Okay, Hear Me Out: "Big" is Secretly a Body Horror Film (Kinda)
Alright fellow sci-fi fanatics, KevinMovies here again! I was watching "Big" the other day, yeah, the Tom Hanks one. You know, the one where he's a kid in a grown-up body? I know, it's supposed to be a cute, feel-good movie, but something kinda...bugged me. Think about Josh's transformation. He wakes up, looks in the mirror, and BAM! Overnight, his body is completely alien. Suddenly he's got hair in new (and alarming) places, a voice he doesn't recognize, and a completely different set of physical capabilities. That's kinda terrifying if you really break it down. Remember the bathroom scene with John Heard? The sheer PANIC on Tom Hanks/Josh's face when he sees his new body? I'm getting shivers just thinking about it. Sure, it's played for laughs (and Hanks nails the confused kid schtick SO well), but the body horror elements are subtly there. It's not The Fly or anything, but think about someone waking up one day with a body that doesn't feel like their own. It's like a low-key, PG-rated version of a body snatcher situation. The sci-fi angle comes in with the Zoltar machine, obviously. It's gotta be some kind of advanced, maybe even accidental, tech that's messing with his growth hormones or...something, right? I mean, the movie never explains HOW Zoltar works. And let's not forget Susan. She's initially attracted to Josh because of his adult body, but she's also weirded out by his childlike innocence. That's messed up, right? I'm not saying the movie is trying to be creepy, but there's a darkness lurking beneath the surface. It's a surprisingly effective way to explore themes of adulthood and childhood, disguised as a family comedy. Maybe I'm overthinking it (I do that a lot), but I think there's more to "Big" than meets the eye. What do you guys think? Am I the only one who sees the subtle horror elements in this movie? Hit me up and lets discuss!
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!