Slither
for strong horror violence and gore, and language.
Reviewed by: Joseph Martinez
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
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| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi Horror Comedy |
| Length: | 1 hr. 30 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2006 |
| USA Release: |
March 31, 2006 (wide) |
Every time you buy a movie ticket or buy or rent a video you are in effect casting a vote telling Hollywood, “I’ll pay for that. That’s what I want.” Read our article| Featuring |
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Nathan Fillion Elizabeth Banks Michael Rooker Gregg Henry Tania Saulnier William MacDonald |
| Director |
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James Gunn |
| Producer |
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Eric Newman Gregory Middleton |
| Distributor |
This film is set in a small American town that becomes infested with alien organisms which enter humans and take over their bodies. The heroes try to fight the aliens and save the planet from being overtaken.
From what I now understand, “Slither” is supposed to be ridiculous. Going in, I had no idea that was the premise. I viewed this film actually thinking it was supposed to be a “quirky” horror film—not a stupid one. Perhaps I should have known better since James Gunn, whose previous writing credits include the “horrific” “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”, wrote and directed this film. “Slither” is one of those films where you laugh at it—and not with it.
The film is supposed to be a tribute to classic B-films, but, in my opinion, it fails miserably. What made B-films work was that audiences back then were less sophisticated. In this digital era we expect more, like realistic effects—as well as a great story. A greater tribute would have been raising the bar and not lowering the standard.
Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks are two talented actors who obviously need work. They do their best with a ridiculous story, terrible dialog and bad direction.
Overall, this film is not quirky, funny or interesting. It is stupid and gross. The humor and language are inappropriate for the immature teen audience for which this film seems targeted. In all honesty, I think most people will find it to be a waste of time and money. I do enjoy comedies and can go to a theater and have “fun,” but this film was absolutely atrocious.
Save your time and money, and skip this low-budget and embarrassing film. If you decide to go see it, please do not take children or teenagers, as there are many adult themes in this R-rated film.
Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
There was also foul language, toothless women square dancing, and the suggestion that young women (in that town) are allowed to date older men at the “fair game” age of 10 years old. The film is heavily offensive when stereotyping Southerners, and it is made perfectly clear.
The film has funny scenes, but some will take offense at the stereotypes, especially citizens of South Carolina. A good aspect of the film was the emphasis of a husband or wife working out their problems, especially with the character Starla’s determination to “win” her husband back from the clutches of the alien force controlling him, but even then, that aspect of the film seems to be making fun of the meaning of marriage.
Offensive / 4
This movie is offensive simply because it’s so gross and violent. There is one scene where we (the audience) sees a nude teenager, which I thought we could have done without, but it’s very quick and not erotic at all, since she’s being attacked by some weird slug.
Be aware of multiple sexual references, most of them visual, concerning the aliens attack on humans. I can’t really tell you to go see this movie, since it doesn’t really have a lot to offer in the realm of positive messages besides the basic “look, there’s bad things, lets rise up and kill them.” It was a fun zombie/alien gross-out movie and done pretty well. The one thing I really liked about this movie was that Nathan Fillion was on screen again, since the movie “Serenity” and “Firefly” was cancelled. However, I didn’t think they gave him enough screen time.
Very Offensive / 4
OK, the plot is totally and completely ridiculous, but when you add the absolutely terrible script with some hysterical comedy, everything just seems to work. The best part of the movie is that, they know it’s bad. It’s almost like watching one of those late night horror movies, yet instead of trying so hard to be serious, this movie clearly knows it’s not. The dialogue is in the movie is down right classic, and this movie is sure to go down in history as being an instant cult classic.
For those who are afraid that this movie is too gross for the common person. Well, yes and no. Personally I am not a fan of horror at all, but this movie is not really a horror movie. It is more of a… well, I don’t really know what you would call it, but it is too funny to be taken seriously. There is a lot of blood, but right when something disgusting happens, out of nowhere something happens that cracks you up.
Gregg Henry, who plays the piggish moron of a Mayor makes this movie, adding some of the funniest dialogue of the movie. Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rooker who play the couple involved in marital bliss are perfectly cast, and the young stud cop hero who is played by “Serenity’s” Nathan Fillion is great.
…I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who can tolerate a high amount of fake blood and for those who want to laugh at some very witty dialogue. However, this movie is NOT for kids. There is quite a bit of language, extreme amount of violence and so brief nudity and some sexual reference. Well, its R rated and deservedly so. Warning to Parents: NOT FOR KIDS. 3½ of 4 Stars
Very Offensive / 4
I’m ashamed and was embarrassed to watch it with my wife of nearly 14 years. I hope writing this review will cause some good to come from my foolish submission to such a film. I can handle some gore and profanity, but this movie went to extremes. There was blatant bashing of our Lord and Savior, and there is certainly enough blood and guts to satisfy the appetite of the hardcore horror fan. *SPOILER* Here’s an example of the gore factor: One guy is “whipped” one time so hard by the “squid dude” that he literally splits in half vertically. His insides spill out! How much more grotesque can you get? There are also scenes where people are eating other people. It is very graphic.
There is a total disregard for morals and values. I don’t mean from the movie necessarily. Rather, how can parents let their children participate in such atrocities? Yeah, it’s a movie, but children are allowed to run amuck nonetheless. It was degrading to watch, let alone imagining that these people willfully submitted themselves to obvious evil. This is cheesy plotted, acting challenged, ill special effected, and luster lacking entertainment. It’s a waste of time for anybody—Christian or not.
My Ratings: Very Offensive / 2½