It needed the on-screen death of one major character. Spielburg is a pussy.

Well, when you only have one and two-thirds major characters, it's tough.

aheh.

It was all a poorly-masked metaphor anyway. Earth was Tom Cruise, and the invaders were his body thetans. Microbiology making the stand-in for L-Ron and his clensing philosophy. I just can't place the children yet, but I WILL!

The son died. Sorry, but nothing survived that fiery inferno. The "miraculously returned son cheesy ending" is actually Stage Three of the alien's clever invasion scheme: use the obvious war as cover while they seed the Earth with pod people.