On DVD: The Invasion

Directed By: Oliver Hirschbiegel

Screenplay By : David Kajganich

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Veronica Cartwright

It seems that every generation needs its’ own remake of The Body Snatchers, the 1955 novel by Jack Finney. This most recent version is a quieter, subtler film that speaks of horrors lurking in the shadows. Unfortunately, it lurks in the shadows of its’ predecessors and may be too quiet and too subtle to be appreciated for its own merits.

The Movie

If you’re a fan of classic Science Fiction Films (although I think of this a horror film, but that’s a different discussion entirely), you’re probably familiar with the 1956 or 1978 versions of this film, and have probably already forgotten the 1993 remake. Like Romero’s Dead Films, each one was analyzed to death regarding the social commentary they made. I won’t go into detail about what symbolism was found there by the critics and scholars (we get plenty of that in the DVD extras), but would love to tell you my thoughts on the message of this version after we talk about the film itself. After all, we want to be entertained by a good movie, not preached to. Right?

The film opens with a shuttle crash followed by news footage of the site. Possible contamination from the crash is discussed immediately so we get to the heart of the plot almost instantly. This was a good choice for screenwriter Kajganich, because anyone who had seen the numerous remakes would snicker and roll their eyes if they were supposed to be surprised when, an hour later, they’re told that the enemy is Bacteria From Space. This also means I can say this without ruining any of the movie for you. We then meet Tucker Kaufman (Jeremy Northam) from the CDC, who is appraised of the situation for the viewers benefit and, two minutes into the film, is summarily infected.

Next we see heroine Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman), a Washington psychologist. We immediately know three things about her; She loves her son. She despises her ex-husband (who, coincidentally, is Kaufman). She medicates her patients. Bennell rationalizes everything going wrong around her with clinical perfection, not seeming entirely human herself. The first patient we meet, Wendy Lenk (Veronica Cartwright) describes how her husband isn’t the man he used to be. He doesn’t yell anymore. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t get angry. Then, when Wendy tells Dr. Bennell that her husband killed the dog, Bennell’s solution is to change her medication. Kidman’s character also pushes away the brave and adoring Ben Driscoll (Daniel Craig from The Golden Compass and the recent Bond Films), not wanting to give in to emotion and wishing to ‘keep things the way they are’. It isn’t until the invasion takes over the city and she is separated from her son that we see her humanity. We slowly see her fall apart, yet now has to fake being distant and unemotional to fit in with the majority which, as a professional in the heart of D.C., she may have been doing for years anyway.

To me, this is the theme of the film. As a society, many of us (not me, of course) have tried to repress our individuality and medicinally suppress our emotions so that we can fit in. We take pills to make us happy, or at least face the emotion of sadness. We medicate our children, as Dr. Bennell does, to deal with their nightmares and make them pay attention. What happens when the invaders take us over and do the same things we are doing to ourselves, only better? In each of the versions there is a key scene where the heroes are forced to choose and they refuse to go gently. In a wonderful scene in this version, Kidman, with a gun in one hand and her son held back in the other, hesitates when the offer is made to join them. Ever so subtly, the horror is there when she momentarily contemplates what they offer and, instead of saying no for her own sake, asks about the fate of son if she surrenders. This is what makes this version a little different from the others, and this is its strength.

Don’t worry. She chooses wisely.

Now confession time: To review this, I watched this a second time. The first time, I didn’t like it. I think there were three reasons for this.

I’m sick of remakes. So are many of you. The problem is that, as long as we go to them in the theaters, they will keep making them. Ever complain about remakes the day after you say one on opening night? It’s all your fault.
I remember the first two versions more fondly than they deserve. I haven’t seen either in years, but I was already prepared to defend the honor of both the original and my generation’s version.
Veronica Cartwright. She’s a wonderful actress who appeared in the 1978 version. Her last scene in the film is etched in my mind as one of my favorite movie endings. When she appeared as Kidman’s first patient, I could not get the other version out of my mind. She did a fantastic job in The Invasion, but I was biased the moment I saw her.

8/10

The Video

The video quality is excellent. Everything was clear and sharp, including the extra documentaries. The initial news footage was purposefully grainy but gave a distinct look to separate it from the rest of the film. Lighting was used in impressive ways, but not used too often to make some scenes seem dark and mysterious, since part of the horror here is that it can occur in safe, familiar places in the middle of the day.

Standard Def 8/10

Editor's Note: The HD-DVD video is quite gorgeous with only a bit of mild grain from the source degrading the image. Colors look great and black levels are nice and deep. Detail levels are excellent even in darker scenes too. Flesh tones aren't realistic and they were never meant to be. They come through identical to the theatrical presentation.

HD-DVD 8.5/10

The Audio

I have little so say about the audio, other than to say that everything was very clear and understandable. I watched this without using the subtitles and never missed a word anyone said.

Standard Def 8/10

Editor's Note: Warner gives the HD-DVD release of this film the TrueHD treatment and it does a great job of adding to the overall viewing experience. The score and ambient effects fill the soundstage in a disarming quite way making the experience more claustrophobic as the film proceeds. The audio is well balanced and features a surprising level of dynamics including some low rumbling bass here and there.

HD-DVD 9/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Packaging was a standard amaray cover with a bright red and white cover depicting Kidman and Craig. I felt the cover gave a distinct sense of paranoia that sells the film.

There are three short bonus features regarding the making of the film (The Invasion: A New Story, The Invasion: On The Set and The Invasion: Snatched) that average about three minutes each. Also included is a fascinating documentary called ‘We’ve Been Snatched Before: Invasion in Media History’ which discussed societies fear of viruses as well as bravely acknowledging the previous versions of the story.

Editor's Note: Unfortunately there are no additional bonus features exclusive to the hi def release of this film.

7/10

After giving this film a second chance, I see The Invasion as the quiet terror it is supposed to be. Scary because it sneaks up on you. Scary because no one can be trusted and nowhere is safe. Terrifying because the monsters here offer a world without fear, without pain, without war – and we need to ask ourselves if we would be strong enough to turn them down.

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

The Review

The Movie 8/10

The Video 8/10

The Audio 8/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 7/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10

Fredrick Grimm