In the film that launched his movie career, 28-year-old Steve (credited as ‘Steven’) McQueen plays teenager Steve Andrews, a typical 1950’s kid with a fast car and a steady girlfriend, who witnesses a meteor hitting the ground near to where he and girlfriend Jane (Aneta Corseaut) are parked up. On their way to investigate they run into an old man who poked around with the meteor to his cost, as a parasitic jelly has attached itself to his arm and is eating away at him. Steve and Jane take him to the local doctor, but after the old man is completely consumed by the strange goo it goes on the rampage, absorbing everyone it comes into contact with and growing at an incredible rate. After alerting the authorities, who don’t believe his story, it is up to Steve to try and stop the killer blob from devouring the whole town… but how? With the magic of 1950s sci-fi movies, that’s how. Along with The Fly and The Thing From Another World, The Blob is a 1950s B-movie that has managed to survive by seeping its way into mainstream culture by way of a gratuitously gross 1980s remake and any number of parodies along the way. Looking at it now, it does have that kitsch element that made many low-rent sci-fi/horror movies of the era so attractive, but when broken down into its core components it certainly doesn’t hold up as well as the two previously mentioned movies and you can see why a remake was bound to come along at some point. But that said, if you can forgive the dumb script and take the film for what it is then it is a joyously silly good time. Featuring kid-hating cops, fuddy-duddy parents, a catchy Burt Bacharach co-written theme tune and Steve McQueen setting the trend for older actors playing teenagers – the sight of a man we know to be nearly 30 years-old sneaking out of his bedroom window when his parents go to bed ranks as one of the funniest moments in the film - The Blob hits all the right beats in terms of what to expect from a movie of this era and, despite some dodgy effects later on the film, the initial attack of the monster on the old man is very well done and is enough to convey a sense of threat and keep you invested. In typical fashion the movie ends with a question mark and, indeed, Beware! The Blob came along in 1972 but by then the era was over and the magic had gone. The hit of ‘50s nostalgia that The Blob gives is a fun one, and if you have never seen it or are only familiar with the crowd-running-out-of-the-cinema scene that has been homaged to death over the years then you should check it out as it is as important to the lineage of horror movies as it is a basic-level thrill ride, but don’t go into it expecting the emotional pull of The Fly or the clever subtext of Invasion of the Body Snatchers because they simply are not there. Distributor: Fabulous Films
BBFC Classification: 15 Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. Starring: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corseaut, Earl Rowe, Steven Chase, John Benson Special Features: Original set prop gallery, original trailer, black and white gallery, lobby card gallery, Behind-the-Scenes gallery. UK Release Date: 4th May 2015
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