MONSTER MOVIE OF THE WEEK: THE BLOB (1958)

The Blob (1958)
Director: Ivan Yeaworth
Genre: Teen/Sci-Fi/HorrorTHE MOVIE

It's hard to believe that there was a time when there were not movies aimed at teen audiences. While today, a huge chuck of movies and media are aimed at the free-spending teen market, it was only in the 1950's that a distinct "teen culture" emerged, with its own stars, music, and movies. The Blob is aimed directly at that audience and quite shamelessly panders to it with its group of young heroes who rally to save their town from an alien menace despite the clueless and disbelieving adults. It also introduced moviegoers to Steve McQueen who went on to become an iconic American movie star.


Among all of the schlocky 1950's monster movies, The Blob stands out as one of the more memorable ones and has a rich legacy in American pop culture. The movie also features one of the most unique movie monsters of its time. The Blob also had it's own comedic sequel in the 1970's, Beware! The Blob and a pretty cool 1988 remake. Rumor has it that a new remake is in preproduction to directed by Rob Zombie. The movie also popularized the word "blob" into the public lexicon, to the dismay of fat kids everywhere.


THE MONSTER/EFFECTS

Believe it or not, the Blob is actually based on an observed phenomenon: Star Jelly, a gelatinous substance that has been observed around meteorites (although still not scientifically verified). An incident of Star Jelly in the '50's actually inspired The Blob. Despite the technicolor 1950's presentation, the Blob seems to have its roots in Lovecraftian horror, because, if nothing else, H. P. Lovecraft sure loved him some shapeless slimy monstrosities.

While in its purest form, the Blob is nothing more than a slimy gelatinous mass but during the course of the movie, it attaches to people, consumes them and grows to a larger size, until it is able to wrap itself around a small diner. As far as movie aliens go, the Blob is actually quite credible. Instead of a big-headed tentacle monster who arrives on a flying saucer, I can totally buy a simple, voracious overgrown germ which hitches a ride on a meteor. As a monster is rife with horror, but this movie, understandably, plays it a little safe. I mean, the possibilities are certainly there: a creature than can envelope, suffocate, and consume you and is translucent so you can see it happening is pretty hardcore.

The effects, while effective for 1958, leave a lot to be desired as far as selling the creature, usually the Blob is being pretty obviously manipulated by someone off camera.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

The creature's slow consumption of the old man at the beginning of the movie is quite effective, as is the make-up application. It's a genuinely creepy element of body horror.

DVD AVAILABILITY

Available in a nice Criterion Collection set on DVD.

No Bluray as of yet.

SEQUELS

Beware! The Blob 1972

THE TRAILER