Anonymous Andy (Minus_The_Beer) Because every fifteen years or so Jack Finney's seminal novel, "The Body Snatchers," is apparently required to be re-adapted to the big- screen, we have been treated to some versions that are absolutely iconic (1978) and some that are downright awful (2007). Riding the middle lane is Abel Ferrara's 1993 digression, simply titled "Body Snatchers."Set on a military base, "Body Snatchers" is notably different from other versions of the story in more ways than one. Because of its isolated (and often one-note) locale, the plot feels slightly claustrophobic and, at a breezy 87 minutes, a little half-baked as well. A change in pace, this version of the story concerns an EPA agent (Terry Kinney) and his family, who are stationed at the aforementioned base. Naturally, an alien life-form has slowly crept in, turning his already dysfunctional family against one another. Meg Tilly plays his wife, who is given perhaps the film's most interesting dialogue (it's all about that chilling "Where you gonna go?" speech). Teen daughter Gabrielle Anwar, meanwhile, mashes up with a few locals, which happens to include a walking cliché gen-Xer played by Christine Elise. This piece of the plot doesn't really add up to much and only distracts from the tightly-wound story. Maybe they were trying to play to a younger audience? At any rate, it doesn't really do the film any favors as, aside from the always-game Elise and charming Anwar, the other teens/youngsters are almost as cold and lifeless as the husks left in the aliens' wake.In spite of its flaws, the film is really quite basic in a charming way yet it's all over seemingly just as it starts to gain momentum. Abel Ferrara's direction is, erm, able. With the look of a Tony Scott or even an early Michael Bay production, his film is perhaps the most stylized of all the "Snatcher" films and most definitely a product of the '90s. The special effects are the true star here, with some truly grotesque stuff including the birth of the "pod people." None of this improves on the 1978 version, which is arguably the best adaptation thus far, but as a keyhole, glimpse into a small story taking place within a larger event type film (think "10 Cloverfield Lane"), it works quite well. If you find this one languishing on a shelf, collecting dust, it's certainly worth snatching up.

LeonLouisRicci This is the Third in a Series of Four Films from Jack Finney's Novel "The Body Snatchers" Written in the 1940's and Published in 1955. It First was Serialized in Collier's Magazine in 1954."Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) Directed by Don Siegel... "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978) Directed by Philip Kaufman... "Body Snatchers" (1993) Directed by Abel Ferrara... "The Invasion" (2007) Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel The First Three Versions all have Redeeming Value as Films and Social Commentary, although this one is Certainly Concerned almost Exclusively with the more Personal Horror of it all. Director Abel Ferrara, most known for Fringe Exploitation with Hard Edged Realism, gives this Sci-Fi Stalwart a Good Try with the Help of Horror Genre Participants Larry Cohen and Stuart Gordon.It's a Fittingly Creepy Affair with a Share of Chills and Shadowy Sullenness. A Few Scenes are Decidedly Unsettling with Ferrara Skirting the Edges to Disturb. But Overall the Movie seems a bit Rushed and its Short Running Time (88 Minutes) does not allow for much Suspenseful Buildup. A Good Cast all Contribute to make this a Watchable Remake and Despite a Tacked On "Explosive" Ending (the weakest element) it has a Following that Grows Every Year. Most Likely because of Cult Director Abel Ferrara. Note...The latest remake with Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman is virtually worthless and nowhere near as entertaining or artful as the other three telling. In fact it is borderline bad.

moonspinner55 Chemist and his family move to a military base in Alabama to investigate the level of toxins in their water--could this pollution be the reason why the military personnel are exhibiting such odd behavior? "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with both a new milieu and environmental overtones, also a heavy emphasis on the grisly body duplications. The protagonist this time is the chemist's teenage daughter, who also provides an infrequent voice-over in the past tense. Director Abel Ferrara makes the attempt to slowly build suspense, however his morose, darkly-filmed opening (some 30 minutes in) backfires; tension doesn't so much mount as it does bide its time. Adaptation of Jack Finney's novel "The Body Snatchers" was worked on by several writers who provide lots of activity but no interesting people. Some effective and hair-raising moments, a good performance from Meg Tilly in a small role, but a fiery finale that falls flat. ** from ****

Michael_Elliott Body Snatchers (1993)*** (out of 4) Teenager Marti Malone (Gabrielle Anwar) travels to an Army base with her father (Terry Kinney), stepmom (Meg Tilly) and her young brother. Before long she realizes that something isn't right with some of the people on the base and it turns out that some of them are pods of their former being.Abel Ferrara's BODY SNATCHERS has the unlucky job of trying to follow up two very well-known and very much loved films. The 1956 version of this is without question one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made and the 1978 version with Donald Sutherland is also quite good. This third version isn't nearly in the same league as those two pictures but at the same time I've always liked this one and it's rather surreal and bizarre atmosphere.Ferrara might have seemed like an unlikely person to direct this "mainstream" picture but he's got a couple other genre people on board. Larry Cohen is credited as one of the story writers and we've also got Stuart Gordon credited as one of the co-screenplay writers. The three of them gives this version of the story a few nice twists including how it's more psychological than the previous two films. This probably accounts for the bizarre atmosphere that is hanging over the film because there's just a very dry feel to the entire picture and an uneasy nature that really comes across.The film also benefits from some very good performances including Anwar who is very believable in the role of the teenager who finds everyone she knew suddenly changing. Kinney is also good as the father and Billy Wirth also delivers a fine performance. Meg Tilly is also extremely good as the stepmother. We're also treated to some very good cinematography as well as a score that perfectly fits the material.As much as I enjoy this version of the story, there's still always been something that just didn't sit right. I've seen the film around four or five times and I still don't know exactly what it's missing but perhaps a longer running time would have worked. Several subjects are touched upon in the short running time and perhaps these could have been better explored in a longer movie. I'm not sure. Either way, BODY SNATCHERS deserves to have a better reputation than it has.