(andPOP) - 2006 is shaping up to be the year of the absurd horror movies. Look at what we?ve had to endure so far:
- "The call is coming from inside the house!
- "If you die in the game, you die for real!"
- "Mistah, will you play with us?"
Slither is different because it knows its plot is stupid and ridiculous and has fun with it. While I was rarely ? if ever ? the least bit scared, I was enjoying myself because Slither is comical.
In Slither, some sort of slugs come to Earth and infects some guy who turns into a gross looking thing. Soon, people turn into zombies and the four main stars of the movie have to figure out how to not die for 45 minutes. That?s the basic plot, as Slither knows no one cares about plot exposition and wastes little time with its development.
Much of the humour comes from Nathan Fillion, who plays a cop. Fillion is an expert at the art of deadpan and is able to keep the story going when the zombies get boring. Fillion is essentially playing the role of audience, constantly making comments about how ridiculous events are getting as the story develops. Before you sit there and say, ?that's just nuts," Fillion beats you to the comment, and it?s funnier than anything you were going to say. Gregg Henry (another Firefly alum) provides comic relief in a supporting role. Writer and director James Gunn knows zombie movies are outlandish, and always makes sure the audience is in on the joke.
The big checkmark against Slither is that as a horror movie, it is below average. Gunn uses the same old tired BOO technique that has become stale. The movie is never scary, and Gunn tries to overcompensate by upping the gore factor. While Slither is gross, you never get the sense that anyone is truly in danger. Gunn redeems himself with a very funny climax involving a grenade. (And the reference to Troma is a nice homage.)
Slither is a fun and a refreshing addition to the tired horror genre. It never slows down and is always entertaining. Gunn did a good job of getting the right mix of people to work with and they all know how to work with what they?ve been given. There?s enough gore to satisfy the gore fans, enough horror to satisfy the horror fans and there?s a lot of mocking of horror to satisfy the people like me who couldn?t give a shit about zombies.
And for you all fans of The Office, you?ll be happy to know that Jenna Fisher has a small role as a receptionist. Apparently she slept with the director to get the part, as James Gunn is her husband.
3*
