When the space shuttle crashes on Earth, it brings with it an alien virus that begins to take over humans.

CRITIQUE

The Invasion is the umpteenth remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, and to its credit it tries to do a few new things with the basic idea, particularly in its concept of a space virus that changes people on a DNA level.  But though this has its moments, the result is often stiff and is never as thrilling or chilling as it wants to be.  The result is a borderline rental at best.

The main character here is Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman), a psychiatrist who starts to notice strange behavior in people on the street, as well as in her ex-husband (Jeremy Northam), who in his vague government role was one of the first people to be infected.  But Carol’s story just feels contrived throughout; not only does she has this primal connection through what is going on through her husband, but she just happens to be friends with a scientist (played by Jeffrey Wright) who is on the front lines of trying to crack the virus.  Carol also has a son who may hold the key to the cure, providing her with heavy-handed motivation that makes the script’s second half feel programmed rather than natural.

Interesting is the idea that, because Carol is infected along the way, she knows that if she falls asleep she will change, which provides some nice tension.  The story also utilizes the idea that, if one can appear emotionless, one can blend in with the people that have been changed.  But though the tale makes the same point as many of the originals, that a change like this might actually be a good cure for the violent human race, we really get no insight into what the alienized people want, so too often this just feels too superficial.  Meanwhile, it’s so easy to infect people (though putting something in drinks, or injections, or simply throwing up on them) that it’s unclear why everyone doesn’t get infected much, much quicker.

The acting here is solid, though the actors (including Daniel Craig as Kidman’s love interest) really don’t have much to work with; the characters here are all rather one-note.  Rumor has it that the studio thought the first cut of the film was dull, and brought in The Wachowski Brothers to do reshoots to add more action to the second half.  But this just gives an uneven feel to the material, which alternates talky scenes with familiar car chases or scenes of characters riding and hiding.  Ultimately this is all professionally-made, but somehow it just doesn’t come together nearly as well as it should.

THE VIDEO

This version of The Invasion was presented in widescreen.  The picture quality is crisp throughout.

THE AUDIO

The Invasion is presented in English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Surround.  Dialogue, music and sound effects come through clear.  There are English, French and Spanish subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

The 19-minute documentary We’ve Been Snatched Before: Invasion In Media History goes on about how this and other versions of the film were allegories for whatever was concerning the world at the time, from Communism (the first film version) to cults in the 1970s, to infectious diseases today.  Though this might be a reason the film isn’t as chilling as it could be; when people fear infectious diseases it is because the diseases can kill them, not turn them into some sort of unemotional creature.

There are three short making-of Featurettes, that are fairly standard behind-the-scenes stuff, and only about 3 minutes long each.

FINAL THOUGHT

There are enough good moments here not to be able to dismiss it completely, but the 1978 version works much better.