Plot: What’s it about?
Private James Reese (Christopher Walken) has a violent temper, one that has caused him immense trouble over the years. These days, he is stationed in Western Germany with the United States military forces, but his temper hasn’t settled much and as such, he finds himself thrown in the stockade at times. It seems as if his sharp temper is destined to be the end of him and even his girlfriend insists he seek out some help, but that just puts a little more sauce on his anger, instead of helping the situation. But sooner or later, he has to find some way to overcome his mental issues, even if it isn’t of his accord. And when he is taken to a mansion in a secluded area, he knows the time has come to face his problems. The mansion is a hospital of sorts, though Reese assumes it is a private one, since it isn’t too populated. The number of patients is low and the staff seems even more sparse, which causes some curiosity in Reese’s mind. He soon finds himself roomed with a man named Miles (Ronny Cox), who also has a mean temper and is prone to violent outbreaks. Miles also happens to have cancer and in his case, it is a terminal disease. Reese begins to notice some strange things within the hospital, but is it all just part of his anti-social mindset, or are some top secret activities taking place within the mansion?
This movie looks like a sci/fi thriller from the case, but it isn’t sci/fi like Star Wars or the like, instead it is a more literate, cerebral brand of sci/fi. So if you think sci/fi is all about exploding planets, murderous robots, or cutting edge special effects, then you’ll want to look elsewhere, as The Mind Snatchers isn’t an action driven picture. But it is a well crafted thriller that examines some interesting subjects, some of which are downright eerie. And since the writing is good, the acting is solid, and veteran television director Bernard Girard holds it all together well, this turns out to be a tense, effective movie. The pace might throw some folks off, as it moves slowly and builds over time, but it never runs too slowly. If you’re only used to the fast cuts and quick plot movements of modern cinema, then your attention might be challenged here, but little time is ever wasted here and the pace is used to enhance atmosphere and tension. So it is slow and it is slow for a good reason, to make for a better cinematic experience. The low budget involved is evident and hinders the film at times, but the strength of the material keeps the ship afloat. So no, this isn’t some overlooked genre classic, but The Mind Snatchers is a more than solid picture. As such, I am giving it a strong recommendation to fans of 70s sci/fi cinema.
If nothing else, the release of The Mind Snatchers is sure to generate some kind of buzz, thanks to the presence of Christopher Walken. And unlike most of the films that capitalize on an early appearance by a now well known star, this one delivers and then some, since Walken is the lead. So we’re not treated to a cameo or even a supporting turn, as Walken is the central character here and drives the entire picture. This isn’t the kind of material we’re used to seeing him in, but he does quite well and gives a more than effective performance. I’ve found that a lot of stars have been less than impressive in their early works, but that wasn’t the case with Walken, who proves even back in this production that he was a gifted worker. In only his third feature film project, Walken has the presence of a veteran and never stumbles, thanks in part to the good material, but also due to his own skills in front of the camera. Other films with Walken include The Deer Hunter, True Romance, The Dead Zone, Last Man Standing, Mouse Hunt, and New Rose Hotel. The cast also includes Ronny Cox (Total Recall, Beverly Hills Cop), Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2, Shadowlands), and Susan Travers (Peeping Tom, Snake Woman).
Video: How does it look?
The Mind Snatchers is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen. The image here has some rough spots, but looks good for a lower profile, low budget 70s sci/fi picture. The print is in solid condition, with only slight grain present and debris at a minimum, though some defects do surface from time to time. The colors look passable, but the image has a washed out texture in most scenes, so don’t expect vivid hues here. No real complaints as far as contrast, as black levels run smooth and provide ample, accurate detail depth. Given the source material, I’d say Image has done some good work here, as The Mind Snatchers looks quite solid.
Audio: How does it sound?
The mono option here is stable and solid, but of course, is limited by the mono format. I heard some hiss at times, but only to a minor degree and other age related errors were absent, which is good news. This is a sci/fi movie, but it doesn’t have the kind of audio we’ve come to expect from the genre, as this track is powered by dialogue. So you won’t be too impressed, but it sounds good and that’s enough in this case. The music and assorted sound effects are in fine order, while dialogue is crisp and always easy to understand. This is about as basic as you can get, but since minimal errors surface, I won’t be too hard on this one.
Supplements: What are the extras?
disc includes an alternate title sequence, three television spots, and three of the film’s theatrical trailers.
