Sharon Spelman Movies
After the phenomenal box-office and critical success of David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly, a series of big-budget remakes of '50s horror favorites rode in on its coattails in the late 1980s -- though none managed to rise above mere camp clones of their elders, albeit garnished with modern makeup effects in an attempt to draw modern teen horror-junkies. One remake that managed to live up to its cheesy inspiration was Chuck Russell's version of The Blob, in which the title goo crashes to earth and promptly begins digesting the residents of a small California town while growing to gargantuan proportions. The clean-cut teen hero originally portrayed by Steve McQueen (his first starring role) is replaced here with a rebellious outsider (Kevin Dillon) whose preppie rival (Donovan Leitch) for the affections of the cute heroine (Shawnee Smith) is quickly eliminated by the all-consuming space-gelatin. No sooner has the plasma menace set up house in the town sewers when a shadowy government Blob Squad shows up under the direction of the grandfatherly Dr. Meddows (Joe Seneca), to clean up the mess... or not. This high-spirited remake replaces the '50s "Daddy-O" conventions of the original with '80s cynicism -- not even likeable characters are spared from the slaughter -- and anti-government sentiment. It also pushes the gore envelope in ways unavailable to its low-budget parent -- e.g. the scene in which one victim is sucked through a sink drain was only hinted at in the 1958 film, but here viewers are treated to the entire bone-crunching ordeal. Though the quality of blob effects seems inversely proportional to the creature's size (some of the climactic "wall-of-blob" footage is painfully cheap-looking), the end result is more blob for the monster-movie fan's dollar. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, (more)
- 1987
This film takes place in that strange bastion of middle-class living, Stepford, CT. The trouble begins when a former resident returns with his new family and forces them to become as strangely contented as their neighbors. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Eden, Don Murray, (more)
- 1982
A nurse who had served in Vietnam is found dead under questionable circumstances. After performing an autopsy on the unfortunate woman, Quincy (Jack Klugman) is alerted to the plight of the victim's best friend Rachel Kane (Karen Austin), also a nurse and likewise a Vietnam veteran. It soon becomes painfully obvious that Rachel is suffering from delayed-stress syndrome, and is "coping" with her depression by drinking heavily--and unless Quincy can come to her aid, the woman's plight may terminate fatally. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
In one of his earliest TV appearances, Rob Lowe stars in this ABC Afterschool Special as Charles Elderbury, a teenager whose summer girlfriend, Daisy (Dana Plato), has become pregnant. Once the child is born (an event which Charles learns about only by reading the newspaper birth notices), the story shifts into gear -- but not in the manner that one might expect. Reversing the usual TV-movie situation, Daisy wants to put her child up for adoption...while Charles, hoping to compensate for the loneliness he experienced growing up in a fatherless home, insists upon raising the kid himself. Schoolboy Father is handled in a commendably unpatronizing fashion, arriving at a logical and wholly credible conclusion. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Lowe, Dana Plato, (more)
- 1979
Jim (James Garner) reluctantly serves on the jury in the trial of George Bassett (Mills Watson), who has been charged with manslaughter while driving drunk. When a mistrial is declaring thanks to a hung jury, Bassett hires Jim to prove his innocence. The key to the solution would seem to be in the hands of a woman claiming to be the victim's sister--but let's not discount those two brothers (Robert Sampson, James Karen) who run the law firm where George is employed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Twice during the mid-1970s, Andy Griffith unsuccessfully attempted to launch a TV detective series titled Abel Marsh. The first pilot film was The Girl in the Empty Grave; the second was The Deadly Game. Griffith once again stars as resort-town sheriff Abel Marsh, this time wrestling with a sinister conspiracy involving a dangerous chemical spill. Lane Slate produced, directed and wrote the film, while Griffith's longtime manager Richard O. Linke functioned as executive producer. Deadly Game was first telecast December 3, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Jim (James Garner) is asked by Angie Perris (Elayne Heilveil) to locate her brother, stockbroker Tom Perris (Eugene Peterson), who disappeared shortly after giving her the combination to his safe. Using that combination, Jim and Angie discover that her far-from-wealthy brother had somehow salted away nearly one million dollars. It so happens that the Feds are looking for Tom as well, and they're not in the mood to cooperate with Jim or provide him any helpful information as to what exactly is going on. The situation becomes even more vexing when Angie is kidnapped and Tom turns up dead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim continues probing into the kidnapping and murder of computer programmer Alec Morris, despite pressure brought to bear by Morris' bosses at Fiscal Dynamics. Based on evidence provided by other employees, it appears that the company's higherups ordered the killing--but Jim still doesn't know why. Ultimately, Jim's dad Rocky (Noah Beery Sr.) puts his own life on the line to help solve the mystery (while simultaneouly trying to figure out why his garbage disposal has suddenly gone on the blink!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In the first episode of a two-part story, Alec Morris (John Carter), a terrified computer programmer for Fiscal Dynamics Incorporated, comes to Jim Rockford (James Garner) for help, only to be promptly kindapped. Following up this puzzling incident on behalf of Morris' wife Helen (Priscilla Pointer), Jim finds out that there's a major coverup in the works--and that he is up against some very powerful people who will stop at nothing to prevent him from learning the whole truth. Al Stevenson makes his first series appearance in the recurring role of L.J., an old pal of Jim's dad Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
