[8]

Philip Kaufman enhances the creepiness and desperation in this superior retelling of the classic tale of alien menace and paranoia. The terrific cast includes Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Brooke Adams, and Leonard Nimoy. Ben Burtt provides the spooky sound effects, including that hideous, otherworldly sound the pod people make when they spot a human in their midst. This particular film version (there are several out there) remains the best, thanks largely to Kaufman’s tight pacing and the bleak script. Look for Kevin McCarthy, star of the original 1956 version, in a pointed cameo.