Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) #500

Watch the trailer here

For my 500th review, I've chosen one of my favorite horror movies of all time, 1978's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"! This movie is a true classic and represents what a real remake should be! It retains the thrilling scares and premise of the original movie while updating enough elements to have it feel modern. Both films are iconic and are enjoyed by horror fans of all ages. The sets are characters as much as the actors, and the special effects of the time are truly haunting. Yes, some of these aspects may seem dated when compared to films produced today, so remember that this film is 46 years old.

The film opens with a montage of transparent amoebalike organisms leaving their planet, somehow, and floating on the cosmic winds towards Earth. Some land and take root in San Francisco, becoming a pod with pink flowers. The next scene introduces our hero, Matthew Bennell, a health inspector for the San Franciso Health Department, giving a surprise visit at a French restaurant. I love this character because he is a government employee, but he isn't the typical cop or military type. Next, a lab tech from the Health Department, Elizabeth, finds one of the plants and brings it home to the house share with her boyfriend Geoffrey. The next morning, the plant is missing, and Geoffrey begins to act strangely. Concerned, Elizabeth turns to Matthew for help. He offers to introduce her to his psychiatrist friend David Kibner, but then the next day Matthew is approached by his dry cleaner, telling Matthew that his wife is acting like an imposter, the same way that Elizabeth was describing Geoffrey.

At a party, Matthew is able to introduce Elizabeth to Kibner, who is trying to calm a distressed woman who is also explaining that her husband isn't who he is. He tells the woman that she has nothing to worry about, the same advice he gives to Elizabeth. Feeling dismissed, Elizabeth leaves for home. Also at the party is Jack, played by Jeff Goldblum (Mr. Frost), another friend of Matthew, who personally has issues with Kibler's work. The film then follows Jack as he returns to the mud bath spa that he operates with his wife Nancy, played by Veronica Cartwright (Alien), and the clients that are passing their time at the spa. Jack becomes lethargic as Nancy finds an unfinished body double of her husband laying on one of the massage tables. They contact Matthew, who brings an unresponsive Elizabeth with him. The four realize that something of a large scope is taking place and that they are all in danger. 

Over the course of the following day, Matthew finds evidence of the replacement of the people he knows around town. When he tries to call his government contacts, he finds that they've been compromised as well. Matthew and Elizabeth come to realize that everyone is being replaced by a pod, and when one is near you, it takes your form while you sleep. That night, Matthew, Elizabeth, Jack, and Nancy try to elude mobs and authorities when they find out that they are some of the last humans left in the city. Kibler is leading the search for the humans, explaining that everything is so much easier after the change. One by one the group is split up, and despite his best efforts, Matthew is unable to keep Elizabeth from being replaced. Matthew is able to burn down a warehouse full of the pods, but his efforts may be in vain. Sometime later, a day or two, Nancy comes across Matthew, who she thinks is still pretending to be a pod-person. To her horror, he points and screams!

Matthew and Elizabeth pretending to be "replaced"

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

One of my favorite zombie movies ever is the immensely popular “Dawn of the Dead”. The original version has stood the test of time and is still chilling to watch today. These four talented actors playing strong, well-written characters trapped in a seemingly hopeless apocalyptic situation is simply unforgettable. The movie also showcases the make-up work of Tom Savani who created some memorable zombies and left his mark on future horror movies to come. What is interesting to find out is that this movie would not exist if it wasn’t for the assistance of Dario Argento, who was a big fan of Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”. With Argento’s influence and assistance, Romero was able to find the funding that he needed to film this movie, as well as a place to stay in Rome where he could write the screenplay. All of these factors played important roles in the productions values of the final piece.

This movie has brought me so much joy over the years. It’s amazing to think that in the 1990’s I had to leave a $200 deposit in order to rent this movie from Scarecrow Video because it was out of print at the time. It’s also amazing to remember that when my friend and I watched this film, he was actually afraid to walk home in the dark because he was so affected! And finally, how can you not appreciate the cheesy nature of the motorcycle gang? They provided comic relief, a tilt in the storyline, and numerous bodies for the zombies to eat and tear apart.

The movie opens by showing the chaos behind the scenes at a television studio. Some people are trying to stay focused and work while others are trying to flee. The world as we know it is quickly crumbling as the government is losing control over the zombie “invasion”. Stephen and Francine plan to steal the stations traffic helicopter but they need to pick up Stephen’s friend Roger. Roger, meanwhile, is a member of a SWAT team involved in a SWAT raid on a low income apartment building whose inhabitants are refusing to follow the orders of the mandated martial law. The worst in humanity is displayed by a racist and overzealous member of the SWAT team who is eventually killed. The residents are quickly killed off by the SWAT team and the zombies that they were harboring inside. Roger ends up meeting another SWAT team member named Peter, and together they go and find Stephen to escape the ugly chaos.

The four survivors eventually decide to land on top of a mall in order to grab need supplies. While inside, they realize that they can fortify the building and stay there until they think of some better plan. They manage to block the doors with semi-trucks from a nearby parking lot, but while finishing up the job, Roger is bitten in the leg. After the outside of the mall is secured, the four of them begin the gruesome work of killing off the zombies in the mall, with Roger being pushed around in a wheelbarrow and shooting. Once this task is done, they realize that they can live like kings and do whatever they want in their fancy, comfortable prison. After some time (a few days), Roger finally dies and returns as a zombie, who is quickly killed by a remorse Peter.

Before long, a mob of motorcycle bandits see the helicopter on top of the roof of the mall and realize that there are people inside. After making radio contact and announcing their intentions, Peter and Stephen prepare for the coming onslaught. The motorcycle gang breaks in, leaving a wide opening for the zombies to stumble in from. Stephen becomes greedy as he watches the gang steal random junk from the stores and begins to shot at them. They fire back and general chaos breaks out. Stephen is killed by zombies and is turned, the gang members are decimated by the zombies, and Peter and Francine are trapped. Their only option is to fly the helicopter, which is low on gas, somewhere else, anywhere. Peter chooses to stay behind and just as he is about to commit suicide, he comes back to his senses and makes it to Francine just as she is about to take off. They escape and fly off into the night.

Favorite moment – it’s impossible to choose just one or two!  

Roger turns

Stephen zombie

Time for a break

Zombies want to go shopping too! 

Halloween (1978)

“Halloween” is my all-time favorite horror movie. I love this movie so much that I’ve had the theme music as the ring tone for my phone for the past 7 years; or perhaps I just like the movie and really love the music…Anyway, the story is about Michael Myers, a homicidal maniac bent on killing his sister and her friends who happen to be near-by. Does this plot sound familiar? Will it should! This low budget movie from 1978 became the highest grossing independent film for years and, for better or for worse, encouraged a wave slasher flicks to be produced as well as a dismal franchise of its own. The success of “Halloween” proved that young director/writer John Carpenter and newcomer producer/writer Debra Hill were going to be well known and leave a lasting mark. “Halloween” also introduced the world to Jamie Lee Curtis, who would earn the title of Scream Queen just like her mother, Janet Leigh. “Halloween” has had such an impact that in 2006 it was included into the United States National Film Registry due to its significance.

I feel like I’ve known this film most of my life. I remember catching a glimpse of the first few minutes before being told to leave the room when I was little. Hearing that amazing and haunting melody and not being able to watch only increased my curiosity. When I finally was able to see it, while it was shown on broadcast television, I was blown away. It didn’t matter that it was edited for TV because the film really isn’t that violent or filled with nudity or drenched in profanity, it didn’t need those elements to tell the story. The other element that it didn’t need was the NEED to explain everything. When asked why Michael was so dangerous, Dr. Loomis replied that Michael was pure evil. That’s it and it was enough.

Favorite moment – When Dr. Loomis is hiding behind a hedge near the old Myers house and whispers creepy-like at the children who are daring each other to go up to the front door. His amused look after they run away terrified is priceless.