beware giant squids!

Slither

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It's not often that people set out to make a b-movie. I can't imagine Ed Wood sitting around going, 'Wow, this Plan 9 thing is going to be the best bad movie of all time.' Usually, it ends up that someone makes a movie they think is good, but everyone hates it, and the reputation precedes it as being a terrible movie that is so bad you just have to see it.

This is how Slither succeeds. I believe writer/director James Gunn knew he was making a b-movie and simply had fun with it. Which is how the movie ended up: nothing but pure, golden b-movie fun!

When a meteor crashes on Earth, it brings a little worm-like creature with it that soon impregnates a man with the intent of colonizing the planet and destroying all humans. How's that for a b-movie plot? As the worms travel from body to body, the entire town becomes a hoarde of zombie-like creatures intent on destroying everything in their site. It's up to teeh town sheriff and a band of survivors to save the day.

This movie is chock full of wonderful b-grade special effects and gore. There are some hilarious scenes with Michael Rooker's character (he was the first one infected) as well as Gregg Henry (he played the town's mayor) who was bloody hilarious throughout. All the actors seemed to have fun making this movie. At any given time, you could easily see everyone on screen breaking out in laughter. It truly seemed like everyone working on this picture had an excellent time being there.

Oddly, as I was watching this movie, I kept thinking about Tremors (another of my favourite b-movies), probably because the wormy critters in this one were like little minature versions of the giant slugs Kevin Bacon fought. (Note to self: seek out a copy of Tremors)

James Gunn has previously written the remake of Dawn of the Dead (which I loved) and both Scooby-Doo movies (which I hated) but before that, worked with Lloyd Kaufman at Troma pictures. Troma being the kings of b-grade entertainment; whether it be action, horror or comedy, its all bad, all the time at Troma. If he can continue to make big-screen films with as much humor and horror as this one, with so many tongue-in-cheek jokes and near smirking at the cameras, his Hollywood career should last long and wonderfully.

Three cheers (and stars) for Slither. There could be a sequel, but hopefully not, but here's to James Gunn creating a wonderful piece of b-grade cinema, that knows it's b-grade, and relishes in said fact.