Body Snatchers

Originally, I reviewed the film with just one star when comparing it to the excellent 1978 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Then I thought that it was not completely fair and added one more star, reluctantly. Body Snatchers doesn't lose out only to the book, which makes sense, and doesn't lose out only to its aforementioned predecessor, which is one of the best films in the sci-fi genre. In terms of points, the original film version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers from the mid-50s clearly wins - by the way, it was a B-movie but a likable one that successfully conveyed the atmosphere of the Cold War to the big screen. This is exactly the atmosphere that Body Snatchers desperately lacks, and yet it is the charm of this story. The problem lies partly in the screenplay, which sets the story on a military base where the soldiers, from their very nature, always have the same expression, thus preventing the viewer from enjoying the transformation after the attack. The second flaw is the routine work of the director Abel Ferrara, who has several average films to his credit, and Body Snatchers doesn't stand out from them at all. It lacks decent direction and is dull. Overall impression: 45%. (17/11/2007)