Review – The Incredible Shrinking Man

This could easily have been yet another cheap radiation-scare horror flick from the 1950s. However, thanks in no small part to Richard Matheson (source novel and screenplay) this turns out to be a multi-layered drama. On the surface this is a straightforward story about a man who – thanks to a blend of radiation and insecticide – starts to shrink. But as he gets smaller, he becomes more and more neurotic about his role in the world. The result is both a standard period sci fi picture and a commentary about the diminishing masculinity of the middle class salary man. To be sure, the pacing is off. Most of the plot is packed into the first half, with the final 40 minutes or so occupied by an extended battle between our tiny protagonist and a spider. But thanks to a decent script and some fun special effects this turns out to be a bit above the usual crop from the period. Mildly amusing