Two siblings begin to develop special talents after they find a mysterious box of toys, and soon their parents and even their teacher are drawn into a strange new world – and find a task ahead of them that is far more important than any of them could imagine.
Practical Effects
The mysterious spinning rocks and glass-eyed rabbit—tangible weirdness
Direction
Robert Shaye's only directing gig; New Line's founder went out weird
Acting
Rhiannon Leigh Wryn's unsettlingly calm precociousness carries the film
Director
Robert Shaye
Joely Richardson
Jo Wilder
Timothy Hutton
David Wilder
Rainn Wilson
Larry White
Michael Clarke Duncan
Nathaniel Broadman
Kathryn Hahn
Naomi Schwartz
Rhiannon Leigh Wryn
Emma Wilder
Kirsten Alter
Sheila Broadman
Marc Musso
Harry
Nicole Muñoz
Kid with Braces
Scott E. Miller
School Guard
Randi Lynne
Julie the Babysitter
Tom Heaton
Future Scientist
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on 1943 Lewis Padgett short story 'Mimsy Were the Borogoves,' which also inspired the 'Jabberwocky' reference in Alice in Wonderland scholarship. The film softens the original's darker implications about human extinction.
The spinning rocks were practical effects, not CGI—actors actually learned to manipulate them on wire rigs. Michael Clarke Duncan filmed his entire role in two days between other projects.
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