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View Full Version : Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), namely...the ending.


ColonelColinCaine
06-26-2002, 12:18 AM
MASSIVE SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!

First off, let me just say that this movie gets a 10/10 from me. I truly terrifying flick that kept me up at night as a child. But I'm not here to review the film. I'm here to talk about the ending.

It's the morning after Matthew Bennell's night of hell. The invaders have claimed the lives of the entire city, his friend, and most importantly, the woman he loved.
He goes to work, as normal, with the rest of the pod people, expressing absolutely no emotion. At this point, we think he might be attempting to fool the "people" around him.
The flick then cuts to a scene of him walking around in a park. It appears he's just taking in the fresh air, something a human would do, when suddenly, we hear a voice from behind him. It belongs to Nancy Bellicec, the wife of Matthew's deceased friend, also thought dead herself. Matthew turns and stares at her.
Smiling, Nancy calls out his name again, and begins walking toward him, when suddenly Matthew points at her, his face horribly contorting, and emits a bloodcurdling screech.
Nancy begins to break down, scream and pulling at her hair. He's become one of them, and now he's exposed her as a human. The camera zooms into Matthew's mouth, and the credits run over complete silence.
END SPOILERS!!!!!

Now, I don't know about you, but to this day, that ending never fails to send chills down my spine. The film wisely spent the first half allowing us to get to know these people, to actually begin to like them. But in the end, well, you know!
The first time I saw this, I nearly shit myself, and afterwards, I nearly cried. Without a doubt, one of, if not THE, most ingeniously horrifying endings ever.

What's your opinion? Was the end as upsetting to you? Or was I just a great big wuss?

[This message has been edited by ColonelColinCaine (edited 06-26-2002).]

kubotakhan01
06-26-2002, 02:26 AM
I saw that movie for the first time only a few years ago. I loved it! It is one of the few films that I think are truly disturbing.
The newest version with Meg Tilly is really good too. If you haven't seen it, check it out!!

thingsgoinon
06-26-2002, 07:57 AM
I agree on all points...this film is one of those rare remakes that is better than the original (and I LOVED how they put Kevin McCarthy in screaming his ending lines from the original!)

But yeah, that ending was great. Picture if you will the days b4 the internet when ppl weren't aware so much in advance what was going to happen in a film...this really packed a wallop in the theater, you could just fell ppl's jaws drop everywhere...one of the finest horror moments EVER http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

10/10 here too!

Jason13thh
06-26-2002, 12:09 PM
I saw the Siegel's version and the Ferrara's version and I like the Ferrara's version more.
The photography was really superb and it was very atmospheric.
It was more impressive, too.
The end is also sad.

Antonio
06-26-2002, 01:14 PM
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978) Directed by Phil Kaufman. Pods from outer space are duplicating the denizens of San Francisco (the newer, "better" versions lacking emotions), and two "uninfected" couples (Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright) run for their lives (and their souls) in this suspenseful, gripping study of social conformity and paranoia. Leonard Nimoy of "Star Trek" fame co-stars as a sinister shrink. This is more of a remake than a sequel to the 1956 classic, and it is one movie that surpasses the original. Kaufman's taut direction and the excellent characterizations make this sci-fi/horror hybrid a winner! My grade: A+



[This message has been edited by Antonio (edited 06-26-2002).]

Requiem-for-a-Dream
06-26-2002, 01:34 PM
One of my fav flicks ever! 10/10 all the way. This flick deserves way more attention then it gets. To anyone who hasn't seen it, GO GO GO!!!!!!

There's also some nice gore moments and great nudity from Brook Adams.

Matt

ColonelColinCaine
07-07-2002, 11:10 PM
Any more opinions?

Jason Lives
07-07-2002, 11:20 PM
This movie had a really good ending. That said I didn't really like the movie that came before it.

Cushing
07-10-2002, 11:35 AM
I like the original and Kaufmans version equally .I don't think much of Ferraras.
With regard to the ending .
I saw it when I was about 13 or 14 and it came as a real shock .Days after the film I had two images in my head one of the man/dog and the other of the ending.......a master stroke.

Candyman666
07-10-2002, 01:51 PM
This was one of the first horror movies I ever saw. I actually completely forgot about it until I saw this topic. Anybody know if a DVD is out/in the works?

Hooray for me.

Candyman666
07-10-2002, 01:52 PM
This was one of the first horror movies I ever saw. I actually completely forgot about it until I saw this topic. Anybody know if a DVD is out/in the works?

Hooray for me.

ColonelColinCaine
07-10-2002, 02:03 PM
MGM put a DVD out a few years ago which I own, and can still be found in stores. The only extras are a director's commentary, and a trailer.

mattjk_17
07-10-2002, 04:09 PM
Haven't seen this movie in a few years, but I remember when I first saw the ending, I didn't see that one coming, shook me up big time!