VERSUS THE SCARECROW EPISODE 18: The Remakes. I decided to challenge myself and really open the doors of my film knowledge and take on “The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide”. It’s 808 pages of movies and movie reviews from some of the most knowledgeable movie people you don’t know. It’s a book put together by a staff that praises, and destroys, some of our favorites and not so favorites. You can read the rest of my series here.
Just a quick refresher: each episode, I’m going to tackle three films from three different categories. Two films will be films I’ve never seen before and one will be one I’ve seen before or own. For the new films, well, new to me, I’m going to review them like a typical FTS review using the TOAST Rating system. But, for the films I’ve seen, I’m going give a quick paragraph or two about why I like or don’t like the film. We’ll try to include the poster and trailer for each film. “….and here. We. Go!”
Remakes aren’t all bad… are they? this week I found out when I take a look at remakes of the Planet of the Apes, The Blob, and I reflect on my like/dislike relationship with Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11.
The Blob (1988) Directed by Chuck Russell. Starring: Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch. IMDB says: “A strange lifeform consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows.”
“I feel like the one-legged man in an ass kicking contest!”
I knew going in that the film was a remake of an old B Movie monster film. I haven’t seen the 1958 original as of this review, but I knew to expect a campy B-romp through the middle-of-no-where, USA. What I didn’t expect was for the film to get so graphic and creepy at times. I knew the Blob would be eating people but the way the Blob attacked it’s victims, you would have of thought Wes Craven was directing. It almost detracts from the fun-camp feel of the film and tries to be a horror film, but the cheesy dialogue and plot, coupled with its humor, both intended and unintended, keep this film at B Level; which is something that benefits everybody. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously as it slogs through its dodgy plot about a meteor that’s struck Earth. A gelatinous(?) blob escaped the crash and is beginning to devour its way through town. It burns the skin of its victim with an acid like substance, and begins to digest them as they kick and scream through a pink opaque slime. The film caught me off guard with its graphic approach to the Blob, but the practical effects adds to the underlying horror/comedy element and keeps the camp vibe flowing throughout the film.
Kevin Dillion, Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch, and Joe Seneca give great performances and play perfectly into their respective archetypes. From the rebel without a cause, to the mad scientist, to the unlikely heroine, the film is a perfect combination of camp and satire that will leave a smile on your face. The satire still holds up today, tackling issues that effect us whether we know it or not. And no I’m not talking global warming, I’m talking theatre-going experiences and healthcare.
It’s up to Brian Flagg (Kevin Dillon) and Meg Penny (Shawnee Smith) to stop this thing. The unlikely duo are opposites in the beginning of the film, but through plot twists and turns, and a fun amount of foreshadowing, can these two find a way to stop the blob? I’ll let you decide as you rent it through Netflix or VOD. Seriously, grab a couple friends, your favorite snacks and drinks, and enjoy!
Check back tomorrow to read the conclusion of episode 18 with my reflections on Ocean's 11. If you're interested in more, you can find the rest of the Versus The Scarecrow series here.