"The Blob" is what 80's horror was about: mindless fun with a stupid story, a rebel without a cause-hero, his beautiful cheerleader-love interest and insane gore effects. Amazingly, the Blob still works as an 80's movie monster. If you have read the Stephen King-short story "The Raft" (or have seen the movie version in "Creepshow 2"), you'll get an idea of how this is going down. A slimy creature of unknown origin wraps around its prey - that would be us humans - and digests it alive. That makes for some very cool death scenes and some of the best make up-effects, the 80's had to offer. And hey, if they don't look so great sometimes (a scene with a young Erika Eleniak comes to mind), they are still great to laugh at.
See, you can only win with this movie. You're either amused by how dated the haircuts and effects are, or you're blown away by the movies' sheer boldness to show all the killings in detail and to even kill off kids (in a scene which might be among the most memorable of the whole genre).
Having spoken of Stephen King earlier: Frank Darabont, director of King works such as "The Mist" and "The Shawshank Redemption", has co-written the screenplay for this movie, which gives it that extra King-feeling (only it works a lot better than many actual King-adaptations do). Chuck Russell, the guy who had made the best "A Nightmare On Elm Street"-sequel just one year earlier, directed and Michael Hoenig wrote the eerie score.
After an atmospheric intro, the movie starts off slow. The first few deaths may be a little disappointing, but soon "The Blob" gets some go. People start dying left and right, it becomes a downright massacre and after a big showdown we get one of those nice little cliffhangers, that were so prominent in 80's horror movies. And this one looks really great, like the final page of a comic book. Then the credits roll and some ridiculously bad 80's rock music kicks in. That's what I call a the perfect ending for a cheesy horror flick.
As a whole "The Blob" isn't perfect, of course. It could have used some (deliberate) comedic relief instead of Kevin Dillon's constant straight face. In between the death scenes the movie slows down a bit too often, and the dialog is pretty lame for the most part.
However, if you appreciate 80's horror movies, you will find a lot to love here. "The Blob" is one of the most overlooked big budget-flicks of the decade. Fans shouldn't miss it!
See, you can only win with this movie. You're either amused by how dated the haircuts and effects are, or you're blown away by the movies' sheer boldness to show all the killings in detail and to even kill off kids (in a scene which might be among the most memorable of the whole genre).
Having spoken of Stephen King earlier: Frank Darabont, director of King works such as "The Mist" and "The Shawshank Redemption", has co-written the screenplay for this movie, which gives it that extra King-feeling (only it works a lot better than many actual King-adaptations do). Chuck Russell, the guy who had made the best "A Nightmare On Elm Street"-sequel just one year earlier, directed and Michael Hoenig wrote the eerie score.
After an atmospheric intro, the movie starts off slow. The first few deaths may be a little disappointing, but soon "The Blob" gets some go. People start dying left and right, it becomes a downright massacre and after a big showdown we get one of those nice little cliffhangers, that were so prominent in 80's horror movies. And this one looks really great, like the final page of a comic book. Then the credits roll and some ridiculously bad 80's rock music kicks in. That's what I call a the perfect ending for a cheesy horror flick.
As a whole "The Blob" isn't perfect, of course. It could have used some (deliberate) comedic relief instead of Kevin Dillon's constant straight face. In between the death scenes the movie slows down a bit too often, and the dialog is pretty lame for the most part.
However, if you appreciate 80's horror movies, you will find a lot to love here. "The Blob" is one of the most overlooked big budget-flicks of the decade. Fans shouldn't miss it!