What It's About:

Scott Carey (Williams) and Louise (Stuart) are a happily married, 1950s-era couple on a relaxing boating vacation. When a mysterious cloud rains a strange mist all over Scott, neither thinks much it—until six months later, when he begins to continually diminish in size, presumably from radioactive waste. Now a medical marvel and fodder for hungry tabloids, Scott faces a world filled with unexpected, treacherous dangers. Even a household cat is a threat. Will Scott regain his stature, or shrink into nothingness?

Why I Love It:

Kitschy and thought-provoking in equal measure, this sci-fi cult classic depicts the technology-induced paranoia prevalent in the atomic age. But its central existential question—does Scott’s soul shrink along with his body—elevates the fanciful tale above most 1950s B movie horror pics. Contemporary viewers won’t miss the seams around the edges of the special effects (which were cutting-edge in their day), but that won’t lessen the pleasure of this inventive film. Earnestly acted and beautifully written by pioneering sci-fi and horror author Peter Matheson, it’s no stretch to call this movie “incredible.”