33 Years Ago, the Third Adaptation of a Sci-fi Classic Was Released (And It Included Major Changes to the Story)

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John W. Campbell Jr.’s story “Who Goes There?” has been adapted into a movie twice: first as a classic monster film, The Thing from Another World, in 1951, and later as John Carpenter’s highly acclaimed The Thing in 1982. However, Jack Finney’s The Body Snatchers has been adapted even more – a total of four times. Both stories explore a similar theme: the fear of not being able to trust those around you. They create unsettling scenarios where people appear normal on the outside, but hide something dangerous and sinister beneath the surface. The first movie adaptation of The Body Snatchers came out just a year after the novel and is considered a classic. The second adaptation shares the same title and is also highly respected.

Abel Ferrara’s 1993 film, Body Snatchers, doesn’t receive the same praise as other versions, which is surprising because many consider it to be truly outstanding. What sets it apart—unlike the 2007 remake—is that it made a key change, resulting in a film that feels completely different from the original story and the previous adaptations.

How Does Ferrara’s Body Snatchers Stand Apart From the Previous Two Films?

The classic film Invasion of the Body Snatchers isn’t a perfect adaptation of Jack Finney’s novel, though it keeps the same small-town atmosphere and similar characters. The biggest change is the ending: the movie offers a glimmer of hope, with people believing Dr. Miles Bennell’s warnings about the alien invasion. In contrast, the book concludes with the invaders successfully taking over. The film suggests the threat is contained to the town of Santa Mira, while the novel implies the invasion spreads beyond.

The 1978 remake moved the story from a small town to a large city and explored the idea of losing one’s humanity in a new way. In the original, it was easy to spot a pod person because people in small towns are generally friendly and outgoing. You might think it would be harder to tell in a city, but that’s not entirely true. While city dwellers tend to be more reserved, they’re also often quick to anger. A pod person would be just as likely to get upset as to cheerfully greet a neighbor, making them no less noticeable.

Military bases are unique in that displaying strong emotions is generally considered unprofessional. Being serious and maintaining composure is expected as part of the job, and it’s understood that outward displays of feeling should be minimized while on duty.

In Body Snatchers, director Don Siegel cleverly creates a constant sense of unease by never letting the audience definitively know who has been replaced by a pod person. The only two characters where we’re certain of their fate—a father and a friend—realize something is wrong before they’re fully taken over. It’s possible they’re pretending to be stoic, but it turns out they’re genuinely aware of the danger.

Beyond the change in setting, which makes this version of Body Snatchers feel particularly tense, the film also offers a fresh take on the main character. Previous adaptations featured a doctor or health inspector as the protagonist, both adults. This new film, however, shows the invasion through the eyes of a teenager, played by Gabrielle Anwar. This makes her feel more vulnerable, as she’s still growing up and doesn’t have the experience or authority of an adult. She’s just a young woman figuring out who she is, and that raises the stakes and adds to the suspense.

While not quite as strong as the excellent 1978 version, this Body Snatchers film is still very effective and holds up well on its own. Some might even find it the most unsettling of the four movies, despite its characters not being as fully developed as those in the earlier installments.

Both Body Snatchers and the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers are available to watch for free on Tubi, with ads.

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2026-01-24 03:41