Ben Stallworth
EN 101
Adam Weinstein
October 11, 2007
Communist Science Fiction
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a science fiction film that was made in 1956. The
film has been remade three times. It is based on the novel The Body Snatchers and has a similar
plot line to another movie known as I Married A Monster From Outer Space. Dr. Bennell, a
local doctor, discovers that the townspeople are transforming from their regular bodies to an alien
body form known as the pod people. The pod people cannot be distinguished from regular
people through physical appearance. The only noticeable characteristic the pod people have
separating them from regular humans is that the pod people show no emotion. They are formed
in a plant-like structure called pods. Dr. Bennell tries to stop the pod people and escape to safety
while they secretly work to produce and spread the pods. Once a pod person, everyone acts the
same: walks at the same pace, talks at the same volume and in the same tone of voice, never
cries, and never laughs. The situations and wild plot of the film provides an arguable direct
relation to the communist style of government.
Critics share opinions when it comes to comparing and contrasting this film with the
international political events that filled the decades before out generation. Some critics think the
film acts as a metaphorical compass that acts as a reminder to the direction that society is
moving: down. Others think that the plot line of the movie relates directly to Communism. The
pod people are all the same: they have no opportunity for choice and no opportunity for change.
Just like the pod people, the victims of Commu