Anyway, that was my first exposure to James Gunn. Then he went and made Scooby Doo, a lame attempt to cash in on my aging Gen X sensibilities. (It worked by the way... I found myself shamefully laughing at my secretly rented copy, while lusting at the gorgeous Linda Cardellini). Then he went and made Dawn of the Dead. My opinion on remakes is well documented and known. I hate them. They annoy me. I find them to be hackery of the highest degree. Yet, the film was well made and I found myself torn. Sure, it was a remake, sure it had (ugh) running zombies, but I'll be dammed if the movie wasn't technically well made. My strange relationship with Gunn was solidified. He was making movies that appealed to me on one level, and yet, annoyed the crap out of me on another. Gunn does his best to improve our relationship with Slither... Clearly knowing my love of good cheese... James writes and directs a flick about alien slugs trying to rule the world...
Slither opens like so many 50s horror films; two small town cops on patrol with not a care in the world. Had I been expecting a serious horror flick, this would be the moment where I would begin the eye rolling. However, I know what kind of experience to expect from Slither, as such, my slow growing grin is beginning. These cops, clearly loving their small town life are clocking the speed of whippoorwills, oblivious to the meteor burning through the skies directly behind them and landing, silently, only a few miles behind. The tone of Slither is set, and anyone expecting anything other then a high budget Troma flick or Bad Taste is going to be sorely disappointed. We and the evil space slugs are introduced to the "hero" of the film, Grant Grant, played by your friendly neighborhood Geek's choice for Lex Luthor, Michael Rooker. (Yes, I know the town sheriff is supposed to be the hero, but come on, this is a horror flick... Do you ever root for the good guy)? Grant Grant is attacked, transformed and with him all the classic b-movie elements fall into place:
Town sheriff? Check. Naively supportive wife? Check. Blowhard politician? Check. Hot teenager? Check. Let the goo'larity that is Slither being!
Fair warning to all who may have weaker stomachs. Slither is gross. Slither is very gross. However, don't believe the gore and blood is on the same level as the recent horror box-office kings Saw II and High Tension. Where the gore effects in films like Saw II were meant to make you shut your eyes and cringe; the blood and slime squirting all over the screen in Slither make your eyes go wide…while cringing. In Saw II, I found myself hoping they wouldn't show the horrific events, in Slither, I was begging for it. The action scenes are so over the top; you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the events on the screen. Thankfully, that is exactly what James Gunn was shooting for. He clearly loves the over the top gore and violence that only those who still laugh at Road Runner cartoons and the Three Stooges can understand. The movie moves along at a fast pace, taking a cue from the old rule of "if your story slows down, shoot a gun", although our literary gun is a slimy slug from space that turns you into a flesh eating zombie with delusions of Jabba the Hutt... Now, after reading that above sentence, do you still want to see this flick?
Bet your meaty flanks you do!
Look, I realize that I've spent close to two pages taking about Slither without actually reviewing Slither. The problem is: I can't really review this film without giving away what little plot there is. Not that this is a bad thing mind you. We, as horror fans, need the occasional trip down the gore'larity that is Slither. With recent horror films taking themselves way too seriously, Slither is a welcome respite. Listen, Slither stars Michael "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" Rooker. It has oozing mutant zombies. It has the dude from Firefly. It has a hot chick in a bathtub. It has evil slugs. It has evil slugs with said hot chick, in said bathtub. What else do you need to know? Get your friends together... Buy some corn... Watch the flick... Then go home and get sloshed while eating Gummy worms, it'll warm the cockles of your cynical hearts.
I give Slither 3.5 out of 5 Critical Hits!
