The Invasion (film)
| The Invasion | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Oliver Hirschbiegel James McTeigue |
| Written by | Dave Kajganich (screenplay) Jack Finney (novel) Laurence Wachowski Andrew Wachowski |
| Produced by | Joel Silver |
| Starring | Nicole Kidman Daniel Craig |
| Music by | John Ottman |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date | August 17 2007 (USA) |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million[1] |
The Invasion is a 2007 science fiction film based on a screenplay by Dave Kajganich, originally meant to be based on the 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Initially directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig portraying the lead roles, Warner Bros. Pictures sought a revision of The Invasion with rewrites by the Wachowski brothers and re-shoots by director James McTeigue. The film was released on August 17 2007, in the United States.
Synopsis
A space shuttle mysteriously crashes on Earth, and an extraterrestrial disease in the wreckage begins infecting human beings. A psychiatrist from Washington, D.C., Carol Bennell (Nicole Kidman), and her colleague Ben Driscoll (Daniel Craig) discover that the transformation caused by the infection is triggered by REM sleep, robbing the victims of their humanity. As the infection spreads, fewer people can be trusted. Fighting to stay awake, Carol looks for her son, who may hold the answer to stopping the invasion.[2]
Cast
- Nicole Kidman as Carol Bennell, a psychiatrist who works in Washington, D.C.
- Daniel Craig as Ben Driscoll, Carol's colleague.
- Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Galeano, a molecular biologist.[1]
- Jeremy Northam as Tucker, Carol's ex-husband.[3]
- Josef Sommer as Dr. Belicec, the ambassador of the Czech Republic.[4]
- Celia Weston as Mrs. Belicec, the wife of Dr. Belicec.[4]
- Roger Rees as an imperious Russian diplomat.[4]
- Veronica Cartwright as Wendy Lenk. Cartwright had a principle role in the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers.[5]
Production
In March 2004, Warner Bros. Pictures hired screenwriter Dave Kajganich to write a script that would serve as a remake of the 1956 science fiction film Invasion of the Body Snatchers.[6] In July 2005, director Oliver Hirschbiegel was attached to helm the project, with production to begin the coming October in Baltimore.[7] The following August, actress Nicole Kidman was cast to star in the film then titled Invasion, receiving a salary of close to $17 million. Invasion was based on the script by Kajganich, originally intended as a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but Kajganich crafted a different enough story for the studio to see the project as an original conception.[8] Later in August, actor Daniel Craig was cast opposite Kidman in the lead.[9] The film, whose original title Invasion of the Body Snatchers was shortened to Invasion due to Kajganich's different concept, was changed once more to The Visiting so it would not be confused with ABC's TV series Invasion.[10]
Filming began on September 26 2005 in Baltimore and lasted 45 days.[3] The film had minimal visual effects, with no need for greenscreen work. Instead, the director shot from odd camera angles and claustrophobic spaces to increase tension in the film.[1]
In October 2006, The Visiting changed to the title of The Invasion, due to the cancellation of ABC's TV series of a similar name.[11] The studio, however, was unhappy with Hirschbiegel's results and hired the Wachowski brothers to rewrite the film. The studio later hired director James McTeigue to perform re-shoots that would cost $10 million,[12] an uncredited duty by McTeigue.[13] After 13 months of inactivity, re-shoots took place in January 2007 to increase action scenes and add a twist ending.[14] Later in January, Kidman was involved in an accident, while in a Jaguar that was being towed by a stunt driver, during re-shooting and was taken to a hospital briefly.[15] Kidman had broken several ribs, but she was able to get back to work soon after being hospitalized.[16]
In May 2007, composer John Ottman recorded the musical score for The Invasion, using heavy synthesizers combined with a 77-piece orchestra intended to create "otherworldly foreboding and tension". The music was also designed to have an avant-garde postmodern style, with atmospheric and thrilling action elements.[17]
Reception
The film was originally slated to be released in June 2006,[18] but it was postponed to 2007.[11] The film was released on August 17 2007 in the United States.[14] On the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Invasion rates 21% out of 85 reviews.[19] The film has received Rotten Tomatoes' Cream of the Crop rating of 30% out of 30 reviews from major news outlets.[20] On another aggregator, Metacritic, The Invasion received a 48% rating out of 28 reviews.[21]
References
- ^ a b c Susan Wloszczyna (2006-01-11). "Paranoia gets revisited in 'The Visiting'". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Invasion - Synopsis". Warner Bros. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- ^ a b Chris Kaltenbech (2005-09-24). "'Invasion,' downgraded to a 'Visiting,' will hit city". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Ian Spelling (2007-07-06). "Invasion Invades Washington". Sci Fi Wire. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Bill Wine (2007-06-29). "Pods All Set For Another "Invasion"". All Headline News. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Cathy Dunkley (2004-03-25). "Scribe warms to WB's 'Body'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Body Snatchers Get a Director". ComingSoon.net. 2005-07-15. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Michael Fleming (2005-08-01). "WB unearths 'Invasion'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Pamela McClintock (2005-08-18). "Craig plans for 'Invasion'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Pamela McClintock (2005-10-09). "'Invasion' title snatched". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Pamela McClintock (2006-10-15). "The 'Invasion' is back on again". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Patrick Goldstein (2007-03-07). "Success and Failure Can Cross Hollywood Border". Los Angeles Times.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Michael Fleming (2007-06-26). "McTeigue to get Thai'd up in 'Bangkok'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "August 17 - The Invasion". Entertainment Weekly. 2007-05-04.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Associated Press (2007-01-25). "Kidman in Crash on The Invasion Set". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Patrick Lee (2007-08-14). "Kidman Talks Invasion Injuries". Sci Fi Wire. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dan Goldwasser (2007-05-25). "John Ottman scores The Invasion". SoundtrackNet. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Susan Wloszczyna (2005-11-17). "Kidman happily visits while filming 'Visiting'". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "The Invasion". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ "The Invasion - Cream of the Crop". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ^ "Invasion, The (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
External links
