July 6, 2013

Movie Night: The Blob (1958).


Review #418: The Blob.

Cast
Steve McQueen (Steve Andrews), Aneta Corsaut (Jane Martin), Earl Rowe (Lt. Dave), Olin Howland (Old Man), Stephen Chase (Dr. Hallen), John Benson (Sgt. Jim Bert), and George Karas (Officer Ritchie) Directed by Irvin Yeaworth.

Review
The Blob opens with probably the silliest of opening themes, and it doesn't really let up from there. It may feel familiar to other horror/sci-fi films (A (insert name here) from (insert name here) enters a small town by (way of transport - ???), (attacks/eats) people, and can only be stopped by (insert whatever here), the end), but unlike others, it's an independently made film (Which was released as a double feature with I Married a Monster from Outer Space), with Steve McQueen in his first leading role (though credited as "Steven McQueen"), who does an alright job. The rest of the actors do okay, though this film focuses more on the characters and the aptly titled blob, and I wonder if the cliche of not believing the person who tells you there's a monster until after they attack you is due to, gee I don't know, going alone and therefore being the only one to see it. Take the person you have with you and let them see the monster (and quietly gloat about it to the previous non believers later), but oh well. The special effects are okay, nothing too great, but they manage to fit a film with a title like this. The scene that probably most people remember is the Blob attacking the Colonial Theatre (while watching Daughter of Horror) as people quickly run out of the theatre, as the Blob oozes out. Its a film that has a somewhat hokey feel delivered fast and cheap, yet it has a irresistible charm, especially in color, which makes the reddish blob stand out more. Take it for what its worth.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

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