Released in 1972, Beware! The Blob (also known as Son of Blob) is a horror-comedy film that serves as the lesser-known sequel to the 1958 cult classic The Blob. Directed by Larry Hagman, best known for his role in the television series Dallas, the film offers a campy, low-budget, and somewhat farcical continuation of the tale of a gelatinous, monstrous blob that terrorizes small-town America. While not as iconic as its predecessor, Beware! The Blob has earned its place in the annals of B-movie history for its quirky tone, oddball characters, and unique take on the horror genre.
This article will explore the plot, themes, characters, and cultural significance of Beware! The Blob, and analyze why the film, despite its lack of mainstream success, has remained a beloved oddity for fans of cult cinema, campy horror, and 1970s exploitation films.
The Plot: A Ridiculous Continuation of the Blob Saga
The film begins with a typical small-town setting, as the once-terrifying blob of the original film, which was famously defeated by fire, is seemingly back for more. The blob itself is a sentient, amorphous mass that devours anything in its path, growing larger as it consumes living creatures. This time, the Blob is no longer confined to the confines of a remote town. The film follows a new set of characters, each of whom will eventually encounter the Blob in one form or another.
The movie opens with **Bert and Carol (played by Robert Walker Jr. and Godfrey Cambridge), a pair of hikers who unknowingly stumble upon the Blob when they stop at a remote diner. The Blob, frozen in a container at a nearby laboratory, is inadvertently thawed when Bert pokes it with a stick. The Blob comes to life and begins its slow but deadly rampage, growing larger and more insatiable with each meal. From there, the Blob begins its attack on the unsuspecting townsfolk, starting at the diner.
In the first major sequence of the film, a group of people, including the diner’s staff, are killed or consumed by the Blob in a series of slapstick-style deaths. The film’s tone quickly establishes itself as one that is far less serious than the original, leaning into humor, absurdity, and broad, over-the-top horror. The kills in the diner sequence, while not particularly graphic, are exaggerated and cartoonish in their execution, with the Blob’s victims often screaming in exaggerated fashion before being absorbed into the gelatinous mass.
The plot continues as the Blob moves through various settings, including a movie theater, a skating rink, and even a local home. In each instance, the Blob devours anyone in its path, but the characters involved rarely seem to take the threat seriously. At the skating rink, the Blob claims several victims during a chaotic scene where the rink’s patrons are overwhelmed by the advancing, amorphous monster.
The film’s narrative structure is episodic in nature, with the Blob moving from one location to the next, allowing for various new characters to be introduced, only to be consumed shortly thereafter. In an especially farcical sequence, the Blob enters a movie theater where a group of people are watching the original The Blob on screen. The theater-goers are unaware of the true danger, leading to one of the film’s more meta moments. The scene adds a layer of absurdity to the plot, as the characters within the theater attempt to figure out how to deal with the Blob, while unknowingly encountering the real-life version of the creature just outside their doors.
A central subplot of the film involves a group of conspiracy-minded individuals, who attempt to stop the Blob by freezing it again. This plan, however, ultimately fails, and the Blob continues its rampage, seemingly unstoppable. The finale of the movie is chaotic, as the Blob begins to grow out of control, with townsfolk scrambling to find a solution. Eventually, a series of absurd events and bungled attempts lead to a resolution, but the Blob is never truly defeated. The movie ends with a vague suggestion that the Blob may be far from done, leaving the door open for further installments—though no direct sequels ever followed.
The Characters: A Parade of Oddballs
One of the most memorable aspects of Beware! The Blob is its ensemble cast of bizarre and quirky characters, many of whom serve as little more than cannon fodder for the Blob. The film is populated by a wide range of individuals, including both sympathetic characters and ones whose main purpose is to offer comic relief or to meet a grisly fate at the hands of the Blob.
Bert and Carol (Robert Walker Jr. and Godfrey Cambridge) – Bert and Carol are the central couple of the film, who unwittingly release the Blob from its frozen state. Although they start off as a pair of good-natured adventurers, their roles in the story quickly descend into absurdity. They aren’t particularly heroic or memorable, but their presence allows the film to get the plot moving and set the stage for the Blob’s resurgence.
The Movie Theater Manager (Richard Webb) – The movie theater manager is a key character during the film’s theater sequence, which serves as one of the film’s most humorous set pieces. This character is a caricature of the oblivious, often distracted service worker who is far more concerned about his customers watching the film than the Blob terrorizing his establishment. His reactions to the Blob’s presence serve as a comedic counterpoint to the terror unfolding around him.
Dr. Farnsworth (Bert Freed) – Dr. Farnsworth, a scientist, becomes involved in the effort to deal with the Blob after it escapes from the lab. He is a stereotypical mad scientist figure, obsessed with understanding the Blob’s biology and attempting to find a way to stop it. His efforts ultimately fail, but his character adds a sense of urgency and absurdity to the film’s plot.
Various Victims (Various Cast Members) – Throughout the film, a revolving door of characters serve as victims of the Blob. They range from unsuspecting townsfolk to rebellious teens to police officers. Each death is an opportunity for the film to showcase its slapstick humor, and the Blob’s victims are often given no more than a few moments of screen time before being consumed. This constant introduction of new characters adds to the film’s episodic nature, ensuring that the Blob’s rampage continues without slowing down.
Themes: Absurd Horror, Satire, and the Changing 1970s Landscape
While Beware! The Blob may appear on the surface to be a typical horror-comedy, it offers more than just gory laughs and silly deaths. Beneath the film’s campy exterior lies a number of themes that reflect the changing social landscape of the 1970s.
Satire of Consumerism and Pop Culture – One of the more subtle aspects of Beware! The Blob is its satirical take on consumerism and the growing influence of pop culture in the 1970s. The inclusion of the movie theater scene, where characters watch the original Blob film while the real Blob attacks, is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the increasing commercialization of film and media. The people in the theater are blissfully unaware of the real monster, much like many individuals during the decade were consumed by superficial entertainment and media distractions.
Camp and Humor – At its heart, Beware! The Blob is a comedy, and its humor is the film’s defining characteristic. The film takes full advantage of its absurd premise, embracing the campiness of its material and opting for humor rather than genuine horror. While the original Blob was a straightforward monster movie with a serious tone, Beware! The Blob flips the script, offering viewers a funhouse version of the original film, complete with exaggerated deaths, comedic performances, and wacky scenarios.
The Decline of Horror in the 1970s – Beware! The Blob is a reflection of the state of horror films in the early 1970s. By this time, the genre had begun to evolve into more psychological, supernatural, and extreme horror films, with movies like The Exorcist (1973) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) dominating the landscape. The lighter, more comedic approach taken by Beware! The Blob can be seen as a response to the darker and more serious themes emerging in horror during the decade. The film embraces a fun, almost cartoonish tone, contrasting with the more disturbing trends in horror cinema at the time.
Reception: A Cult Classic in the Making
Upon its release, Beware! The Blob was met with mostly negative reviews. Critics and audiences alike were unimpressed by its campy tone, low-budget production, and lack of genuine scares. The film’s humor was seen as forced, and its reliance on slapstick and absurdity was not well-received by mainstream viewers.
However, over the years, the film has found its audience among fans of cult cinema and B-movie horror. Its quirky humor, outrageous performances, and ridiculous premise have made it a beloved oddity in the horror genre. Fans appreciate the film for its willingness to embrace the ridiculous and for its commitment to camp, making it an enjoyable watch for those who are in on the joke.
Conclusion: A Ridiculous and Fun Sequel
Beware! The Blob may not be the greatest horror film ever made, but it is a fun and absurd sequel that embraces its campy roots. The film’s plot, characters, and themes reflect the 1970s cultural landscape and offer a unique and light-hearted continuation of the original Blob story. Though it may have initially been dismissed by critics, the film has earned a cult following for its ridiculous humor, quirky characters, and offbeat approach to horror. It may not be a masterpiece, but Beware! The Blob is an entertaining, if sometimes silly, example of how the horror genre can be subverted and turned into something truly unique.
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