The Invasion (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Science fiction horror movie |
The Invasion is a 2007 American science fiction horror movie directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, with a screenplay by David Kajganich, featuring performances by Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Unhappy with the initial version, the studio enlisted The Wachowskis for rewrites and brought in James McTeigue to reshoot certain scenes. The narrative follows a psychiatrist (Kidman) based in Washington, D.C. who uncovers that individuals around her are losing their emotions following the release of alien spores caused by a Space Shuttle accident.
Development commenced in 2004 when Warner Bros. commissioned Kajganich to craft a direct remake of the 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He modernized the storyline to fit contemporary settings. Filming began in September 2005. Premiering on August 17, 2007, the film underperformed financially, earning $40.2 million against a $65–80 million budget, and was met with largely unfavorable critical reception.
The Invasion represents the fourth cinematic adaptation of Jack Finney's 1955 novel The Body Snatchers, following Don Siegel's original 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Philip Kaufman's 1978 version, and Abel Ferrara's 1993 film Body Snatchers.
Plot
Following a Space Shuttle disaster within the United States, debris reveals an intelligent fungal-like organism. Hosts infected by this entity become controlled during REM sleep, which alters their genetic makeup. Tucker Kaufman, a director at the CDC investigating the incident, becomes one of the initial victims. Carol Bennell, his ex-wife and a psychiatrist, observes alarming behavioral shifts in people around her, including a patient who insists her husband "is not (her) husband," as well as a detached acquaintance of her son.
At a local Halloween celebration, Carol’s son Oliver notices strange "skin" on another attendee, initially mistaken for costume makeup. Carol suspects this is linked to a rapidly spreading flu-like illness and has Dr. Ben Driscoll analyze the sample. After witnessing a deadly car crash, Carol encounters an unfeeling police officer and later leaves Oliver at Tucker’s residence for the weekend.
That evening, Ben and Carol attend dinner with Russian diplomat Yorish and Czech diplomat Belicec. Tucker uses his position at the CDC to disseminate the organism disguised as a flu vaccine. Carol is later attacked at home by an intruder claiming to be from the "census department."
Ben and biologist Dr. Stephen Galeano determine that the spore commandeers the brain during REM sleep. They discover that individuals with previous neurological conditions such as encephalitis or ADEM are resistant; Oliver is immune due to his childhood ADEM diagnosis. Carol resolves to retrieve Oliver because he may hold vital clues for a cure. During an emergency meeting at the Belicecs’ home, they witness Yorish and others undergoing transformation.
At Tucker’s house, he reveals that those altered by the organism envision a superior society devoid of irrational feelings and urges Carol to join them. When she refuses, he infects her by spitting on her. Carol manages to escape and reunites with Ben at the Belicecs’ residence; however, they must flee when more transformed individuals arrive.
Galeano and an assistant travel to Fort Detrick in Maryland to work on developing an antidote. Meanwhile, Carol and Ben separate to locate Oliver; she rescues him from Tucker’s mother’s apartment but is forced to kill Tucker in self-defense.
Carol arranges a meeting with Ben. Upon his arrival infected, he attempts to convince Carol to embrace their new society but admits that immune people like Oliver have no role in it. Carol wounds Ben and escapes with Oliver. They are pursued but ultimately rescued by helicopter and taken to a medical facility where a vaccine is produced. The inoculations are distributed globally, eliminating the virus within one year. The population forgets their experience during infection; Carol and Ben reunite as society reverts to its emotional and volatile state.
Development
In March 2004, Warner Bros. commissioned David Kajganich to develop a screenplay for a remake of the 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. By July 2005, Oliver Hirschbiegel was attached as director, with filming scheduled to take place in Edgemere, Maryland. The following month, Nicole Kidman was cast in a leading role, securing a salary close to $17 million. Although the project originated from Kajganich’s remake script, the narrative diverged sufficiently for the studio to market it as an original work; nevertheless, the credits still acknowledge Jack Finney’s novel The Body Snatchers. Kajganich relocated the setting to Washington, D.C., incorporating modern themes involving the preservation of authority and elimination of perceived threats. Daniel Craig joined Kidman in August 2005. The film’s title underwent several changes—from Invasion of the Body Snatchers to simply Invasion, then The Visiting—to avoid confusion with ABC’s TV series Invasion. After that series was canceled, the official title was finalized as The Invasion in October 2006.
Filming
Principal photography commenced on September 26, 2005, in Baltimore, continuing for a total of 45 days. Additional location shoots occurred in Washington, D.C., featuring landmarks such as Cleveland Park station, Foggy Bottom–GWU station, and Dupont Circle. The production deliberately minimized visual effects and avoided green screen techniques, instead utilizing inventive camera work and confined settings to build suspense.
Re-shoots
Dissatisfied with Hirschbiegel’s original edit, Warner Bros. brought in The Wachowskis to revise the script and oversee supplementary filming. Subsequently, director James McTeigue was hired for re-shoots valued at $10 million; however, he did not receive official credit. After a pause lasting 13 months, these additional scenes were filmed over 17 days in January 2007 in Los Angeles, emphasizing more action and incorporating a new twist ending. During this period, Nicole Kidman suffered broken ribs due to a stunt accident but resumed work shortly after hospitalization.
Musical score
In May 2007, composer John Ottman recorded the soundtrack for The Invasion, combining intense synthesizer sounds with a 77-piece orchestra to create an atmosphere filled with eerie tension and suspense. The score embraced an avant-garde postmodern style that blended atmospheric tones with dynamic action motifs.
Promotion
The trailer featured "Untitled 8 (a.k.a. "Popplagið")" by Icelandic band Sigur Rós as its musical backdrop.
Release
Originally slated for a June 2006 release, The Invasion was delayed and ultimately premiered on August 17, 2007. It opened widely across North America in 2,776 theaters.
Home media
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released the movie on DVD and Blu-ray on January 29, 2008. Later, on November 12, 2024, Arrow Video issued newly-restored Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray editions for both US and UK markets under Warner Bros.’ licensing.
Box office
The Invasion generated $15.1 million in the domestic market and $25.1 million internationally, accumulating a global total of $40.2 million. This figure fell short of its estimated production costs, which ranged between $65 million and $80 million. Upon release, the film debuted at number five at the box office and sustained a position within the domestic Top 10 during its initial two weeks.
Critical response
The film was met with predominantly unfavorable critiques, with reviewers pointing to its deficiency in psychological complexity and suspense. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a notably low rating that mirrors this widespread critical disapproval.
Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times referred to it as "the fourth, and the least effective, adaptation derived from Jack Finney's renowned science fiction novel." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly labeled the movie "a soulless reworking... cheap and oversimplified." Joanne Kaufman of The Wall Street Journal remarked that "amid all the shootouts, screams, chases, crashes, and explosions, there is little room left for narrative development."
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times condemned the film for its "distorted political themes" and clumsy execution disguised by grandiosity. Paul Arendt from the BBC described it as "descending into a confusing jumble," while Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide characterized it as "a chaotic rush" seemingly hurried to satisfy impatient viewers.