The Blob [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray]

Director: Chuck Russell Chuck Russell

Overview

After the phenomenal box-office and critical success of David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly, a series of big-budget remakes of '50s horror favorites rode in on its coattails in the late 1980s -- though none managed to rise above mere camp clones of their elders, albeit garnished with modern makeup effects in an attempt to draw modern teen horror-junkies. One remake that managed to live up to its cheesy inspiration was Chuck Russell's version of The Blob, in which the title goo crashes to earth and promptly begins digesting the residents of a small California town while growing to gargantuan proportions. The clean-cut teen hero originally portrayed by Steve McQueen (his first starring role) is replaced here with a rebellious outsider (Kevin Dillon) whose preppie rival (Donovan Leitch) for the affections of the cute heroine (Shawnee Smith) is quickly eliminated by the all-consuming space-gelatin. No sooner has the plasma menace set up house in the town sewers when a shadowy government Blob Squad shows up under the direction of the grandfatherly Dr. Meddows (Joe Seneca), to clean up the mess... or not. This high-spirited remake replaces the '50s "Daddy-O" conventions of the original with '80s cynicism -- not even likeable characters are spared from the slaughter -- and anti-government sentiment. It also pushes the gore envelope in ways unavailable to its low-budget parent -- e.g. the scene in which one victim is sucked through a sink drain was only hinted at in the 1958 film, but here viewers are treated to the entire bone-crunching ordeal. Though the quality of blob effects seems inversely proportional to the creature's size (some of the climactic "wall-of-blob" footage is painfully cheap-looking), the end result is more blob for the monster-movie fan's dollar.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/17/2023
UPC:	0826663241211
Original Release:	1988
Rating:	R
Source:	Shout Factory
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Format:	Blu-ray

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kevin Dillon	Brian Flagg
Shawnee Smith	Meg Penny,Nurse
Donovan Leitch	Paul Taylor
Jeffrey DeMunn	Sheriff Herb Geller
Ricky Paull Goldin	Scott Jeskey
Billy Beck	Can Man
Candy Clark	Fran Hewitt
Beau Billingslea	Moss Woolsey
Art LaFleur	Pharmacist/Mr. Penny
Del Close	Rev. Meeker
Michael Kenworthy	Kevin Penny
Douglas Emerson	Eddie Beckner
Sharon Spelman	Mrs. Penny
Jack Nance	Doctor
Charlene Fox	Woman in Doctor's Office
Paul McCrane	Dep. Bill Briggs
Erika Eleniak	Vicki De Soto
Teddy Vincent	Sally Jeffers
Clayton Landey	George Ruiz
Joe Seneca	Dr. Meddows
Don Brunner	White Suit #1/Scientist
Jacquelyn Masche	White Suit #2
Jack Rader	Col. Hargis
Judy McCullough	Susie,Susie
Daryl Marsh	Lance
Wade Mayer	Movie Patron
Jamison Newlander	Anthony
Frank Collison	Phil Hobbs
Pons Maar	Theater Manager
Judith Flanagan	Eddie's Mother
Richard Crenna Jr.	Town Hall Soldier
Robert Axelrod	Jennings
James Arnett	Radio Man
Peter Crombie	Soldier at Command Post
Rick Avery	Soldier with Cracked Faceplate
Moss Porter	Sergeant
Jennifer Lincoln	Young Woman in Town Hall
Noble Craig	Puddle Soldier
Portia Griffin	Gospel Singer
Opelene Bartley	Old Woman in Tent
Charlie Spradling	Co-Ed
Kristen Aldrich	Co-Ed
David Weininger	Soldier #1
Bill Moseley	Soldier #2
Michael Hoenig	Composer

Technical Credits

Chuck Russell

Frank Darabont

Chuck Russell	Director,Screenwriter
Andre Blay	Executive Producer
Lyle Conway	Special Effects
Jack H. Harris	Producer
Steve Holladay	Stunts
Gary Hymes	Stunts
Elliott Kastner	Producer
Hoyt Yeatman	Special Effects
Frank Darabont	Screenwriter
D. Prior	Special Effects
Steve Davison	Stunts,Stunts
Freddie Hice	Stunts
Richard Yawn	Sound Editor

Editorial Reviews

This update of a beloved sci-fi favorite does a solid job of reworking its source material for a modern audience. The smart script, co-penned by director Chuck Russell with Frank Darabont, packs in plenty of popcorn movie thrills, but also makes room for an empowered heroine who is just as tough as its hero and works in a modern sense of paranoia with a clever government-oriented subplot. The Blob also keeps viewers on their toes by unpredictably killing off some of its most audience-friendly characters to ratchet up the suspense. Russell's direction delivers the thrills in a mean, lean style and his work is further aided by a likable cast: Kevin Dillon does the teen-rebel schtick to precision, Shawnee Smith's subtle transition from cheerleader to Blob fighter is believable, and reliable character thesps like Candy Clark and Jeffrey DeMunn deliver nuanced performances that flesh out the film's small-town setting nicely. Most importantly for a monster movie, The Blob's appeal is cemented by imaginative special effects: Lyle Conway's inventive creature effects give the title attraction a new, threatening sense of mobility unimaginable in the original version, and Tony Gardner's unsettling makeup effects add just the right modern touch to the mix. All in all, The Blob's well-judged blend of modern smarts and old-fashioned monster movie thrills makes it a worthwhile pick for genre fans.