THE BLOB (1958) / THE BLOB (1988) - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

THE BLOB (1958) d. Irwin J. Yeaworth (USA) THE BLOB (1988) d. Chuck Russell (USA)

By the 1950s, sci-fi had taken Hollywood by storm, with all manner of tales involving Man exploring the galaxy, or various intergalactic neighbors swinging down to our neck of the woods for a visit. Meanwhile, juvenile delinquent pics became all the rage following the 1955 smash Rebel Without a Cause. Misunderstood teenagers already flocking to the drive-ins to see their onscreen counterparts and giant monster flicks, so entrepreneur Jack H. Harris hit upon the idea of combining the two elements. The resulting film, THE BLOB (1958), became an instant sensation, making back its modest budget many times over, as well as generating a Top 40 hit on the radio with its catchy title tune, and launching a young upcoming actor, Steve McQueen to superstardom. 30 years later, horror/sci-fi enthusiasts Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont, who had met on the set of the 1981 slasher Hell Night, decided to update the script for The Blob and pitched it to Harris, who was more than receptive to the idea of a remake, especially during the heyday of practical special effects. The resulting 1988 effort was gorier, meaner, and more spectacular in every way, and has become recognized as one of the most impressive remakes to come out of the 1980s, ranking alongside The Fly and The Thing. Tonight, AC is joined in the studio by another impressive panel of guests to discuss these two classics (as well as the, ahem, not-quite-classic 1972 sequel BEWARE! THE BLOB). Spanning coast to coast, with a dash of international flavor, please welcome Jon Kitley, Chelsea David, Mark Easteadt, and, beaming all the way in from Sweden, Daniel Ekholm! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHELSEA DAVID is a Louisiana native has been a Chicagoan for the past 11 years performing within the theatre/film/tv communities. (Currently, you can find her covered in dirt working on an organic vegetable farm in the Pacific Northwest.) Her love of all things horror started with movie nights with her grandmother Florence who instilled a deep passion for the genre. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He has had two essays on horror movies published in the Dr. AC volumes HORROR 101 (Scream) and HIDDEN HORROR (The Spiral Staircase). JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years, is a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, and a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast. When he has free time, he attends multiple conventions throughout the year, when he's not attending all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! DANIEL EKHOLM is a journalist and wannabe film theorist who envies North America' fair use when it comes to the use of film material! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most importantly, Keep Sharing the Scare!