Invasion of the Body Snatchers 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 87
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' presents solid remasters with notable limitations, improved visuals via Dolby Vision HDR, and excellent audio, making it a worthwhile addition for fans and collectors despite some imperfections.
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Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 82
Kino Lorber's 4K UHD release of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" offers two aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.00:1) with Dolby Vision HDR, elevating contrast and black levels. However, source limitations—like soft grain and occasional haziness—persist, making the improvements marginal over previous Blu-ray releases.
Audio: 88
The DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track for 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' delivers remarkable clarity and stable, clean dialogue, adding a layer of atmosphere with its preserved fidelity and devoid of hiss or pops. Though it shows its age occasionally, it remains a technically solid and engaging mix.
Extra: 87
This release of Invasion of the Body Snatchers excels with its expansive supplemental content, including four diverse commentary tracks on both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs. While some extras from the Olive Signature edition are absent, the new audio commentaries are insightful and worth the upgrade for true fans.
Movie: 93
Don Siegel's 1956 **Invasion of the Body Snatchers**, in 4K UHD Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, offers a timeless allegory on societal fears with stunning performances, eerie atmospheres, and superb restoration. This edition includes multiple commentaries, archival programs, and dynamic audio-visuals, cementing its status as an unmatched classic in sci-fi horror.
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Video: 82
Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD release of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" presents the film in both 1.85:1 and 2.00:1 aspect ratios, bringing a notable yet measured improvement over previous iterations. This disc offers native 4K with both Dolby Vision and HDR grading, although the benefits are subtle. The contrast is well-calibrated with impressive black levels and a visual shine that breathes life into the imagery. However, the original camera negative is lost, and the existing elements are soft and sometimes hazy due to multiple generations of prints. Despite some moments of tighter, cleaner lines and healthier film grain, the overall clarity can fluctuate significantly from shot to shot, underscoring inherent source limitations.
The 1.85:1 presentation tends to highlight flaws more acutely compared to the 2.00:1 which seems slightly crisper and more consistent. Dolby Vision's impact is minimal, mainly affecting daylight scenes positively while darker scenes remain relatively unchanged and can appear overly dark. The detailed encoding in native 4K achieves an average bitrate in the 40s while maintaining a stable, organic appearance. Grain structure remains sufficiently resolved in darker sequences but occasionally looks swarming or out of focus in daylight scenes.
This release succeeds primarily in delivering a cleaner and smoother image compared to prior Blu-ray versions, eliminating the frozen grain halos observed on earlier discs. Nonetheless, some scenes reveal excessive filtering and digital corrections resulting in softened gray tones and bunched grain structures. Ultimately, while Kino Lorber's efforts represent an incremental visual upgrade with appreciable contrast and grayscale management, the inherent imperfections of the surviving materials suggest that further restoration would be necessary to realize the film's full potential in 4K.
Audio: 88
The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. This mix, while preserving the vintage essence of the film, delivers a clear and nuanced auditory experience. The dialog remains crisp and comprehensible throughout, devoid of any distortion, dropouts, hiss, or pops. The score by Carmon Dragon is well-balanced and maintains the eerie atmosphere, enhancing the overall tension without overshadowing the other sound elements.
Despite the film’s age, and the potential limitations posed by its original 1956 low-budget production, the audio clarity is impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track subtly enhances the original mono track's texture and depth, using the extra channel to provide a slightly enriched experience. It effectively reconstructs the narrow atmospheric soundscape, ensuring that key sound effects punctuate the film’s suspense effectively. Though there isn't a significant difference in pitch or audio placement compared to previous releases, this track maintains high fidelity and stability.
While the original theatrical release featured a Perspecta stereo track, which is not preserved in this edition, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 track compensates well by offering a clean and stable listening experience. It successfully upholds the film’s vintage purity with commendable detail in dialogue and music. This mix might not introduce groundbreaking improvements over earlier releases, but it consistently upholds an already high standard, ensuring an immersive auditory journey that remains true to the film's classic roots.
Extra: 87
The "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" 4K UHD Blu-ray release excels with an extensive collection of extras. It features four comprehensive commentary tracks, including archival sessions with Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, and Joe Dante, and an informative commentary by Richard Harland Smith. New commentaries by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson, alongside film scholar Jason A. Ney, offer fresh insights and engaging discussions. The Blu-ray disc also includes a variety of featurettes and original trailers, enriching fans' understanding of the film’s production and cultural impact. This combination of archival and new content makes this release invaluable for enthusiasts.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary One: Featuring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, and Joe Dante.
- Audio Commentary Two: Featuring Richard Harland Smith.
- Audio Commentary Three: New commentary by Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.
- Audio Commentary Four: New commentary by Jason A. Ney.
- The Fear is Real: Directors discuss their first impressions and the film’s impact.
- The Stranger in Your Lover's Eyes: Visual essay by Kristoffer Tabori.
- I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger: Interview with Matthew Bernstein.
- Trailer One: Original theatrical trailer for the 1956 film.
- Trailer Two: Original theatrical trailer for the 1978 remake.
- Cover: Reversible cover with vintage poster art.
Movie: 93
Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), a cornerstone in the realm of science fiction cinema, is a tour de force that continues to captivate audiences. The film's connection to the political climate of the 1950s, particularly the Red Scare, is palpable, making its message both timeless and multifaceted. Kevin McCarthy stars as Dr. Miles Bennell, a character whose journey from skepticism to outright terror anchors the narrative. McCarthy's performance is complemented by Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll, whose return to Santa Mira sets the stage for the unfolding nightmare. A highlight is the eerie portrayal of the "pod people," which subtly conveys mass conformity and paranoia.
Technically, Siegel's masterful pacing and instinctive direction allow suspense to build organically, converting mundane scenes into tension-laden moments. The imagery of a town succumbing to an unseen invasion is grimly effective, with scenes such as McCarthy's distressed observations from an upper-floor window providing chilling insights into the inescapable horror. The film's atmospheric terror is further amplified by Carmen Dragon's evocative score, which mirrors the escalating horror experienced by the characters.
The restoration on 4K UHD Blu-ray by Kino Lorber enhances this classic with stunning visual clarity. The film is presented in both 2.00:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios, adapting well to modern viewing standards while maintaining the integrity of its original presentation. The black-and-white cinematography by Ellsworth Fredericks is sharp and detailed, preserving the essential shadows that define its dark ambiance. The audio commentary tracks offer rich insights into the film's production and legacy, enriching the viewing experience for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Overall, Invasion of the Body Snatchers remains not just a historical artifact but a versatile narrative with enduring relevance. Whether viewed as an allegory for Cold War anxieties or a cautionary tale about societal complacency and conformity, Siegel’s film perpetually invites reinterpretation and analysis, maintaining its place as an iconic piece of science fiction.
Total: 87
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" remains one of the finest science fiction horror films ever made, thanks to Jack Finney's compelling source novel and Don Siegel's expert direction. The film's narrative excellently captures the essence of mid-20th century American paranoia, elevating a seemingly outlandish story into a piece of historical Americana. This new 4K UHD Blu-ray edition from Kino Lorber brings notable benefits from its Dolby Vision HDR grade and the restoration efforts, which leverage the available 35mm elements to best effect.
However, the absence of the original camera negative means some inherent limitations persist in the presentation. While these 4K remasters offer an improved viewing experience over previous DVDs, they fall short of delivering a flawless visual feast. The restoration process highlights certain source limitations that only a high-cost, extensive restoration could address. Despite these shortcomings, the audio quality is excellent and complemented by a robust package of bonus features.
If you already own the Olive Films' Signature Edition from 2018, this new release is worth considering if you are a devoted fan of the genre and appreciate the nuances of film preservation. The added detail and HDR benefits are significant, although not transformative. For those missing this iconic title from their collection, this edition is a worthy acquisition and earns a solid recommendation.
The original camera negative for Don Siegel's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is missing, and without it, it is virtually impossible to deliver a proper definitive release of the film. Kino Lorber's two-disc set introduces new presentations of two versions of the film, sourced from recent, exclusive 4K remasters. I would describe both presentations as good. However, these 4K remasters tend to exacerbate different source limitations, and the more significant ones are of the kind that can be addressed only by an elaborate and very expensive restoration. Should you consider picking up the two-disc set if you already have Olive Films' Signature Edition from 2018? If you like the film a lot, yes. However, you will be pleased with it only if you approach it with the right expectations, one of which must be that it will not provide you with a flawless presentation of the film. Highly recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 80
While switching between the native 4K presentation and 1080p presentation from the previous release, I could not see any areas where delineation, clarity, and depth were unquestionably superior on the...
Audio: 90
Occasionally, it does reveal thinning that reveals its age, but I am unsure if this is something that a modern Atmos mix, for instance, can address....
Extras: 80
Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, film historian Richard Harlan Smith discusses in great detail the production history of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the socio-cultural climate in...
Movie: 90
The supplemental features on the release include two exclusive new audio commentaries and two archival audio commentaries; archival program with directors Larry Cohen and Joe Dante; original trailer; and...
Total: 80
However, these 4K remasters tend to exacerbate different source limitations, and the more significant ones are of the kind that can be addressed only by an elaborate and very expensive restoration....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 60
Filtering slips in too, muddying the finer details, easily notable in medium shots, Gray tones tend to bunch up and smooth out unnaturally, arguably a touch of over correction, although it’s unknown what...
Audio: 80
Commendable clarity from a DTS-HD mono track preserves stable, clean dialog and passable fidelity from the score....
Extras: 80
Historian Richard Harland Smith is next, with a double does of historians with Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson....
Movie: 80
Or another woman who, “feels like a stranger in my own country,” and the “mass hysteria” noted by psychologists, of which this movie fed into.Pod People, clones of residents in the fictional Santa Mira,...
Total: 75
An important piece of historical Americana, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is flush with absurd paranoia that forever links it to a part of the culture....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
The 1.85:1 is nicely framed but the extra zooming and cropping felt like it only highlighted some of the baked-in defects resulting in a slightly softer appearance....
Audio: 80
The original 1.0 mono was pretty great, this new 2.0 track uses the extra channel to give the mix just a little extra oomph and texture....
Extras: 80
Mitchell and Thompson are a hoot together, obvious fans of the film while detailing trivia and interpretations of themes and so forth....
Movie: 100
By keeping the story focused on the creepy events of the plot and letting some terrific performances from Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter percolate, the film is allowed to be suspenseful as all get out...
Total: 80
Add in excellent audio and a very good bonus features package, we’re given a good reason to consider another purchase of this iconic film....
Home Theater Forum review by Patrick McCartRead review here
Video: 70
However, despite the shortcomings of the image quality, I do find it to be a subtle improvement over the Olive Signature edition and the enjoyment of this film isn’t hampered....
Audio: 80
Being a 1956 low budget production, the original monaural soundtrack is provided for Invasion of the Body Snatchers as DTS-HD MA 2.0....
Extras: 80
Puzzlingly, Kino Lorber has not brought over several of the documentaries and featurettes from the Olive Signature edition, all of which appear to be copyrighted to Paramount....
Movie: 90
The genre lends itself more to the absurd and fantastic, but enough great films have defined the genre and remain part of the cinema lexicon....
Total: 80
While this version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers may not be a reference disc due to surviving film elements and some oversights in terms of supplements, this is a must-have disc for those without it...
Director: Don Siegel
Actors: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates
PlotDr. Miles Bennell, a physician in the small town of Santa Mira, California, begins receiving panicked visits from patients claiming their loved ones are being replaced by emotionless impostors. Initially skeptical, Miles is eventually convinced something is amiss when he himself witnesses a partially formed duplicate of a close friend. His colleague, Dr. Dan Kauffman, a psychiatrist, dismisses the phenomena as mass hysteria, but the uncanny occurrences continue to escalate. With the help of his former girlfriend Becky Driscoll, Miles starts to uncover a chilling truth.
As Miles and Becky dig deeper, they discover mysterious pods that seemingly produce replicas of townspeople while they sleep. The duplicates are perfect physical copies but devoid of human emotion. With paranoia mounting, Miles and Becky must navigate a labyrinth of suspicion and dread, trying to alert authorities and find allies before they too fall victim to the alien menace. Their journey takes on an urgent pace as the once-familiar community becomes increasingly unrecognizable, and they find themselves alone in their fight against an insidious threat that grows stronger with each passing moment.
Writers: Daniel Mainwaring, Jack Finney, Richard Collins
Release Date: 05 Feb 1956
Runtime: 80 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English