The Invasion (2007) [Arrow Video] 

Out now from Arrow Video

In this version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a psychiatrist finds herself in the midst of a panic in DC where people are being overtaken by something. When her son seems to be immune, her resolution to save him becomes even more important.  

Written by David Kajganich based on the novel “The Body Snatchers” by Jack Finney, and directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, this newer take on the well-known story may not have been the best received of them, but with some time it has aged rather well, especially following the 2020 pandemic and how folks reacted to it. This added an eerie sense of realism to the film that no one could have expected. The writing here works well with this new modern world view in mind helping the film make a bigger impact now than it did 17 years ago. The direction works quite well with the script and with the cast which is filled with talent.  

This cast here is led by Nicole Kidman doing what she does, being a great actress and giving her character life, emotions, and showing that she knows exactly when to let the emotions show and when to pull back while giving her character delicate nuance in her feelings. Joining her here is Daniel Craig who is perhaps not at the top of his game, but definitely good here. The kid who plays Oliver, Kidman’s character’s son, is Jackson Bond and he does rather well, especially considering how odd the content of the film must have been to film, in particular for a younger actor. Overall, the cast here works for the film and makes the paranoia needed for the story palpable. 

The cinematography by director of photography Rainer Klausmann (and team) looks really good and makes the film look almost clinical at times and panicked at others which is perfect here. The music by John Ottman is stress-inducing and thus on point. Also, something needs to be said about the special effects. While this version of the Body Snatchers story is low on the gore (like most of them really), it has this goo thing, this snot-like thing that is how it is all gets transferred from people to people, and this stuff is very clearly designed and made. The effects department definitely works with a less-is-more approach and it works great here.  

The Invasion is a new version of a well-known story both in book form and film form that is worth visiting at least once. It brings a new angle which has aged rather well in terms of inducing stress and anxiety about something that human can give to each other, something some decide to ignore is there, others embrace, and a few fight. The Invasion is an oddly timely film 17 years after its original release. The tension this all creates in a current rewatch is worth checking it out again, or perhaps for the first time. 

This new release has interesting features, the main one being how it looks and sounds in this new high-definition version. The main extras here that are interesting is the commentary along with the Body Snatchers and Beyond feature. This is a solid release for a film that deserves new attention.