SSC Film Studies

It is often said that "films reflect the times in which they are made" How true is this for Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers was made in post World War 2 America which saw an increase of xenophobia and the fear of others. It was during a time of intense fear, paranoia and insecurity and a time when the though of war brought a threat to our way of life and increased the desire to maintain the status quo. The movie was also present during the time of Joseph McCarthy, communism and the Alien Registration Act which all brought an increased fear of 'others' to the US. 

The film opens with Miles in hysteria and police trying to restrain him as he shouts that he isn't crazy. From this the audience can see that he is in a different state of mind compared to the rest of the characters as he is physically and mentally distressed which depicts him as the 'other'. This connotes how 1950s US was in a state of panic over the fear of others, annihilation and paranoia which builds a direct link to the real world at the time. 

The film is shot in a made up town in America called Santa Mira. This is allegorical of small towns in America to show that the state of fear could be applied to anywhere in the US and still be relevant. The narration from Miles over this shot says "Everything looked the same, it wasn't, something evil had took possession of the town". The environment we see at the beginning seems normal which shows how Miles establishes the status quo of the town as everyone goes about their normal lives. This shows that the threat is unknown and something psychological, much like how the threat of communism was an ideology and how at the time they viewed homosexuality as a mental problem - something not visible. It also shows the specific threat in present day which was during the Cold War and McCarthyism. McCarthyism was something everyone feared during the 50s and so this relates to the fear that Miles expresses and how he says that 'something evil had took possession of the town'.  

Everyone in the town asks to see Miles specifically and refuses to see a different doctor which shows how Miles is admired by the community and a trusted figure. It also indicates people's fear of change as they each have complaints but don't raise them because they may be viewed as the 'other' or a threat for not maintaining the status quo. This highlights the way everyone conformed to the norm so that they were not seen as deviant from the rest of society. Jimmy and the threats he raises about his mother not being his mother are seen as ridiculous and not taken seriously, because of this he is given medication. Becky also refers to her cousins allegations as 'delusions' which suggests how idiotic she must be to have these thoughts. This implies how any irrational thoughts were seen as unimaginable and classed as something serious to be treated by a doctor. Once again indicating how people were afraid to have their own thoughts and opinions without allegations of them being a threat.   

Becky and Miles speak to the police officer who asked to see Miles, he dismisses the fact that he wanted to see him and says that it was nothing serious and leaves. The audience is able to tell that the police officer has already been changed to a pod person because of his unusual behaviour, also because Becky says that they knew the police officer from college so it was strange for him to not chat to Miles and Becky. This reinforces how conformity happens quicker is an authority figure is targeted first because they are seen as reliable and trusting. It also shows how other people are quick to pick up on other people's strange behaviour as it is uncommon.