Buzz
Whether intentionally crafted or the result of over-interpretation, these sci-fi creatures were often seen as physical embodiments of communism’s 'evil empire' during the Cold War.
1. A Flesh-Devouring Entity in The Blob (1958)
Brief Overview: A shapeless, red monster that grows larger with every person it consumes terrorizes a small town in Pennsylvania. The film also features one of the catchiest theme songs in sci-fi cinema.
The Communist Allegory: With a villain that’s literally blood-red, many assumed that The Blob was a low-budget critique of the rising Sino-Soviet 'red menace.' Producer Jack Harris later rejected these claims as 'nonsense.' 'Though,' he admitted, 'maybe that’s why it never premiered in Russia.'
2. A Horrifying Shape-Shifter in John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)
Quick Overview: A group of researchers in the frozen Antarctic wilderness unwittingly unearth an alien parasite that infects and overtakes every living being it encounters, perfectly mimicking its victims down to the finest details of their cells.
The Communist Allegory: '[Communists], like the victims of the Thing,' wrote Roger Ebert in an early review, 'appeared to be your closest friend, but they harbored a lethal secret within.'
3. A City-Crushing Creature in The Deadly Mantis (1957)
Quick Overview: A 400-foot praying mantis terrorizes the eastern seaboard—and even climbs the Washington Monument! Of course, Mystery Science Theater 3000 couldn’t resist poking fun at this in 1997:
The Communist Allegory: Critic Melvin E. Matthews Jr. suggests that the flying creature metaphorically represents “enemy bombers in the skies above America.” He also argues that The Deadly Mantis was significantly influenced by a series of Ground Observer Corps pamphlets, which warned of an impending Soviet airstrike on U.S. soil.
4. Enormous, Alien Pods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Quick Overview: Who’s human, and who’s a copy? When alien pods land in a small California town, they begin replacing its residents with emotionless duplicates. Can a group of brave individuals stop the spread, or is this the beginning of the end of humanity as we know it?
The Communist Allegory: Like The Thing, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is frequently seen as a reflection of paranoid, anti-Marxist sentiments. However, longtime producer Walter Mirsh, who was well-acquainted with the filmmakers, claims that none of them had any political agenda and intended it to be “nothing more than a thriller, pure and simple.”
5. Imperialist Extraterrestrials in Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)
Quick Overview: With a fleet of heavily-armed ships at their disposal (masterfully animated by the late Ray Harryhausen), a race of sinister aliens arrives to conquer Earth.
The Communist Allegory: Alien invasion films were particularly popular in the 1950s, with The War of the Worlds (1953) leading the charge. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, like many similar films, used the idea of totalitarian occupation to resonate with American audiences (one scene even features a UFO crashing through the Capitol building).
6. Minivan-Sized Ants in Them! (1954)
Quick Overview: Nuclear testing in rural New Mexico triggers the emergence of a colony of giant, radioactive ants that leave a trail of devastation and bodies in their path. The military is called in to eliminate this new, creeping threat before it spreads to the sewers of Los Angeles.
The Communist Allegory: Warner Brothers’ PR team saw an opportunity to capitalize on anti-Russian sentiment and promote their film with a patriotic twist. The idea was simple: Military agencies would be invited to set up recruitment booths in theaters across the country. They would be given signs that read, 'What would you do if (name of city) were attacked by Them?! Prepare for any danger by joining Civil Defense today!' However, this plan was eventually abandoned.
7. Deadly Plants in The Day of the Triffids (1962)
Quick Overview: A global plague of blindness strikes just as hordes of venomous plants known as 'Triffids' begin to overrun Europe.
The Communist Allegory: The dark, post-apocalyptic atmosphere naturally evokes thoughts of nuclear war. The Day of the Triffids was based on a novel by John Wyndham, published in 1951. While the origins of the plants remain vague, Wyndham’s book reveals that they were created by the Soviet Union for unknown purposes. The film adaptation was written by Bernard Gordon, a former communist party member who had been blacklisted during Senator Joseph McCarthy’s infamous 'witch hunt' earlier in the decade.
BONUS: Kim Jong-il’s 'Communist Godzilla Movie'
North Korea’s former leader considered himself quite the film connoisseur (he also claimed the title of the country’s 'number one movie critic'). In fact, he personally produced a number of films during his regime, including a unique creation called Pulgasari (1985). The film features a gigantic reptile that emerges from the sea and wreaks havoc on major cities. Sound familiar? Some Japanese special effects experts who had previously worked on The Return of Godzilla (1984) were enlisted to help bring King Jong-il’s cinematic dream to life. Portrayed as a violent monster that greedily consumes valuable resources, the Pulgasari creature was meant to symbolize the destructive forces of out-of-control capitalism.
