The Blob (1958)

What this episode covers

Today, Matt and Todd get into the 1958 sci-fi horror classic: The Blob. Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth and starring:Steve McQueen as Steve AndrewsAneta Corsaut as Jane MartinEarl Rowe as Lt. Dave BartonWhit Bissell Award winners Stephan Chase as Dr. Halen and Olin Howlin as BarneySpecial mention to “Steve’s” friends, the Teenagers:Robert Fields as TonyJames Bonett as “Mooch”Anthony Franke as AlThe Blob is a sci-fi horror masterpiece from the heyday of the genre. When I (Todd) first saw it, I expected to riff on 1950s quaintness and clunky special effects. What we got instead was a fantastically charming movie—where the best parts might not even involve the titular, indescribable alien mass of destruction.Steve McQueen is a treat to watch as a nearly 30-year-old “teenager,” joined by his similarly aged pals as they battle adult cynicism and a gelatinous lifeform that dissolves everything in its path.The Blob could be accused of being far better than it had any right to be. Charming performances and real impending dread combine into an 86-minute joyride—a true gem of 1950s sci-fi with unexpectedly strong acting and a surprisingly grounded emotional core.Steve McQueen, a legend taken from us too soon, shines here in one of his earliest and still most memorable roles—as a vulnerable, scared, but determined teen hero.Oh, and we also get an all-time banger of a theme song from songwriting super-legend Burt Bacharach and Mack David.------------Follow Matt:Matt has over 100+ on LetterboxdYou can reach out on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful.Follow who we follow: ⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠ and  ⁠⁠⁠TheFade Out Podcast⁠

PodParley-generated summary based on available episode metadata and transcript content.