by Don Siegel, who also cameos as the taxi driver.

The entire sequence brings a smile to my face every time I watch it and serves as a fine example of the sort of self-awareness that goes on with this version and makes it such a joy to watch after all these years. Phillip Kaufman's remake is a rarity in the history of remakes. It's a feature film that's just as good as its predecessor, a motion picture that's mindful of its source and adds its own unique, distinctive voice without losing that which makes the original so memorable. At the core of Finney's sci-fi story about an alien invasion where human doubles are born from giant pods is a theme on universal social fears, of a terrifying realization that everyone is being turned into an obedient, mindless sheep or bland vegetable, as Pauline Kael once wrote of Siegel's film.

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

Body Snatchers (1978) opens on a mysterious planet with gelatinous spores flying through space. They land in thick globs on plants throughout San Francisco, mingling and forming little pods with pink flowers. This bit of information is mostly hinted at previously, but Kaufman puts it to great visual use and establishes a dark, eerie atmosphere of foreboding. As chilling apprehension and dread continues to slowly and methodically grow, we see unnamed characters suddenly appear on screen, running wildly as they're chased by an unfriendly-looking mob. Large, red garbage trucks come and go, carrying heaping mounds of dust. More sinister still are the endless stares by unknown, unidentified characters (one of whom includes Robert Duvall) that not only gawk at one another with threatening eyes but also seem to be watching us through the camera.

The main characters are completely oblivious to those blank, remorseless stares, the ones we are made aware of but helpless to do anything about. And the creepiness is made all the more real after spending some time with Mathew (Donald Sutherland), Elizabeth (Brooke Adams), Jack (Jeff Goldblum) and Nancy (Veronica Cartwright). What makes it so scary is the fear of losing one's identity and individuality, of being transformed into something that lacks humanity and character. The cast, particularly Adams and Goldblum, do a splendid job in this respect, showing idiosyncratic traits that make the characters feel like genuine human beings. And so, when they run, they're not running for fear of being caught but for fear of being assimilated, of losing a sense of self and personal identity. And lest I forget, Leonard Nimoy is also great as the steely, detached and skeptical Dr. David Kibner.

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

Kaufman, who later went on to direct The Right Stuff and Quills, never wastes the surrounding area of the frame, always occupying our vision with odd, peripheral action. Background activity is made just as important as everything we see in the foreground. It's brought to the attention of viewers and effectively creates a world that is gradually and systematically developing around the focal point of the film: a small group of friends and their escape. The new alien society is bit by bit encircling the protagonists. We know it's happening, but they don't. And by the time they realize it, it's too late. The horror film is already in full effect. The scary monsters have already won, even before our would-be heroes had a chance. By this point, the movie is terrifying and made ever more frightening by the bloodcurdling screams of the alien creatures, especially that final, bleak scene of hopelessness that's just as shocking today as the first time.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers truly is a rarity in the movie industry. It's a remake just as good as the original and even more terrifying. It's a smartly written and well-crafted film, thanks largely to Phillip Kaufman's direction. The amazing cinematography of Michael Chapman is a brilliant addition with the many dark, obscuring shadows generating an awful feeling of secrecy and brooding evil, creating wonderful audience engagement. Pushing this sci-fi horror feature up another notch is the avant-garde and unusual music of Denny Zeitlin, who normally worked as a clinical psychiatrist, intensifying the movie's already unnerving and unsettling sense of paranoia. The entire production simply makes for one of the best films in the horror genre, a real spooky treat full of frights as well as drama.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Courtesy of Imprint Films, Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers arrives on 4K Ultra HD as a collector's two-disc combo package. Housed inside a black keepcase, the triple-layered UHD100 disc sits on a center spindle while a Region B, BD50 copy containing all the special features is on the opposing panel. The keepcase comes inside a sturdy, side-sliding hardcase with lenticular cover art. The package also includes six postcard-style art cards and a 40-page booklet, featuring an insightful essay by critic and film scholar Brian Eggert and a reprint of the original 1978 press kit. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen of the cover art with the usual options along the bottom of the screen.

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

Invading Ultra HD for a second time, the sci-fi horror classic arrives with what appears to be the same stunning, near-reference 2160p source as the Kino Lorber 2021 release. However, I would give this Imprint Films edition the slight edge, although it is a very slight, nominal edge, when it comes to the very subtle differences in black levels. 

This native 4K transfer enjoys mildly richer, inkier black levels with outstanding gradational differences between the various shades and excellent shadow details. A consistent, spot-on contrast balance showers the action in clean, radiant whites, and specular highlights seem a tad crisper and tighter, allowing for a bit more detailing within the hottest spots. Awash in a fine layer of natural grain, the 1.85:1 image is highly detailed and sharp throughout, but a few poorly resolved and softer areas, which are inherent to the source, still remain, although they never distract. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation is bathed in a full-bodied, richly saturated palette, lavishing the visuals in lively, energetic colors while facial complexions appear healthy with a natural rosiness around the cheeks and lifelike textures. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 94/100)

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

After a back-and-forth comparison, this release infests home theaters with what appears to be the same pair of DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks, but they are not identical. The issues I originally noted in my Kino Lorber review appear to have been fixed or, at least, adjusted in the time between the two releases. The 5.1 upmix now feels fuller and enjoys a more extensive mid-range, creating a more expansive and broader soundstage. While maintaining a more front-heavy presence, background activity, sound effects and musical score feel natural while very lightly bleeding into the surrounds, generating a more satisfying soundfield. The low-end also feels more appropriate and robust without coming off unnatural or hollow. 

However, the second lossless 2.0 stereo option delivers a better, more pleasing soundstage, exhibiting excellent fidelity and crisper, cleaner acoustical definition in the mid-range. Low bass is adequate and responsive, providing appreciable weight to the visuals, and dialogue is precise and intelligible in the center. The track also lends itself well to the receiver's up-mixing functionality, feeling more natural and convincingly expansive with strong atmospherics and directionality, generating a far more satisfying soundfield overall. (Audio Rating: 82/100)

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

For this UHD edition, the folks at Imprint Films have ported over the same collection of supplemental material as the Kino Lorber release.

• Audio Commentaries with director Phillip Kaufman riding solo in the first and author and film historian Steve Haberman providing the second
• Leading the Invasion (HD, 25 min)
• Re-Creating the Invasion (HD, 16 min)
• Scoring the Invasion (HD, 16 min)
• Re-Visitors from Outer Space, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod (HD, 16 min)
• The Man Behind the Scream (HD, 13 min)
• Writing the Pod (HD, 11 min)
• Star-Crossed in the Invasion (HD, 9 min)
• Practical Magic (HD, 5 min)
• The Invasion Will Be Televised (HD, 5 min)
• Trailers (HD)

Imprint Films 4K Ultra HD

Kino Lorber 4K Ultra HD

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a well-crafted and effectively creepy film that delivers the frights along with the drama. Phillip Kaufman's 1978 remake remains a memorably relevant and entertaining feature with beautiful cinematography and an unconventional musical score. Courtesy of Imprint Films, the sci-fi horror classic invades 4K Ultra HD with a similarly stunning Dolby Vision HDR presentation to the Kino Lorber UHD release, but I would give this edition a slight, nominal edge in black levels and shadows. This version also arrives with a pair of strong lossless DTS-HD MA soundtracks that offer improvements over our domestic release and a great set of supplemental material. You may not need to run out and buy another copy of the film, but if you need Invasion of the Body Snatchers, consider this UHD package Highly Recommended.

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