Welcome to another episode of Myopia Movies, where we dig through the dusty toy chest of childhood nostalgia to explain colonialism to kids and ask the important question: “Was this actually magical… or did we all just really want to own tiny murder-capable action figures?” This week, we’re cracking open The Indian in the Cupboard — the movie that convinced an entire generation that putting living beings in locked containers was somehow heartwarming family entertainment and a poster that asks, is this child going to eat a tiny man?

Will the effects hold up?
Will the emotional trauma of nearly stepping on a real human being hold up?
Will anyone question giving a nine-year-old absolute power over sentient life?

Probably not.

So grab your magic key, hide your Legos before they gain consciousness, and join us as we revisit one of the most aggressively 1990s “children learn responsibility through ethically horrifying fantasy scenarios” movies ever made. It’s The Indian in the Cupboard.

Want to pick a movie we do an episode on and record a special commentary just for you? Purchase something from our wish list!

We are riffers on Cineprov! Check us out!!

How will The Indian in the Cupboard hold up?

Directed by Frank Oz

Starring:

Hal Scardino
Litefoot
Steve Coogan