Body Snatchers MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

The third time's not quite the charm in this rehash of the 1956 and 1978 body snatcher films. The body snatchers are pods from outer space that come to earth to steal people's bodies, minds and souls while they sleep. In this '94 version, "pod people" are taking over the soldiers at an Army base. Along comes Dr. Steve Malone (Terry Finney), his teenage daughter Marty (Gabrielle Anwar), young son Robbie, and Malone's wife, the children's stepmother (Meg Tilly). Dr. Malone is conducting an EPA inspection at the base to find out what is making folks act strangely. Robbie comes in one afternoon to find his stepmother "podded" and she then tries to pod the whole family. Later, dad does get podded and Marty must shoot him. Marty and Robbie try to fly away in a helicopter, but find themselves in even more trouble. Body Snatchers is a good looking film. The lighting and camera create an eerie off-centeredness, and the special effects are restrained enough to keep the focus on suspense.

Even with restraint, scenes showing a pod taking over someone by spouting tentacles that crawl into the victim's nose and mouth are gruesome. Although the story twists and turns pretty well, it's not enough to counteract the film's detractors. There are no sexual situations, but considerable nudity, including full female frontal and female breast nudity and rear nudity. In a bloody scene, an Army officer shoots himself in the head rather than get podded. Several other persons are shot down but with no gore. Marty discovers that her brother is "one of them" and tosses him from the helicopter , but we are spared his landing. Obscene language is also painfully prevalent. Overall, the previous two versions of BODY SNATCHERS are much better alternatives because they are more restrained.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: Warner Brothers, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522