Nato – Small Soldiers (1998)
Anyone who argues against Small Soldiers being introductory horror is downright silly. What separates Child’s Play from Small Soldiers besides the absence of a murderers soul, minimal human violence, Brad Dourif – OK, a lot separates the two, but both movies take something innocent and flip our perception completely. As children, we control toys, we command their actions and they become vessels for our imagination, but what if our G.I. Joes started firing back? As a child I was oblivious, but looking back, Small Soldiers gave me my first taste of horror ideology.
Want a perfect example of the horrors that lurk throughout Small Soldiers? How about that nightmare scene featuring a renegade group of Frankensteined Barbie dolls threatening humans with weapons like scissors and knives, complete with a glowing close-up on one Barbie as she enters a state of slasher villain glory. This is nightmare fuel right here for any boy, fearing one day that his sister’s wimpy Barbie collection will revolt for all the shaved heads and awkward, hormone fueled one-night-stands with muscular action figures who never called back.
Yes, there are way more action elements, I’ll admit that myself, but Small Soldiers sets young minds up for horror quite well, and is still rather entertaining for adults. A phenomenal voice cast and explosive sequences bring some badass machismo to these tiny warriors, and the makeshift war machines being driven around are an absolute hoot. What’s better than watching a horror movie without even knowing it?
