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    Body Snatchers

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    I meant to watch every film adaptation of Jack Finney's "The Body Snatchers" in release order but I messed up and saw 1993's “Body Snatchers” second. I made a mistake but don't feel too bad about it. In many ways, this film surpasses the original thanks to its spectacular special effects, atmosphere and chilling imagery.

    Environmental Protection Agency agent Steve Malone (Terry Kinney) is moving to an Alabama military base with his family to test the effects of the military's actions on the surroundings. There, his daughter Marti (Gabrielle Anwar) notices abnormal behavior from several people. When her little brother says their mom (Meg Tilly) is a doppelganger, she believes him... but who else will?

    “Body Snatchers” suffers from the fact that its title gives away too much, though not as much as the previous films. If you don’t know what the deal is, stop reading and go see this movie.

    Barring one scene where a composite shot is rough around the edges, it all looks very convincing and boy does that make for a creepy experience. The characters are warned not to go to sleep. Once you see why, you won’t be able to close your eyes anymore. It’s a perfect example of gore used correctly. It grosses you out but mostly, it unsettles. It makes your skin crawl and makes you sweat.

    Like the original picture, "Body Snatchers" can be a bit slow at points. You know where the plot is headed so you may grow a bit restless, at least at first. There is a turning point where Marti realizes what is happening. It sends a chill down your spine. You’re filled with the kind of panic that only comes from the absolute certainty of imminent, unavoidable defeat. Just when you think there’s a crack for our heroes to slip through, the film takes advantage of your lowered guard and comes at you full force. It pours the terror and despair down your throat. While the special effects are extremely effective, it’s the little moments that have the biggest impact. The emotional bits between Marti and the man she’s starting to fall for, Timm (Billy Wirth), make you think everything's going to be ok. It makes the scene where our heroes realize they've been led into a trap that much more devastating.

    “Body Snatchers” doesn’t include just one shot where the true horror of the story dawns on you. There are at least 7. That’s a rarity even in the best chillers. The pacing issues may not even be there if you have not seen the previous versions (or any number of the derivatives which have come over the years) and I get the feeling that I'll like this one even more next time. (Full-screen version on DVD, July 13, 2018)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  14.4.2015 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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