SLITHER

US, 2005, 96 minutes, Colour.
Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Tania Saulnier, Brenda James, Michael Rooker, Gregg Henry.
Directed by James Gunn.

Slither is a 21st century variation on the old B-budget horror films. The writer-director, James Gunn, had written the screenplay for the remake of George Romero’s The Day of the Dead (as well as Scooby Doo, Monsters Unleashed).

A meteorite hits a town, aliens start infesting the inhabitants, taking over their brains, turning them into zombies with the expected results.

The film has the courage of its convictions, showing the aliens as monstrous, using special effects to show the extraordinarily ugly transformations of the inhabitants. There is also some offbeat humour in the screenplay as well, especially considering the puffed-up sheriff and his comeuppance.

Nathan Fillion is the policeman. Elizabeth Banks is the surprising screen presence as the wife of the man who is initially infected and who is suspicious of her relationships. Michael Rooker, a veteran of many action and horror films, including Henry, the Portrait of a Serial Killer, is the man who is transformed into a monster.

The film, a variation on popular themes, achieves what it sets out to do – some gory horror, some frights, some sardonic humour.

1.The impact of this horror film? Tongue-in-cheek? Tribute to other such films?

2.The traditions of the horror film? The aliens? The gross appearance in their taking over humans? The portrait of the town? The victimising of the town? The growing monster? The confrontation? The grosser aspects of this tradition? The look of the monster? The language? The blood and gore?

3.The title? The monster? People being infected by the worms? Their finally becoming part of Grant and his monstrous shape?

4.The credibility of the plot – and that not mattering? The nature of the performances, the touch of deadpan? Corny acting – in the tradition of this kind of film?

5.The town, the look of it, the ordinariness? The tour of the town? The characters – and their not being particularly interesting? Audiences not identifying with them?

6.The asteroid – its hitting the outskirts of the town? Bill Pardy and the deputy, their not realising what had happened? Grant, his being out with Brenda? In the woods, finding the asteroid? The claw, attacking Grant? The beginning of the woes?

7.Grant, his character? Infidelity to Starla? With Brenda? His going home, the transformation? His threatening Starla? His gradually growing, the disappearance of the dog, the disappearance of the cattle? Starla finding him in the basement, his becoming huge, insatiable for meat? His continuing to plead with Starla?

8.Brenda, her being found, her need for meat? Gross? Her exploding – the worms? Their pursuing the town, entering by people’s mouths? The effect on the posse? Their being transformed, killed – the touch of the living dead?

9.Starla, ordinary, the teacher, her tense relationship with Grant? Her friendship with Bill Pardy? Her going home, the truth about Grant? Her phoning the police? Pardy and his suspicions, Starla and her reaction to Pardy? Their searching for Brenda, searching for Grant?

10.Grant, in the woods? Hiding? Devouring the animals? The worms and their going to the family house?

11.The portrait of the family, Kylie and her alienation, criticisms of her parents? The two sisters and their being goody-goodies? The parody of the family? The worms arriving, besieging the house, the destruction of the parents, the destruction of the two girls? Kylie and her being the intended victim – in the bath, escaping? With Starla and Pardy? The two sisters pleading with her to get into the car?

12.The place of the mayor, his gross attitudes, his rationalisations? The mockery of the stereotype of the mayor? His going along with people, his cowardice? His eventually being destroyed?

13.Pardy, deadpan delivery, the deadpan hero? His assistant? The other police, members of the posse? Their work together, the siege, their being overcome?

14.Grant taking Starla to the house? The people in the town and their becoming part of the monster? The attempts to kill Grant? His pleading? The grenade, his swallowing the gas? His being blown up?

15.Starla, Pardy and Kylie walking away? To what?

16.The comic aspects of this kind of film? Deeper meanings – possible or not? Social picture, social questions?