Plot:A small-town doctor learns that the population of his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.
The film is presented to us as a flashback, with McCarthy explaining the take-over of his town to the extremely sceptical authorities. This is a brilliant device as, unlike with most flashback narratives (especially those in film noir), we don't know how the film will resolve itself.
Dr. Miles J. Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) is called back to his small California home early from a conference because a number of his patients have been frantically asking to see him. But oddly, when he returns home, most forget about their unspecified needs. At the same time, it seems that a mass hysteria is building where residents believe that friends and loved ones are "not themselves", literally. One by one, Kevin Mcarthy and Dana Wynter are confronted by the loss of neighbors, associates, and friends. The horror of the loss of everything they new. Early on, when a boy thinks his mother isn't his mother, and a friend doubt's her uncle is who he says he is. Doctor Miles is confused and doesn't know what to believe. So he goes with common sense. His eyes see there is no problem. But The evidence piles slowly and precisely. Soon it is not only what to believe, but who to trust.
this is a plea for sanity and individualism, for creativity and artistic freedom. All that aside it is also an entertaining film that does what any great movie should do, it moves. The dialog is not stilted or full of clichés. It is original and insightful without becoming preachy.The movie is also a top notch thriller, as good as any Hitchcock.It easily remains one of the most gripping of these films with an excellent score by Carmen Dragon.
While the running time doesn't allow for much character development, it is a thrilling film, turning human beings into cold, unfeeling monsters.It built up it's terror with slow suspense, a sense of impending doom, and an atmosphere that was enhanced by the superb musical score.4.5/5 a masterpiece
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