Phillip Kaufman’s remake of the celebrated Don Siegel film turns away from the any-communist hysteria that provided the original subtext, and instead focuses on the impact of psycho-therapy on the San Francisco community of 1978. Donald Sutherland plays the health inspector who begins to notice that the people around him are changing, with Leonard Nimoy as renowned doctor David Kibner and a literate script from WD Richter from Jack Finney’s novel. Kaufman makes good use of city locations, and doesn’t shy away from some memorable shock scenes, namely the dog with the human head, gruesome pod destructions and the final twist, the kind of downbeat clincher that only the seventies were allowed to make. Don Siegel and original star Kevin McCarthy both have cameos, as does Robert Duvall.
One of the few sci fi thrillers that I watch at least 2 to 3 times a year. I love this film and it rules on so many levels. The paranoia, suspense, fear and mood are so palpable. Kaufman really nailed everything with this remake which, behind JC’s The Thing, is my fav sci fi redo. Good work!