The Blob (1958)
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A carnivorous amoeboid alien from outer space begins consuming the residents of a small Pennsylvania town.
The story
In a small Pennsylvania town in July 1957, teenager Steve Andrews and his girlfriend Jane Martin witness a meteorite crash. When an old man named Barney finds the meteorite, a small jelly-like globule inside attaches to his hand and begins to consume him. As the creature grows larger and more aggressive, it begins to envelop other victims, including a doctor and his nurse. Steve and Jane attempt to warn the townspeople, but they are met with skepticism. The situation escalates when the creature enters a local theater, forcing the teenagers to take drastic measures to alert the public and stop the growing threat.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In July 1957, Steve Andrews and Jane Martin witness a meteorite crash in a Pennsylvania town. An old man named Barney finds the meteorite, and a jelly-like globule inside attaches to his hand, eventually absorbing him. Doctor Hallen attempts to treat Barney but is also consumed by the creature along with his nurse, Kate. The Blob grows larger and redder with each victim. Steve and Jane try to warn the town, but the police are skeptical. The creature eventually absorbs a mechanic and enters the Colonial Theater, where it consumes the projectionist and many others. Steve and Jane eventually trap the Blob in a diner with several others. They discover the creature is vulnerable to cold after it recoils from a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. They organize a group of students and firemen to attack the Blob with fire extinguishers, successfully freezing it. The authorities then transport the frozen Blob to the Arctic via a heavy-lift cargo aircraft to keep it contained.
- Original title
- The Molten Meteor
- First release year
- 1958
- Runtime (minutes)
- 86
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.; Russell Doughten
- Writers
- Theodore Simonson · screenplay; Kate Phillips · screenplay; Irving H. Millgate · story
- Cast and characters
- Steven McQueen · Steve Andrews; Aneta Corsaut · Jane Martin; Earl Rowe · Barney; Olin Howland · Doctor Hallen
- Genres
- science fiction; horror; thriller
- Themes
- alien invasion; Cold War fears; science gone wrong
- Tone and mood
- campy; horror; scary
- Premise and plot tags
- monster movie; teen horror; sci-fi; size change
- Source material / true-story basis
- idea by Irving H. Millgate
- Franchise connections
- The Blob
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews upon release, with critics panning the acting and special effects, but it has since gained a cult following as a prime example of cheesy B-movie monster thrills.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 68% · review count: 31
- Awards and nominations
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills · Nominated · 2001 · Nominated; AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains · Nominated Villain · 2003 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled The Molten Meteor.; The Blob was made from silicone with red vegetable dye.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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