Noah Baumbach Admits There’s a Movie He Wishes He Could “Unsee”
Noah Baumbach once opened up about a movie from his childhood that left a lasting impression on him. In a conversation with Lynn Hirschberg, the filmmaker revealed that the 1956 sci-fi horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a film he wished he could “unsee.”
Baumbach explained, “The movie we saw together that really wrecked me, and it was one of those things that I wished I could unsee it, was Invasion of the Bodysnatchers.”
For Baumbach, the film carried extra weight because of the personal circumstances in his life at the time. He recalled, “The thing is that it also coincided with my parents starting to precipitate the end of [my parents’] marriage, which would go on for a few years. So I think the notion of Bodysnatchers being what you recognised, but not themselves, I think that really connected with my unconscious.”
In another discussion with Phil Kaufmann, Baumbach admitted the film even played a role in his early emotional development: “It single-handedly put me into therapy. That movie revisits my therapy to this day. It’s an old standard, Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. It’s funny; I was scared to see it again for a long time. I have seen it since, but even still, I kind of watch it with a hand half on my face.”
Baumbach also reflected on what he missed as a child when first seeing the film. “The thing that was totally lost on me was the whole kind of counterculture of San Francisco and that changing, how the Bodysnatchers kind of represent the shift in hippie culture to a more conservative culture, that was lost on me as a child. But I would just freak the fu*k out.”
Despite the fear, he also shared a lighter memory from the experience: “Watching the movie and there was a focus problem, and people were yelling ‘Focus!’, and my father was saying, ‘bring the screen closer,’ because it felt like the screen was too far away. I was proud of him for that joke.”
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, directed by Don Siegel and starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, tells the story of alien plant spores that replicate humans in the fictional town of Santa Mira.
As these duplicates take over, they absorb the physical traits, memories, and personalities of the original people, leaving emotionless impostors behind. A local doctor discovers the invasion and tries to stop it.
Though largely overlooked by critics when first released, the film has since been recognized as a classic. Filmsite.org ranked it among the best films of 1956. It holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus noting it as “one of the best political allegories of the 1950s, an efficient, chilling blend of sci-fi and horror.”
Metacritic rates it 92 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim. Critics like Leonard Maltin have called it “influential, and still very scary,” while Time Out praised it as “one of the most resonant” films in its genre. The film has been honored by the American Film Institute and preserved in the United States National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
Baumbach’s reflections highlight how a powerful film can leave an enduring mark on its audience, shaping emotional memory and even personal growth. “It freaked me out,” he admitted, but it also sparked lasting appreciation for storytelling and cinematic craft.
The film’s blend of horror, sci-fi, and social commentary remains compelling, showing how a classic work can influence generations long after its release. What do you think—have you seen a movie that impacted you as profoundly as Invasion of the Body Snatchers did for Baumbach? Share your thoughts in the comments.
