Don Siegel

 Don Siegel




Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)



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1. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)


There is a bit of a debate about what exactly the subtext is behind Don Siegel's 1956 classic horror film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Judging by the time period it was released and its subject matter, there are a few interpretations to contend with. The film is about an alien invasion in the form of plant pods making identical copies of humans in a small California town. The townspeople slowly loose their individuality and become a homogenous hivemind. Perhaps this is an allegory to Americans' fears of communism or perhaps it is a criticism of bland conformity to McCarthyism (two extremes on opposite ends of the spectrum). Regardless of your interpretation, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is a Hollywood horror classic that is still as exciting and thrilling today as it was in 1956.

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