Invasion of the Body Snatchers

When Invasion of the Body Snatchers was released in 1956, it was considered one of the best films of the year. As many posters have already written, the movie was an allegory for McCarthyism and Communism, but I think it should be remembered that it was probably a bit terrifying to audiences. Audiences during that time period would not have noticed the corny jokes or awkward lines (especially by policemen) that we notice today. It did not have monsters, violence, or death, but its plot is intensely thought-provoking and the soundtrack adds suspense. As one of the first examples of a sci-fi thriller with a political message, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is clearly a template for later filmmakers. In fact, District 9 is in the politicized sci-fi thriller mode, as are more current films like Minority Report and V for Vendetta.