Brimming with an unmistakable 1980s flavour, jam-packed with truly impressive special effects, and also amongst the better examples of its genre(s), The Blob may feature a simple premise & serviceable set of characters but it still manages to make the most of its available resources by making sure that its foundation is strong, the basic fundamentals are covered and the technical execution is sound.
Co-written & directed by Chuck Russell, the story follows a deadly entity from space that crash-lands in a small town and starts growing by dissolving & devouring anything n everything that's in its path. The character introductions are bland and the setup is meh too but once the horrific creature surfaces, everything get dialled up and unfolds with relentless intensity to deliver truly terrifying moments of horror.
The plot navigates rebellious youth, government conspiracy, biological warfare & secret cover-up in ways that forward the narrative but the main highlight is the spectacular make-up effects & stellar craftsmanship that goes into bringing the strange, gelatinous life form to life. The gory kills & mayhem it has in store have that grindhouse quality to it and although the performances aren't strong enough, they do meet the brief.
Overall, The Blob is another quality addition to the list of sci-fi horror remakes that are superior to their original entries and remains a gripping, thrilling & amusing offering after all these years. Having effectively stood against the test of time and still retaining its ability to shock & surprise, this nightmarish yet entertaining fare is very much reflective of the cynical era it belongs to and delivers the desired violence in gleeful doses. Highly recommended.
