The 1950's were such an innocent time. At least that's what my older family members take great pride in informing me of whether I ask them or not. To be fair, the 50's do sound as though they were pretty idyllic: no one was afraid of being shot at school or in a crowded mall/movie theater, Don Henley was not yet assaulting our ears with his laid back California rock nonsense, and apparently no matter what you purchased, whether it was a soda, a book, a pair of shoes, or a new car, it only cost a nickel.Horror movies were also much more innocent. Take The Blob. Starting with a bizarrely catchy theme song (written by Burt Bacharach, no less), you have Steve McQueen and Aneta Corseaut (the second, more annoying girlfriend from The Andy Griffith Show) battling a giant glop of Jell-O from outer space. The plot unfolds in essentially the same as any modern horror movie. Dumb guy pokes around at something he shouldn't (in this case a meteor), cracks it open, then jabs at what's inside with a long stick. The 21st century does not have a monopoly on moronic behavior.
From that point on the Jell-O monster starts absorbing everyone it comes into contact with (though it's hard to feel bad for the alcoholic car mechanic who sounds like he may also be a wife beater), getting bigger and redder, until finally it tries to engulf an entire diner, only to finally be defeated by a mob of townspeople armed with fire extinguishers.
I have a few more things to say on the subject of this movie, but a meteor just landed in my backyard and I have to find a long stick with which to jab at it. Be back in a bit.
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