Slither (2006/Widescreen DVD Video)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Film: C-

 

 

James Gunn’s Slither (2006) is a film with one point and that is to be funny as gross, slimy, killer alien leeches attack dysfunctional small-towners who have no idea on how to react during the sudden attack.  Most of these films have had little suspense lately, though this one does as far as will someone get killed by having to endure touching the gross creatures.  As a matter of fact, that bothers and concerns the audience more than actual death in this cycle.

 

Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks are the unknown leads of the mostly unknown cast, though Michael Rooker has a thankless role as a bad, angry husband and of course, there are the creatures that are more often beyond-obvious digital than anything else.  This wallows in being a B-movie, but lacks the happy accidents and surprises many of the better of them offer.  If Gunn gets more serious, he might have a better film next time.  As it stands, it is worth a look for the very curious only.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is shot by Gregory Middleton, C.S.C., and some shots (the brighter ones) work, but the dark ones look badly degraded, though even flatter than I remember on the 35mm film print.  Color is nothing special, but it is watchable otherwise except for the digital and very bad moment of Video Black.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is interesting, as the mix is either monophonic-like in the front speakers or suddenly has nice surrounds.  Extras include deleted scenes, extended scenes, gag reel, the bringing "Slither's" creatures to life, “Slithery” set tour with Fillion, a making of  piece on the “sick minds and slimy days” of Slither and feature commentary with director Gunn and actor Fillion.  They can be as amusing as the film, but spotty at best.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo