The Blob (1958).

The Scoop:
As screen monsters go, a giant ball of jelly isn’t the most terrifying image imaginable, but it works well in this low budget drive-in classic.

In his first starring role, Steve McQueen plays the obligatory misunderstood teen who, along with his girlfriend Jane (Aneta Corsaut), finds a meteorite crash site that unleashes the title creature on their small Pennsylvania town. When the police and parents don’t believe their fantastic tale, they round up some other kids and tackle the monster themselves.

While the acting isn’t top-notch, the storytelling is economical and the pace is brisk. It’s got just about everything you’d want from a ’50s-era teenage horror flick — excitement, a cool monster, kids in souped-up cars, hysteria, and even a nifty little theme song. You can’t go wrong!

Best Bit:
The iconic image of the Blob chasing the screaming teenagers out of the movie theater, a classic case of breaking the fourth wall that made this film such a touchstone with its audiences.

Side Note:
The theme song is “The Blob” and is credited to The Five Blobs. That wasn’t an actual group, of course, but a phantom group of studio musicians led by Burt Bacharach, who wrote the song.

Companion Viewing:
“Beware! The Blob” (1972) and “Earth vs. the Spider” (1958).

Links:
IMDb.
The Blob Site.
Hollywood Gothique.
Hollywood Teen Movies.
Blobfest 2002.

Take a Look:
The trailer:

The groovy opening theme: