DVD Review: Slither

"Well, Falstaff, how is the diet going?" asked Zimba.

"As well as to be expected, Madam," I replied. She could be so cruel at times.

She looked at my waist, smiled demurely, and walked away. I suppose I could cut out the Dunkaccinos every morning, I thought, as I sipped my extra-large Dunkaccino. At least I did not have the weight problem that Grant Grant had in Slither. That whole alien-slug parasite infestation thing can be so demoralizing to one's self-image.

Slither is a well-crafted mix of computer animation, traditional puppetry, rubber and gook special effects, and slimy, horrific make-up artistry that, combined with a witty, fast-paced script and bread and butter cinematography, is a fun and disgusting romp at the same time.

This 1950s-styled monster story breezes along with colorful small-town characters, headed by a self-deprecating sheriff played by Nathan Fillion, and the unpleasantness of an alien-slug-in-the-meteor invasion that has detrimental effects on the local yokels.

What sets this horror film apart from so many of the half-baked, "hey, let's snuff those teenagers again in all sorts of gruesome, but oddly enjoyable ways" cinema of the helpless films that have inundated the theaters lately, is its skillful approach to the technical elements that make a good monster movie, combined with a whimsical splash-it to-the-walls sense of gore. And it leaves out the over-used, angst-ridden teenage gore-fodder, and instead gives us a cast of seasoned actors who expertly chew up the scenery just as the scenery starts chewing them up.

Slither focuses on its characters, and has the story unfold with them, instead of around them. It is also refreshing to have a few memorable monsters for a change, instead of the usual anti-social inbred psychotic guy/group/freak prowling the outback, torture-club circuit, or tourist venues.

The gradual evolution of Grant "it's just a bee sting" Grant to  amorphous, room-sized Lovecraftianesque-tentacled slug is wonderful (in that horror movie wonderful sort of way, of course). The tongue-in-cheek dialog between the characters is filled with snappy one-liners and witty observations that move the story briskly, especially as the slugs start taking over the town, and "meat" is the magic word of the day.

From the opening scene, with Sheriff Bill Pardy dozing in his police car, to the climactic battle between him and the ubiquitous alien Grant Grant, tension and mayhem build to a fever pitch as the over-the-top gore and slime ooze all over the place. Goop and gore are used with careful attention to scene placement, and enhance the make-up effects, which will easily make you gag if you're a vegetarian. But the pacing of the film also leaves room for character development, and a glimpse into the small-town lifestyle that is soon to be displaced.

Article Author: ILoz Zoc

Founder of the League of Tana Tea Drinkers (LOTT D), expiring writer of Zombos Closet of Horror Blog, and valet to Zombos, the noted B-movie horror actor (to his few remaining and decaying fans).

Visit ILoz Zoc's author page — ILoz Zoc's Blog