It Conquered the Invasion of the Puppet Masters

I’m not sure I should admit it, but I’m a big fan of science-fiction author Robert Heinlein. Although he was a bit of a kook and politically questionable, I’ve read and enjoyed pretty much everything he wrote. So I’ve been eagerly awaiting a chance to see The Puppet Masters (1994), based on his 1951 novel. In fact, I was surprised that this was made in 1994 - I feel like I’ve been waiting since the 70s.

Donald Sutherland plays “The Old Man”, leader of a secret US intelligence operation. He calls on Eric Thal, his best agent and son, and exobiologist Julie Warner to investigate a flying saucer that supposedly landed in Iowa. When they get there, they find a crude mockup, built as a tourist trap. They almost go in, but Warner has a bad feeling and they skip it. Good thing too, because they soon find that there was a real flying saucer, and the aliens are stingray/slugs, who attach themselves to your spinal chord and take over your mind.

These aliens are pretty fun, although they do kind of call to mind the flying bat-rays of It Conquered the World. Come to think of it, so does the plot.

Of course, each of the main characters gets taken over by the slugs, as they are called. When Warner is taken, Thal goes into occupied territory to get her back. The infection spreads outside of Iowa, leading to paranoia - anyone could be infected. Of course, if you get them to take of their shirts and turn around... It’s funny that enforced social toplessness was acceptable in a 50s novel, but beyond the pale in the 90s. I guess it would have been a little uncomfortable for the only woman in the cast, though.

Also, it’s funny that the original novel has more character development than the modern movie, since early sci-fi was famous for strong plots and wooden characters. In the original, there was a real sense of dread and paranoia, and the horror and unclean feeling of being mind-raped by ther slugs. That’s present in the movie, but far in the background. In exchange, you get some pretty fair action, car chases and helicopter fights.

Donald Sutherland was probably the best thing in the movie, but even there, he might remind you of his role in Body Snatchers. I’m afraid I’m going to have to mark this as “for Heinlein completists only”.