The Incredible Shrinking Man

I believe I have mentioned my adoration for sci-fi films from the 1950's-1970's before. They are usually wonderous, wonderous movies. Many detail horrific events that befall a person or a group of persons (often involving aliens). Others show stories set in the future (with decidedly ridiculous lookin machines and contraptioins and also occasionally involving aliens).

The Incredible Shrinking Man belongs to the first group. It tells of the plight of one Scott Carey who - after being exposed to a strange weather anomaly (radiation! of course it's radiation!) - starts shrinking. At first, he is incredulous, only half believing that he is really getting smaller. But eventually the development cannot be ignored any longer. His clothers start sagging, his wedding ring slips off and his wife does no longer have to stand on tip-toes to kiss him.

A doctor is consulted who cannot really tell him much more but that he is in good health and initially dismisses his claim of shrinking, because people do not simply get smaller. Eventually, of course, the outside world does pick up on Scott's obvious change in statue and he becomes a curiosity and medical sensation. A glimmer of hope presents itself when his condition appears to stablize due to medicatiion and although he cannot grow again he at least sports a size now that he can be regarded as a dwarf and continue in a somewhat normal life.

But the medication wears off and he continues to become smaller at a a steady pace again. He also becomes more agitated and takes his anger and frustration out on his equally frustrated wife. He moves into a doll house and one day - while his wife is running errands - he is left alone with the family cat that promptly attacks him. Fleeing from the (to him) oversized creature he ends up in the basement. There, he not only has to navigate the difficult environment but also encounters his next nemesis - a spider. They have a number of battles that would be exhilarating to watch were it not for the quality of the special effects - or rather, lack thereof. When placed next to each other (in obviously overlapping frames) one becomes transparent and, consequently, less threatening.

Scott prevails over the beast and is by now small enough to walk through the wires on the basement window. Through his trials he has finally found a sort of peace, accepting his situation and walking out into the world with a new bravery and awareness of his own worth.

Despite its obvious flaws, quite entertaining.

8/10