The Blob (1958)

Still A Gem!

Many fans of this movie prefer the remake from 1988, viewing it as scarier. I do not. As a writer, I have to admire Irwin Yeaworth, Jr.'s(writer/director) vision, attention to detail and sound story structure. He accomplishes one of the most crucial elements of structure, placing characters in conflict, in only 82 minutes, as opposed to the 1988 version's 95, in which the bad acting and familiar faces (Shawnee Smith and Kevin Dillon) overshadow an otherwise great adaptation of the original story. Yeaworth keeps the tension on the story's teen hero and heroine Steve and Jane (Steve McQueen and Aneta Corsaut) as they try to convince the skeptical townfolk that a murdering, geletanous blob is on the loose. The creature here is horrifying, without all the silly special effects. It is both malevolent and intelligent all at once. One ponders "What could possibly be a more terrible death?" as the Blob oozes across the floor with poor Nurse Kate's remains digesting in its innards. Although the original Blob has its own moments of bad acting, the movie as a whole is sound, keeping the fear factor high as wholesale panic breaks out when the Blob emerges from a movie theater having dined on at least 50 or 60 theater-goers by Police Officer Dave's count, and then engulfs a diner, trapping our heroes inside, leaving them awaiting their own slow and gruesome demise. Again, keeping with structure, our hero, Steve (McQueen), discovers that the Blob detests cold environments. The Blob is subdued, but not destroyed, with CO2 fire extinguishers and then air-dropped in the Artic. FYI -- the sequel Beware the Blob, directed by Larry Hagman of I Dream of Jeannie fame, has got to be one of the worst pieces of cinematic poo ever made. Don't know where he was going here, but he certainly never made it there. Don't waste your time!

Overall the inventive story, great bad acting and near flawless elements make the Blob (1958) a timeless and unsurpassable gem in the anals of movie history.
Kim M. Brantley April 3, 2007

The original classic

I watched it last night on this DVD and saw the movie for the first time since I saw it in the theater as a kid. It's the original Blob with Steve McQueen, and it was great. I didn't give it a 5 because there is nothing else on the DVD besides the movie. No extras at all. But the quality of audio and visual seemed OK. March 15, 2007

Scary Jello

I saw the orignal movie when I was a kid...and having a highly over-active
imagination, the movie scared the be----- out of me for about a year. I had seen the movie only once since then, although I own the VHS. I had a BLOB attack and had to see the movie, butTo my dismay, the tape was broken, so I just had to order the DVD...The movie is kind of corny,but now that I am older, I found it delightful,and Steve McQueen seemed to be having a good time for himself. I wonder if I can rewrite this into a Broadway musical??? Buy the DVD of Scary Jello...you'll have a good time watching it.
Teri February 15, 2007

The budget blob

This DVD of "The Blob" looks like a transfer from VHS with no DVD goodies.

However if you are only watching The blob once in a while and just want one for your collection this version will work. However for real Blob'rs I suggest the Criterion version.

Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews and Anete Corsaut as Jane Martin (also Helen Crump in The Andy Griffith Show) are negotiation in a quiet place in a convertable. When a shooting star lands quite close. Naturally this is more interesting and they go to investigate. An old man beats them to the sight and poking around gets blobulated. Things really get sticky from that point with none to believe them as kids don't know nothing.

If you like this movie then the next one to see is a variation called "Killer Klowns from Outer Space"
January 6, 2006

The greatest drive in film ever but a bare boned DVD edition

First off, be aware that this is a cut-rate DVD version of "The Blob," the greatest 1950's camp science fiction film. There is a Criterion Collection edition of "The Blob," and that is all that needs to be said to indicate to you which one you want to pick up. The Criterion Collection edition of "The Blob" is loaded with enough DVD extras to make watching the film itself only half the fun. So if you are a big fan of this classic horror flick, then this is not the DVD edition that you want to pick up (unless, of course, you just want to watch the movie; but why would you want to do just that?). Not only is the Criterion version superior, this DVD could be judged inferior all by itself without another point of reference, so be warned. The film is a five, but this DVD is a three (at least it is widescreen), so split the difference and make the right choice instead of flipping a coin to decide which version to get.

"The Blob" is quite simply a cult classic film, with Steve McQueen (!!!) in his first starring role taking on a Jell-O like creature from outer space out to eat everybody in its path. Or, as the tagline put it in 1958: "Indescribable... indestructible... insatiable!" You cannot do much better than that. McQueen is young Steve Andrews, who leads his friends against the Blob when the local sheriff and the other adults refuse to listen to the truth (just think of him as rebel with a real important cause). The movie ends with a climactic confrontation at the local movie theater. No wonder everybody wanted to see this one at the drive-in; you were safer there. Then again, this would have been a great date movie either place as it would be sure to send your creeped out girl friend into your arms for safety.

"The Blob" has always had a special place in my heart because they actually showed us this movie in high school (along with "Carousel" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie"--please do not try to find a common denominator between those films, you might hurt yourself). I have no idea why they would do show us this film from an educational standpoint (Bad things happen to bad kids? Do not go to the movies to make out?), but it remains a cherished memory of those halcyon days. Larry Hagman directed a lousy sequel/spoof in 1972 and then there was a less than distinguished remake in 1988. Taken together they are not as much fun as the original Blob. But then what in this world would be? January 3, 2006

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