1988's The Blob is a true 80's classic in every sense. Written by Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker and directed by Chuck Russel (nightmare on elm st. 3, The Scorpion King) present a great modern take on one of the great 1950's sci-fi flicks. Starring Kevin Dillon (Remote Control, Platoon) as Brian Flagg and scream queen Shawnee Smith (Saw, Repo! the genetic opera) as Meg Penny, the two team up to stop the vile, malignant life-form that crashes to earth and wreaks havoc on their small town of Arborville.
Kevin Dillon does a great job as the outcast of the town and Shawnee proves just as good as the cheer leading love interest. The film starts off with a bang and keeps the action rolling all the way through keeping the viewer always entertained. Not unlike a lot of other films from the 80's, The Blob is filled with tragic fashion choices and great one liners. Just when you think it's going to be another average horror movie you get hit with some Jaw-dropping special effects that are of Rob Botin quality (although he had nothing to do with this film). The special effects crew on this film was huge, and it really shows in the product. We get a scene of a guy being sucked down a drain pipe, a bystander flattened on the sidewalk and then peeled off like a sticker and my favorite scene of someone being eaten by the blob while hanging from the ceiling.
The Blob itself looks amazing and it's movements are fast and frightening. Rock salt was dyed purple to create the crystallized Blob for the ending of the movie.Donovan Leitch, who plays Paul Taylor, had to have a full body cast made of himself for one of the more complicated scenes where Paul is underneath the blob creating the unforgettable shot you see on the poster.
I have to say I enjoyed this version more than the original, although, for it's time the original was groundbreaking and terrifying. A lot of great sci-fi and nuclear age movies came out in the 1950's such as giant killer ants ( Them), giant spiders and so many more, but The Blob was one of the best, and if it was not for the original we would not have this awesome remake. I am usually not for remakes due to the over saturation of the trend this day in age, unless they are done well serve the original justice. It just seems in this day in age a lot of film makers are uninspired and are lacking any original ideas. Some examples of great remakes are The Fly, The Thing and even the remake of Dawn of the dead.
The Blob remake is an absolute must for horror fans in all genre's from gore to classic monster films, if you have not seen The Blob, go get it...before it gets you.
Rating:B-
Review by Jason
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