THE BLOB (1988) – Episode 270 – Decades of Horror 1980s

“All I saw was an old man with a funky hand, … that’s all I saw.” Well, there’s a lot more to see than a funky hand! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr, along with special guests Jeff Farley and Ralph Miller – as they get down and dirty and gloppy with The Blob (1988) and its special effects. [NOTE: Technical issues forced Jeff Farley to drop out early in the recording. Bill and Jeff rescheduled a later discussion with Jeff, which was spliced near the end of the original recording.]

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 270 – The Blob (1988)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!
Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content!
https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A deadly entity from space crash-lands near a small town and begins consuming everyone in its path. Panic ensues as shady government scientists try to contain the horrific creature.

• Directed by: Chuck Russell
• Writing Credits:Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont (screenplay)
  • 1958 Version: Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker (as Kate Phillips) (screenplay); Irvine H. Millgate (story)
• Produced by: Jack H. Harris & Elliott Kastner
• Cinematography by: Mark Irwin
• Make up effects designed and created by: Tony Gardner
• Creature effects designed and created by:Lyle Conway
  • Selected crew members:
    • Jeffrey S. Farley (creature effects crew)
    • Ralph Miller III (blob mechanic: blob effects crew)
• Special visual effects by: Dream Quest Images
• Visual effects supervisor: Hoyt Yeatman
• Selected Cast:
  • Kevin Dillon as Brian Flagg
  • Shawnee Smith as Meg Penny
  • Donovan Leitch Jr. as Paul Taylor (as Donovan Leitch)
  • Jeffrey DeMunn as Sheriff Herb Geller
  • Candy Clark as Fran Hewitt
  • Joe Seneca as Dr. Meddows
  • Del Close as Reverend Meeker
  • Paul McCrane as Deputy Bill Briggs
  • Sharon Spelman as Mrs. Penny
  • Beau Billingslea as Moss Woodley
  • Art LaFleur as Pharmacist / Mr. Penny
  • Ricky Paull Goldin as Scott Jeske
  • Robert Axelrod as Jennings
  • Bill Moseley as Soldier #2 (in sewer)
  • Frank Collison as Hobbe
  • Michael Kenworthy as Kevin Penny
  • Jack Rader as Col. Hargis
  • Billy Beck as Can Man
  • Jack Nance as Doctor
  • Erika Eleniak as Vicki De Soto
  • Jacquelyn Masche as White Suit #2
  • Julie McCullough as Susie
  • Daryl Sandy Marsh as Lance (as Daryl Marsh)
  • Richard Anthony Crenna as Soldier Outside Town Hall (as Richard Crenna Jr.)
  • Pons Maar as Theatre Manager
  • Portia Griffin as Gospel Singer

First, there was the original The Blob (1958), covered by Decades of Horror: The Classic Era #123. After that, there was the sequel, Beware! The Blob (1972), braved by the Grue Crew in Decades of Horror 1970s #63. Then came The Blob (1988), an updated retelling of the original as imagined by Frank Darabont and Chuck Russell and discussed by a previous 80s Grue Crew in Decades of Horror 1980s #126. 

Finally, the current 80s Grue Crew, having some contacts in the effects community, decided to do a deeper dive into The Blob (1988) with a focus on the film’s effects work and enlisted the aid of effects artists Jeffrey S. Farley and Ralph Miller III who worked on Lyle Conway’s blob crew. Ralph shares several mechanical devices used for blob manipulation and stories of the hard work put into the film. Jeff focuses on his work on The Blob, occasionally wandering to other aspects of his career, including Abruptio, his current release.

At the time of this writing, The Blob (1988) is available to stream from Peacock, Paramount+, PlutoTV, and multiple PPV sources. It is also available on physical media as a Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray and as a Collector’s Edition [4K UHD] from Scream Factory. 

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Bill, will be Cannibal Ferox (1981), directed by Umberto Lenzi with special effects by Gino De Rossi. Yup. It must be time for a film initially banned in 31 countries.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at [email protected].