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The Incredible Shrinking Man, 1957
Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is out on a boating trip with his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart), when a strange, sparkling cloud passes over him. Months later, Scott notices that his clothing seems a little loose. What at first seems impossible is eventually confirmed by his doctor--Scott is shrinking.
Where in the world did a movie called The Incredible Shrinking Man get THE NERVE to be genuinely dramatic, thrilling, and emotionally moving?!
For years I have imagined that this movie would sort of fall into that kind of 50s sci-fi/horror subgenre of a cool poster, effects that are fun but don't quite live up to the poster, and lots of scenes with pseudo-scientific talk by men standing around indeterminate bubbling beakers.
But instead the film is a shockingly good mix of effects set-pieces (Scott holding a phone as big as he is; being chased by the housecat; fending off a spider with a nail) and observation about how Scott's condition impacts him and his relationship with Louise.
It is interesting that the film explains Scott's condition as "anti-cancer". Much of what he goes through has parallels with someone suffering from a chronic illness. Even as Scott shrinks, his condition impacts Louise and their relationship. In one moment he even explicitly says, "Every day I became more domineering." It seems like dark humor, as at this point he is literally living in a dollhouse, but it shows a degree of empathy for the way that a chronic condition can impact not only the person with the condition but also their loved ones. The film does a great job of showing us the loving, deep relationship between Louise and Scott (and the actors have really solid chemistry in their banter). Louise is unfailingly supportive of Scott, but both of them are under incredible strain. By establishing their relationship so well, it becomes all the more painful as it starts to fall apart.
Still, though, this is Scott's story. Around the middle of the film, a series of events leads to the focus of the film being almost entirely on Scott. And at this point, it almost begins to delve into an existential exploration. Having given up on a cure, Scott is forced to reckon with what his life even means at this point. There is a moving sequence in which Scott sits with a woman who is part of a circus act and is also "miniature" (I put this in quotes because I am not sure what condition she is meant to have).
And the ending! Oof! I won't say anything specific, but it really landed in a beautiful place. So far from the cheesy 50s sci-fi stereotypes.
The Incredible Shrinking Man, 1957
Scott Carey (Grant Williams) is out on a boating trip with his wife, Louise (Randy Stuart), when a strange, sparkling cloud passes over him. Months later, Scott notices that his clothing seems a little loose. What at first seems impossible is eventually confirmed by his doctor--Scott is shrinking.
Where in the world did a movie called The Incredible Shrinking Man get THE NERVE to be genuinely dramatic, thrilling, and emotionally moving?!
For years I have imagined that this movie would sort of fall into that kind of 50s sci-fi/horror subgenre of a cool poster, effects that are fun but don't quite live up to the poster, and lots of scenes with pseudo-scientific talk by men standing around indeterminate bubbling beakers.
But instead the film is a shockingly good mix of effects set-pieces (Scott holding a phone as big as he is; being chased by the housecat; fending off a spider with a nail) and observation about how Scott's condition impacts him and his relationship with Louise.
It is interesting that the film explains Scott's condition as "anti-cancer". Much of what he goes through has parallels with someone suffering from a chronic illness. Even as Scott shrinks, his condition impacts Louise and their relationship. In one moment he even explicitly says, "Every day I became more domineering." It seems like dark humor, as at this point he is literally living in a dollhouse, but it shows a degree of empathy for the way that a chronic condition can impact not only the person with the condition but also their loved ones. The film does a great job of showing us the loving, deep relationship between Louise and Scott (and the actors have really solid chemistry in their banter). Louise is unfailingly supportive of Scott, but both of them are under incredible strain. By establishing their relationship so well, it becomes all the more painful as it starts to fall apart.
Still, though, this is Scott's story. Around the middle of the film, a series of events leads to the focus of the film being almost entirely on Scott. And at this point, it almost begins to delve into an existential exploration. Having given up on a cure, Scott is forced to reckon with what his life even means at this point. There is a moving sequence in which Scott sits with a woman who is part of a circus act and is also "miniature" (I put this in quotes because I am not sure what condition she is meant to have).
And the ending! Oof! I won't say anything specific, but it really landed in a beautiful place. So far from the cheesy 50s sci-fi stereotypes.