The
Blob (1988 remake/Sony/TriStar/Twilight Time Limited Edition
Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B Film: B
PLEASE
NOTE: This
Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Twilight Time, is
limited to only 5,000 copies and can be ordered while supplies last
from the link below.
The
concept behind The Blob is truly terrifying - the manufactured
bio-weapon that grows and grows without remorse or a soul. It can't
be reasoned with and gets more frightening in this 1988 remake of the
original 1958 classic. While not quite as innovative as Philip
Kaufmann's 1978 Invasion Of The Body Snatchers remake (see our
coverage of various Blu-ray editions elsewhere on this site), but
holds up rather well and actually looks pretty damn good on Blu-ray
thanks to Twilight Time!
Written
by Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead, Shawshank Redemption),
directed by Chuck Russell (The Mask) and stars Kevin Dillon,
Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch, Jeffrey DeMunn, Candy Clark and Joe
Seneca. The Blob is about a meteorite that crashes in a small
Californian town that is very tranquil and at peace. Once an Elderly
Drifter discovers the downed meteorite and it attaches itself to him,
The Blob quickly starts to grow and become an unstoppable force as it
makes its way through the town, devouring its citizens like a
McDonald's cheeseburger. The story centers around Brian Flagg
(Dillon) who is a tough greaser that loves doing wheelies on his
motorcycle and causing trouble with the local cops. Soon, the High
School cheerleader ends up relying on this knucklehead to save her
before The Blob consumes everyone in the town.
While
a little dated, the special effects in the film are pretty remarkable
and some of the kills are pretty well executed and intense. One
glaring difference from the original is that the threat of the
original film was an alien entity from outer space whilst the remake
makes the threat a biological weapon, created by a secret government
agency - but I don't mind. The ending makes you scratch your head
and wonder if they had a sequel planned. (Honestly, I'm surprised
this hasn't been remade in more recent years, though the Weinstein's
pulled the plug on a Rob Zombie 3D remake recently.)
Sound
and Picture on the disc are top notch with a 1080p high definition
transfer with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The
audio is a crisp lossless English 5.1 DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) track
derived in part from the old analog Ultra Stereo theatrical sound
that can't be beat and available subtitles in English SDH.
Total
running time of the film is 95 minutes.
Special
features include an isolated score track with music by Michael
Hoenig, Audio Commentary with Chuck Russell and Horror Authority Ryan
Turek, Friday Night Frights at the Cinefamily featurette and
an Original Theatrical Trailer. A very cool collectible book is also
included with colorful stills and art from the film (which is rare
for titles these days!) and an essay by Julie Kirgo essay.
This
is a highly recommended disc if you can get your hands on it... and
just in time for Halloween!
For
more on The Blob, try these links to the previous films:
1958
Original Blob on Criterion Collection Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12069/The+Blob+(1958/Criterion+Blu-ray)/The+Brood+(1
Son
Of Blob aka Beware The Blob 1972 sequel on import DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11155/The+Blob+(1958)+++Son+Of+Blob+(1972+aka+B
To
order The
Blob
remake limited edition Blu-ray, buy it and many other great exclusive
releases while supplies last at this link:
www.screenarchives.com
-
James Harland Lockhart V
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv
