Slither
Here Is What You Need To Know:
Just in case you are totally new to watching films I will let you in on a great and magical secret- horror/comedy, just like sci-fi comedy, is hard as hell to pull off. Many "would be master minds" have found their massive Hollywood egos smashed against the rocks when attempting to tackle this particular type of film.
Slither is a very welcomed surprise, quite a surprise actually, as my expectations were butt-ugly low. The film follows a small town sherriff played by Serenity captain Nathan Fillion as he, and the small town locals, deal with an alien parasite, delivered via asteriod. This parasite transforms one of the town's wealthiest individuals, played brilliantly by Michael Rooker, into, well a creature that really is hard to explain. Oh and did I mention that the town is converted into zombies.
Slither is a real surprise, as it does manage to blend horror and comedy in a sharply written package which in turn really makes the most out of its visual and special effects.
What Was Cool:
-It is always cool to be surprised by a film and get more than you expect.
-Slither has a cast that seems talor made for the movie. Fillion does a great job as the sheiff, as does Rooker as Grant/The Monster. What should not be overlooked is the fantastic performance by Elizabeth Banks who plays Grant’s wife. She is a vision to look at throughout the film. Oh yes, and she can act as well.
What Was Stupid:
For a horror/comedy film there was surprisingly little that was stupid or poorly done.
The Film's Real Genius or Geniuses:
Slither, was a modestly budgeted film at somewhere around $30 milllion dollars, and director James Gunn should be given some credit for a great directorial debut. The casting agent who selected Banks really deserves a big time nod as well, all I can say about her is wow…
Overlooked Performance/Accomplishment:
Once again, the first overlooked performance is whoever discovered Banks. The second overlooked performance would be the visual effects team that did a great job with the look of the film. As the film has been a little overlooked, the same is obviously true for the visuals effects and the monster effects of the film.
Story B+ (Slither pays tribute to many of the sci-fi horror films of the 1950’s in a sharp and truly funny way.)
Use of Science C (Oh, the science in this kind of film is always an afterthought and the same is true in Slither, but you probably won’t mind.)
Acting B+ (Rooker and Banks are great and work well together. Nathan Fillion plays the only character he ever seems to play, the captain from Serenity, but he does a good job with the role. If only Fillion would develop a little more range and depth.)
Portrayal of Women C+ (There is an element of “help big man, please save me,” throughout the film, but Banks gets to play a gutsy character overall.)
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects B+ (Given the budget of the film these guys deserve some credit.)
Visuals-Set Design/Props B-
Wardrobe/Costumes B (The costuming for Banks brings up the letter grade for sure.)
Style/Sex Appeal A (Obviously I am obsessed with Banks, oh well.)
Enjoyability Grade B+
Home Theater/HD Factor B+ (Slither’s strong visuals and nice sound design should make this a fun time.)
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) B- (Sure horror films usually make a profit, but they did go with a first time director and Slither is not a sequel, so good job for a change.)
Overall Innovation B+ (Slither is innovative within its genre, for the most part.)
Overall Grade B+
A Little Fact About Cherie:
-I don’t like golf.
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