Weirdhouse Cinema Rewind: The Incredible Shrinking Man

Four individuals—physicist Dr. Lionel Barrett, his wife Edith, medium Florence Tanner, and survivor Benjamin Franklin Fischer—are hired to investigate the Belasco House, a site of extreme paranormal activity linked to orgies, murder, and depravity orchestrated by its former owner, Emeric Belasco. As they confront malicious spirits and psychological torment, the house's dark history unravels, leading to violence and madness. The novel explores themes of survival, supernatural evil, and human vulnerability.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, 'I Am Legend' follows Robert Neville, a war veteran who is mysteriously immune to a pandemic that has turned the rest of humanity into 'vampires'. The novel explores Neville's daily struggles to survive, his scientific investigations into the cause of the disease, and his emotional battles with loneliness and grief. The story is a powerful allegory of nuclear terror and the end of the American Dream, reflecting the anxieties of the 1950s. The novel's ending is particularly poignant, as Neville realizes he has become a legend to the new society of infected humans.

In 'The Shrinking Man', Richard Matheson crafts a compelling narrative about Scott Carey, who shrinks at a rate of 1/7 inch per day after being exposed to a radioactive cloud and insecticide. As Carey navigates his diminishing size, he faces challenges from nature and society, leading to a gripping survival story. The novel explores themes of identity, survival, and the human condition in a world where the protagonist is increasingly marginalized by his size.