Slither

Slither
Director: James Gunn
Canada, 2006

PLOT

In the quiet and sleepy town of Wheelsy, the peaceful atmosphere is interrupted by the fall of a meteor. Curious, Grant approaches to inspect the celestial object and is pierced in the chest by what emerges from it. From this moment on, the small town is ravaged by a mutant alien form that violently attacks the entire population.

CONSIDERATIONS

When I think of *Slither*, I think of a classic but not-so-subtle love letter from Gunn to B-grade horror cinema with a very retro style. It’s a harmonious mix of genres: not only is it a powerful sci-fi movie with an underground vibe, but also a low-budget horror reminiscent of the Troma era, with countless homage sequences to many horror cinema masterpieces.
The film flows beautifully thanks to dynamic direction, impressive special effects, and a well-balanced mix of horror (we’re in the realm of extreme body horror) and humor—a choice that works especially well in the first part, lightening the plot and intense scenes.

So, a mix of irony, B-movie tones, and continuous tributes for a film that was a colossal box office flop but is still watched and referenced by countless fans today.

Why? It’s simple and has many nuances: the well-executed references, the visual extremism, and the convincing makeup, both in terms of special effects and execution, capable of delivering shock and disgust.

Zombies, alien creatures, exploding bodies, worms everywhere—Slither is a homage to the cult films we love: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, Society, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Brood, Night of the Creeps, Dead Alive… and the list could go on.

But… take our advice: watch it and make it yours—of course, if you have the stomach for it!
Yes, you’ll need a strong stomach to watch Slither because there are countless extreme moments with impressive effects.