Blob, The

Rating: ***/*****, or 6/10

Odd mix of horror and juvenile delinquency films launched the brilliant career of the noted actor Steve McQueen (The Great Escape, The Towering Inferno). When a bizarre lifeform lands on Earth and starts devouring all life it comes in contact with, growing ever bigger in the process, Steve and his girl, along with their buddies and the police, must find a way to stop it. Quite the potential for great horror here (something the eighties' remake realized full well, considering just how insanely gorier it was), but unfortunately this was ignored in favor of scenes involving teens cruising around in their cars and playing loud music, which made it a hit with the kids of the day (something the studio hoped for, which is why the movie was made in colour). In fact, the film's  catchy but obnoxious opening music became a smash hit. It spawned a completely useless and campy sequel in 1972, titled Beware! The Blob. This movie, despite being plain silly, retains a charm and a cult following all its own.

Starring: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe

Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr.

USA: Fairview Productions, 1958