As a seasoned gamer and cinephile with a penchant for all things retro, I can confidently say that the 1980s was a golden era for horror movies. The remakes of classic sci-fi horror films from the 50s were particularly noteworthy, and among them, Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont’s modernized version of ‘The Blob’ stands tall.
Think about a great sci-fi horror film released in the 1980s that remade a 1950s sci-fi horror film of the same name. You probably thought of The Fly or The Thing, right?
Absolutely, as both David Cronenberg’s 1986 film and John Carpenter’s 1982 production were undeniably masterful. They not only delivered some of the most outstanding horror movies from the 1980s but also some of the best horror movies ever made. These films are essential when discussing whether a remake can surpass its original version.
However, it’s not just The Fly and The Thing that are significant figures in this discussion. In the late 1980s, director Chuck Russell and co-writer Frank Darabont (yes, the famous Frank Darabont) collaborated on a contemporary remake of the ’50s sci-fi horror film The Blob. This collaboration resulted in an exhilarating dose of pure popcorn fun that’s hard to find in ’80s horror. Therefore, if you’re searching for more content to stream this Halloween, don’t forget to check out Peacock and add this gem to your list.
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Why 1988’s The Blob is one of the best horror remakes ever
Similar to its 1958 predecessor, the film The Blob focuses on a group of teenagers in a small town who find themselves battling an enormous, amoeba-like creature known simply as “the blob”. This gelatinous entity gobbles up everything it encounters. If you’ve watched the original movie, featuring a young Steve McQueen, you’ll recognize some parallels in the way the blob arrives at the town, the initial victims, and the progression of various scenes, including those set in a cinema and the identical resolution to the creature problem towards the end.
In their collaboration on the screenplay, Russell and Darabont aimed to preserve a sense of the ’50s rural suspense for their remake. They succeeded marvelously, by painting a picture of a struggling ski town in California, with winter just around the corner and no snow in sight. The residents of this town feel themselves as part of a decaying America, and it’s evident in the town’s teenagers, who are either rebellious or disengaged from small-town life, or simply eager to leave.
In these films, a new element looms ominously over the teenage characters, portrayed by Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith. He’s a motorcycle tough guy, she’s the popular cheerleader. On the surface, they seem like an odd pair, but when a mysterious entity arrives in town, they find solace in each other amidst the chaos.
Russell and Darabont subtly incorporate some U.S. Government involvement in the plot, as Federal agents appear in hazmat suits to control the situation. This immediate gives the impression that they may not be fully disclosing information to our protagonists, hinting at potential surprises and heightening the suspense of the story. The narrative resembles a town struggling, reflecting a post-Watergate, anti-Reagan sentiment prevalent in the late 1980s. However, the government presence serves more as an undercurrent rather than dominating the overall narrative, simply adding depth to the tale.
The main focus of this movie is undeniably the oozy monster that wreaks havoc through the town. With its gripping, nauseating visuals, the creature leaves locals in a state of being squashed, eaten, dried out, and generally mutilated. Despite its short 90-minute runtime, the film moves swiftly due to the persistent threat of gruesome goo on the horizon. This movie is ideal for a cozy evening in front of the TV with friends, as background noise at your Halloween party, or simply for making a large bowl of popcorn and relaxing with a horror flick that doesn’t require deep contemplation about life, death, or emotional distress.
If you’re yet to finalize your Halloween movie marathon list, make sure to include “The Blob” in the mix. Though often eclipsed by other films, it stands as one of the finest horror remakes ever made.
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2024-10-14 20:01