“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is perceived through the eyes of most critics as a metaphor for the Cold War and the threat of communism that plagued the world in the 1950’s. During this time of international scare there arose a term for this terror that had spread across the world, McCarthyism. This term was coined by US Senator Joseph McCarthy and stuck in the minds of Americans as the threat of communism increased. Most critics that watch and analyze “Invasion” see it as a movie based on the terror that was plaguing the world. ““Body Snatchers” invokes at least a double reading. It was both a mirror of a particular moment in history and a compass indicating the symptoms of a growing societal illness”(Whitehead). John Whitehead sees this film purely as a representation of the way society was during the Cold War as well as the terror that was apparent in the lives of people around the world. Whitehead relates the communist scare during the Cold War to the invasion of the “pod people” in the movie. He sees the pod people as an organization from far away intent on destroying the ideals of a normal society and turning the world into a cold, emotionless abyss.
I believe that this movie, being perceived by most as a representation of communism and the world as it was during the Cold War, is made out to be much more than it truly is. While Whitehead and other critics make valid arguments as to why “Invasion” should be watched as a double reading, I believe that this movie is merely a great movie. It depicts the human race being taken over by pod people; people bred as emotionless, somber people, just like the scare that swept through America as the threat of communism increased. The only reason that this movie is seen as a representation of American society during the Cold War is because the movie was produced in the 1950’s. If this movie had been created during any other time in American history, people would still draw parallels to some event in history, however the movie would be more famous for the amazing film that it is as opposed to being known for its double reading.
While the movie may invoke a double reading to some critics, I believe that this movie is simply a classic movie. This 1956 black and white classic is full of the essentials to any great film. Not only is this one of the all time great black and white films, but also this movie was shot in only 23 days and is still one of the most respected films of the 1950’s (Whitehead). This movie was shot with no special effects and the cast had a mere five weeks to rehearse and film the movie in its entirety. “Invasion” not only has a great cast but also includes a great plot full of ups and downs that the movie watcher never sees coming. The movie takes you on wild chase as Dr. Miles Bennell tries to prevent the town of Santa Mira, California from being overtaken by pod people. He and his mistress Becky are sent throughout the town attempting to save as many people as they can from becoming pod people while avoiding the clutches of the pod people at the same time. This movie, although it is marked with the representations of the Cold War, will always be one of the greatest black and white sci-fi films of all time.
I believe that even though critics see the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” as a double reading into American society during the Cold War, this movie is relevant to today’s generation because of the impact the movie has had on society. This movie has been influential not only as one of the greatest sci-fi thrillers of all time but also as an insight into how the world once was. It was relevant to American society when the movie was first produced because it showed how the conflict with the communists was being perceived. “Invasion” not only showed American society how their conflict was being displayed but also revealed, like the destruction of the pod people, that the threat of communism would soon be eradicated as well. I feel that this movie was relevant to American society, as the movie relates to the Cold War, when this movie was produced. I feel that the only relevance that this movie has in the lives of people today is its importance as a classic black and white film. I feel that this movie should be shown today as insight into how truly great films once were. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is a truly great black and white sci-fi horror film that is wrongly portrayed as a representation of American society during the Cold War.
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