THE BLOB
US, 1988, 95 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch.
Directed by Chuck Russell.
The Blob is a big-budget remake of the 1958 B-budget classic. The Blob introduced Steve Mc Queen to a wide audience. In the remake, the plot is updated, the special effects and stunt work are effective. There is also an underlying message in this film against government authorities, U.S. chemical warfare experiments, an attack on religious fundamentalism and its dangers in bringing about Armageddon.
Kevin Dillon is an agreeably surly hero. Shawnee Smith is the attractive and plucky heroine. The film echoes the original, but is done with some flair. Direction is by Chuck Russell who directed the second of the Nightmare on Elm Street films.
1. An enjoyable science fiction horror film? Of the 80s?
2. Small-town America: the town, authority figures, family, the police? The government and experiments? Death and expendable people? The anti-war tone of the film?
3. The poking fun explicitly at the slice and dice horror movies? The Garden Mower Massacre? The poking fun at families and youngsters going to such films, poking fun at youth and sexual permissiveness, the condom sequence? Poking fun at movies? At fundamentalist preachers and their dangers?
4. The remake of the original, updating: the town, effects and horror, the score?
5. The credits and the town, the church, the empty town and suddenly everybody at the sports arena? The emphasis on American traditions, family, dating, the clergy? Fran and her work at the cafeteria? the stock genial character?
6. The introduction to Paul as sports hero, the expected hero of the film, relationship with Meg, dating her, preparations for the outing? The contrast with Brian as the stereotype rebel?
7. Brian as anti-hero, the bike and his practising the lump, the encounter with the old man, the police pursuing him and criticising him, his anti-authoritarian stances, the irony of his being the hero and Paul's dying?
8. The Blob and its landing, the old man seeing it, it getting onto his hand, axing it off, getting the lift with the kids, going to the hospital, his horrific death, Paul seeing it and Paul's horrific death?
9. The doctors, Meg's reaction, going home, disbelief, the police? Meg going to find Brian, his reluctance, her persuasion? Their getting on well with each other as well as fighting?
10. The Blob in the hospital, its going on the rampage and increasing, its killing of George at the diner, the pursuit of Fran into the telephone box, Herb as the good policeman and his being devoured by it, Kevin and Meg hiding in the refrigerator? its going to the theatre and overcoming the projectionist, pursuing the patrons through the theatre, the Reverend and his mania, taking the globules and keeping them, its going down into the sewer and pursuing Meg and the boys, taking the cheeky boy and killing him, its pursuit of the soldiers, its going into the hall, Bill? Taking the policeman? The explosion, the quake and the snow? The destruction of the Blob and the irony of some remaining?
11. The picture of the military and their presence, sudden arrival, their suits, the story of the virus, Dr. Meddows and his lies, Brian and Meg pursued by him, callous attitudes, the sewers, the explosion, his death from The Blob? Critique of chemical experimentation and U.S. militarism? Secrecy?
12. Meg and her strength, at home, her parents, her brother? Out with Paul and his death? Working with Brian? The theatre and saving the boys? In the sewers? Helping Brian with the snow machine?
13. Brian as tough, his background, yet his sentiment? Escaping from Dr Meddows, in the sewer, getting the truck and saving the day with the snow?
14. The police and their toughness, Herb and his genial help but his death? Bill and the shoot-out? His being taken through the wall?
15. The gallery of characters: parents, the boys and their cheekiness, the satire on the Garden Mower Massacre type film? The pair in the car and their being killed? Fran and her help, Herb?
16. The Reverend and his preaching, the Jerry Falwell type of Fundamentalist preacher, his finale in the tent and his having the globules: the self-fulfilling prophecy of doom?
