The Blob (1958)

_**A weird hungry red glob from outer space!**_ Some teens (Steve McQueen & Aneta Corsaut) witness a strange Jell-O-like substance horrifically assault some people in a Pennsylvania town, but the police have a hard time believing their story. Despite its datedness, “The Blob” (1958) is worth checking out as a window into small town America in 1957 (when it was shot) plus the fact that it was Steve McQueen’s debut starring role, not to mention the movie is genuinely scary in a quaint 50’s way. My only criticism is that Steve is clearly an adult male and not a teenager or youngster. He was 27 during shooting, but looked at least 30. Larry Hagman did a sequel fourteen years later called “Beware! the Blob” (aka “Son of Blob”) after his rise to TV stardom with I Dream of Jeannie and before his return to popularity as J.R. in Dallas. It throws in quirky comedic bits amidst the serious horror and it is interesting to compare the two movies because of the social changes brought about by the radical events of the 60s. The sequel is an entertaining window into the counterculture of that time (specifically 1971 when the film was shot) and how the hippies or semi-hippies gelled with those of traditional culture. To me, it wasn’t a big deal as there’s always a “generation gap” between young and old in every decade, which can be observed even in the original film. A quality remake of the original movie came out in 1988 and, like “Beware! The Blob,” walked the balance beam between utter horror and amusing non-horror. It had a bigger budget compared to Hagman’s film, but the addition of a subplot revealing the creature's origins as decidedly earth-centric took away from the Blob's otherworldly and creepy ambiance. Still, it’s a worthwhile reimagining. The movie runs 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot entirely in southeast Pennsylvania in areas west of Philadelphia (Phoenixville, Downingtown, Valley Forge, Royersford & Chester Springs). GRADE: A-/B+