The Blob

 

 

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I just watched the 1958 version of The Blob for the guzzilionth time. What an excellent movie, from the music score, to the acting, and yes, even to the special effects. What few people realize is that this movie was made on a shoestring budget by a church group out of Valley Forge Pennsylvania. The fact that they blew away the feature movie they were double billed with (I Married a Monster from Outer Space), which was a major studio production, is a testament to this movie's entertainment qualities. Most of the actors used in this film were locals, and yet the acting was superb. Anyone looking for an excellent Friday night or Saturday morning horror flick DVD wouldn't go wrong with The Blob. I love it!

This is one picture I recall with great fondness because to me it was a film that didn't technically have alot going for it but it had a heck of ALOT of heart.And I'm glad to say on seeing the film again for the first time in many a year that my first impression is STILL right.

This film was indeed shot on a small budget using young,almost unknown actors and the use of special effects while limited were used brilliantly and to their best advantage whenever possible.

The plot simply involves a meteorite that lands near a farmers' house.The farmer investigates and finds himself up close and personal with its' contents.Some local kids coming to see the meteorite discover the farmer and take him to the local doc.The Blob in short order devours the farmer then proceeds on its',relatively at first,quiet and deadly rampage.The kids try unsuccessfully through a good portion of the flick to convince the local authorities of its' reality.By the time they start believing the Blob has become tremendous in size and threatens the whole town.In the end the threat is "contained" and the world is saved from this deadly denizen from outer space.

While the plot is simple and sometimes see through the well used special effects but especially the actors themselves really hold this picture together from beginning to end making it seem believable.

This Criterion disc is not loaded with alot of extras but enough to satisfy ones basic needs.To compensate however they have included a repro poster of the Blob! A VERY nice and classy touch by the Criterion folks.

And techncially speaking this is my favourite part of this film.

This is an A#1,top of the line remastered print.This thing is so clear and crisp you'd almost swear it was shot yesterday not some 50 years ago.It is gorgeous and quickly dispelled my trepidation of spending the money I did on getting this disc.The colour is steady and clean and it is presented in its' widescreen theatrical ratio.Nothing more a collector could ask for.Nothing.

This kind of wonderful work that the folks at Criterion do is obviously keeping some highly skilled and smart folks working for them.But it goes back to a theme that I often touch on in my reviews:Why aren't the domestic big guys(Paramount,Columbia,MGM,et al)releasing all their properties as does Criterion and some other independants do? With the incredible amount of money and technical facilities available to these companies why are they not doing it themsleves?Why aren't they taking(to me) the common sense approach and treating every release as it deserves to be treated:finished in the BEST possible format/condition it can be?? To me it's not only common sense but it's having dignity and PRIDE in ones' products.

Obviously in this case Paramount had no intentions of releasing this movie any time soon in any kind of condition so Criterion does what it does best and took the bull by the horns and did it for them and for that you have this movie collectors' greatest admiration.

Another must own movie,especially to those partial to the 1950s Sci-Fi/Horror genre.You will NOT be disappointed.

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"

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5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite horror flick.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film

This film needs no introduction. Read more

Published on Jun 7 2004 by Ted

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blob (original 1958)
I saw this B-movie almost 6 years ago, and I haven't forgotten it since. Steve McQueen does a fabulous job as a young man whose girlfriend and him are caught up in a terrifying... Read more

Published on Jan 15 2004 by Clob Lane

5.0 out of 5 stars "It Creeps & Leaps & Glides & Slides Across the Floor...."
Taken as a straight horror film, 1958's THE BLOB would admittedly fail, as it is not creepy or frightening by any conventional cinematic standards. Read more

Published on Jan 13 2004 by Michael R Gates

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Hunk Of Flesh-Devouring Protoplasm!
Yes! A meteorite crashes to earth, unleashing the blob! An old man is it's first victim, foolishly poking at it with a stick, only to be absorbed into it's mass! Read more

Published on Nov 13 2003 by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein

4.0 out of 5 stars A B-movie classic
The Blob is a classic B-movie that has all the elements of a 50's horror movie while also being the movie that helped shoot Steve McQueen to stardom. Read more

Published on Aug 31 2003 by T O'Brien

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blob or what happens to old red gummie bears
One of my favorite sci-fi movies.its got everything from 27 year old teenagers to a monster that looks like some microwaved a bag of gummi bears.its a fun movie to watch. Read more

Published on July 18 2003 by leadsled1953

5.0 out of 5 stars THE classic of classic 50s sci-fi/horror
I think this movie brings out special memories in all the baby boomers. This si the real thing and the movies just did not get better than this in the 50s and 60s - it was THE... Read more

Published on Jun 1 2003 by Nosferatu

4.0 out of 5 stars It crawls.... It creeps.... It eats you alive!
I hadn't see this movie in quite awhile, so when I saw it out with the 'Criterion Collection' treatment, I picked it up pretty quickly. Read more

Published on May 12 2003 by cookieman108

5.0 out of 5 stars B Movie Joy
A classic, good criterion release, although I preffer thier steller realeases of Carnival Of Souls and Brazil. Two superior cult films. But gee, I get a kick out of The Blob. Read more

Published on Jan 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars The Scariest Movie I've Ever Seen
I have never seen a scarier film. The Blob is about a teenager named Steve Andrews (Steve McQueen)and his girl-friend Jane who see a meteor. Read more

Published on Oct 30 2002

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