Jeff M
This is a surprisingly entertaining movie as long as one is able to suspend logic and transport yourself to a time and place when an intergalactic Jell-O mold would indeed be a terrifying thought. Honestly, the main reason this movie works is because everyone treats it as truth. It's kinda like the AIRPLANE! and NAKED GUN movies - there are no winks at the camera, and everyone is acting as though they are in the most serious of dramas. I will admit that part of my pleasure in watching this was seeing Helen Crump from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW being threatened by gelatin, but we all get our kicks and giggles from different avenues. There is obviously not a truly terrifying or suspenseful moment to be found in the entire enterprise, but that doesn't mean one can't be thoroughly entertained. I don't think I've ever seen McQueen in a movie before, and I can't say this whets my appetite to peruse his filmography, but he gives a sincere performance. I think this would be a wonderful film to watch for little ones who think they're ready for horror movies but parents know better.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/10/24
Full Review
A R
This is exactly the corny B-movie it's known to be. This movie is worth watching once for it's place in the horror cannon, but it definitely doesn't demand much thought or attention. The effects are shockingly good for the time, but sometimes unbearably silly. The acting is very much a product of the 50s, with the exception of McQueen's bizarro acting, which I enjoy since it's basically surrealist. That said, Steve McQueen looks like he's in his mid-30s (28 during filming actually) and it's hard to suspend disbelief and accept he's a high-schooler in this role.
If you can see past the cheesiness of all the performances and dialogue, I think the plot structure is actually very good and influenced many horror films to come.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
01/18/24
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Killian M
A really great science fiction horror movie with ultimately cheesy performances and effects, overall adding to the value of its charm.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/11/24
Full Review
Lou T
Being 65 years old, The Blob can often be forgotten by modern audiences. Expecting a cheesy script and stiff performances, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of horror delivered throughout. Steve McQueen delivers a performance that is genuinely funny, shows true fear, and shows the excellent range of a classic star. The rest of the cast is mostly cheesy, but fun to watch. The titular monster creeps its way through the film, but its absence is where the story begins to snooze. Having creative and intimidating effects, The Blob is brought to life in a way that still can still make your hairs stand up. As a horror classic, The Blob still has moments that can unsettle audiences in the best of ways and remains a wonderful look back on the horror genre.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
11/27/23
Full Review
Dave S
The residents of Downington have a problem on their hands – a gelatinous glob (it sort of resembles a jelly salad your grandmother would have made for Sunday dinner) encased in a shell from parts unknown has crashed into the forest outside of town and is seemingly intent on consuming all of the folks from the sleepy hamlet. The Blob certainly has its share of problems, among them the silly plot, plenty of equally silly dialogue, some mediocre special effects over the final thirty minutes, and the presence of a woefully miscast Steve McQueen in the lead role, who is much too old to be playing a teenager. Despite all of that, it is undeniably entertaining, has some respectable production values, and moves along at a nice clip. While it's not the greatest movie you'll ever see, it's certainly better than the vast majority of monster movies that popped up in the ‘50s.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
11/19/23
Full Review
Matthew D
The ultimate charming drive-in theater creature feature!
Director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.'s legendary science-fiction horror classic The Blob (1958) is a ton of campy fun. Yeaworth's direction is compelling as he just lets his teenage heroes try their best, before the police will not believe them, as he imagines all these ways for The Blob to expand. The Blob kills are the best parts for sure. The movie theater attack is iconic. I love to imagine 1950's teenage audiences sitting in their cars at a midnight drive-in theater, getting freaked out by The Blob! People were so easily scared by the simplest monsters, but the concept of The Blob is creepy enough.
Writers Theodore Simonson and Kate Phillips craft an eerie and enjoyable alien invasion of one amorphous extra-terrestrial called The Blob. It consumes all people in its path like The Thing and cannot be destroyed. I love this sci-fi concept and the horror is more in your head imagining the victims getting assimilated by The Blob. It is pretty intriguing that The Blob is more about the authorities and parents not believing their kids, otherwise they might have helped defeat The Blob. It's like the police are totally incompetent. The post-war fears are an interesting thing to prey upon audiences. There's even a cute dog along the way. It's fun to laugh at the campy tone and silly frightened people, but I had a blast watching The Blob!
Steve McQueen is excellent and compelling as the concerned teenage hero Steve Andrews. He just wants a date with Jane, then gets roped into helping the idiotic police to hunt The Blob. McQueen feels actually indignant that they don't believe him. He must be brave and innovative to defeat The Blob. I found him likable and fairly mature for his age as a young actor. Aneta Corseaut is lovely as the sweet and insecure girlfriend heroine Jane Martin. She wants to look after the dog more than stand up for her boyfriend McQueen, who she knows is telling the truth. She acts so scared of The Blob that it's hilarious!
Earl Rowe is good as steadfast, but the disbelieving Lt. Dave Barton. Olin Howland is sympathetic as the foolish Old Man, who first encounters The Blob and gets absorbed in agony. Stephen Chase is great as the stumped Dr. T. Hallen, trying to figure out what The Blob is and how to stop it from assimilating The Old Man. Lee Payton is pretty and fun as the frightened nurse Kate, who foolishly just stands there as The Blob takes her. John Benson is solid as the very conservative cop Sgt. Jim Bert, who does not believe McQueen. George Karas is interesting as the smarter, chess player cop Officer Ritchie.
Elbert Smith is mean and hysterical as Jane's older father Henry Martin. Hugh Graham is nice as McQueen's father Mr. Andrews. Elinor Hammer is a riot as the obnoxious old lady Mrs. Porter. Ralph Roseman yelling as he gets eaten by The Blob while he is working on a car is funny. Keith Almoney is truly awful as the child actor playing Jane's stupid brother Danny Martin. Robert Fields is tough and interesting as teenager Tony Gressette. James Bonnett's Mooch Miller and Anthony Franke's Al are decent opposite Fields.
Editor Alfred Hillmann's smooth cuts keep The Blob moving along steadily for a swift 86 minutes. I like how we'll go from wide shots of The Blob to real close-ups of this crawling jelly consuming people. Cinematographer Thomas E. Spalding pulls every visual sight gag to shoot The Blob and make it look alive and in motion. I love the dark shadows, colorful imagery, and striking framing in each scene.
Art directors William Jersey and Karl Karlson create an entire 50's town, complete with cars, drive-in theaters, and buildings. The 50's cars are cool, especially Steve McQueen's electric blue Cadillac. I adore the purple lighting that highlights all the colors beautifully. Special effects artist Bart Sloane makes a cute Blob with jelly and goo that keeps expanding. I loved every scene of The Blob consuming this town.
Composer Ralph Carmichael made a suspenseful symphonic film score. The eerie horns and moody strings give The Blob a wonderful 1950's film score I'd happily listen to on its own. His softer strings and low horns make for a romantic atmosphere between the hero and heroine. Burt Bacharach and Mack David made the amazingly cute and retro theme song for The Blob in the opening credits. Sound designers Gottfried Bass and Robert Clement do neat gurgling sounds for The Blob eating people. Makeup artist Ben Kehoe makes Aneta really glow and does up the actors neatly too. The cute blue, purple, and pink dresses are very nice.
In all, The Blob is a must see old film for lovers of drive-in theaters scary pictures for laughs.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
08/28/23
Full Review
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