The Detroit News review - 'Slither' pays tribute to everything gory by shineyshindig

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The Detroit News review - 'Slither' pays tribute to everything gory

POSTED BY: SHINEYSHINDIG
UPDATED: Friday, March 31, 2006 12:05
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Friday, March 31, 2006 10:49 AM

Tom Long:
'Slither' pays tribute to everything gory
B-movie does a good job of combining dark comedy with disgusting moments.

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Brenda James and Michael Rooker star in "Slither," an alien-invasion movie filled with gross-out scenes. See full image
'Slither'
GRADE: B+
Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, and language
Running time: 96 minutes
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A great bloody joy of B-movie madness, "Slither" is a hilarious concoction of gore and wisecracks that offers plenty of nods to horror history while maintaining enough slimy integrity to stand, or rather, slither, on its own.
Written and directed by James Gunn, who also wrote the top-drawer remake of "Dawn of the Dead," and starring the impeccable Nathan Fillion, who led the cast of last year's "Serenity," "Slither" manages to pay tribute to alien invasion, zombie and creepy creature movies all at once. That it does this while deftly balancing gross-out moments and slapstick comedy is all the more impressive.
You may have seen the trailers featuring thick pink slugs that like to leap down folk's throats and take over their brains. Well, the slugs are really only a small part of what's going on here.
On the other hand, there are few things more likely to gross people out than the idea of a hefty slug charging down the gullet, so it's a good image for the movie to hang its twisted hat on.
Gunn establishes his B intentions right from the beginning, when a giant meteor hurtling through space aimed directly at Earth turns out to be about the size of a pumpkin when it lands near a small country town. Ah, but from small things big things one day come.
Soon enough, a fellow named Grant Grant (B-movie mainstay Michael Rooker) stumbles upon a slug that has emerged from the meteor. And in the manner of so many great alien-infection movies, Grant finds his mind and body taken over.
Soon, Grant is gathering meat of all kinds to feed a woman he has alien-impregnated. And boy, does she turn out to be hungry. But Grant's schoolmarm wife (Elizabeth Banks) notices that he seems to be going through some changes, the most notable being that his face is covered in red pustules, his skull is tilting to one side and his mouth seems to be melting.
This concerns her, so she calls in the local sheriff (Fillion) just as Grant's body seems to be stretching out in strange ways. Soon he is labeled the human squid and the chase is on to capture him.
And the chase is indeed delicious, in an exploding heads, stumbling zombie army, flood of slugs sort of way. Eventually the sheriff, the schoolmarm, the town's wondrous jerk of a mayor (stalwart Gregg Henry) and a young girl who's had a taste of the slug (Tania Saulnier) are the ones being chased as the town is taken over.
Gunn the novice director is glad he's working with Gunn the crackerjack writer here. The opening meteor bit isn't delivered near as well as it should be, and the film's first 15 or so minutes meander a bit (although this is in keeping with B-movie setups).
But once this slimefest gets rolling, it's pretty much nonstop laughs and grimaces, thanks in great part to Fillion's countrified deadpan (attention, producers, this guy's the real deal, use him). You have to be in the mood for flesh eating and full-body explosions, of course, but who's not up for that?
Well, lots of people, obviously, and they should stay away from this film. But if slime and guts with a heavy side of humor is your cup of tea, "Slither" is your movie.

tlong@detnews.com. Check out his blog at detnews .com.

Thought I'd share a shiny review from Michigan!

(homer: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......shiny)

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Friday, March 31, 2006 10:56 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Quote:
Originally posted by shineyshindig:

and starring the impeccable Nathan Fillion, who led the cast of last year's "Serenity,"

But once this slimefest gets rolling, it's pretty much nonstop laughs and grimaces, thanks in great part to Fillion's countrified deadpan (attention, producers, this guy's the real deal, use him). ]

More hopping up and down as everyone else discovers what we already know.... our Mr. Fillion is good, very good!

Shiny, Shineyshindig, thank you!

" You hold. Hold til I get back." Mal

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Friday, March 31, 2006 12:05 PM

AGIRLYMAN

Hey i'm from Detroit!

AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?!?

Tee Hee

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Friday, March 31, 2006 12:05 PM

AGIRLYMAN

Hey i'm from Detroit!

AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?!?

Tee Hee

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