Slither (2006)

Hybrid movie genres were born, as well as hybrid genres in whole, when particular genres obtain a kind of crisis. When all the means are exhausted, when all the stories are used and nothing revolutionary can take a rise, the only way to avoid running on the spot is a merge with something other. Usually the more unsuitable is parent couple, the better interesting and even weird the offspring could become.

A hybrid between “sci-fi” horror B-movie and a comedy could appear unnatural, but this is only the first impression, because in fact these genres are overlapping wery widely. Really, what is the main aim of horror movie in whole? The main aim of horror movie is to scare all shit out of watcher (as well it is a secondary aim of a good thriller movie), AND take him a relaxation through such manner of action; comedy ALSO brings relaxation but by the laugh. Also it is to be noticed, that often B-movies carry the comic element inherently just by its humble and cheap realization. Monsters made of papier-mâché, lightning spark produced from photoflash, and mainly poor performing by amateur actors – this explosive mixture almost always look hilarious and could produce a lot of fun (remember Ed Wood). Well, we have a potential hybrid with one dominant quantitative treat on both parents, and thus this treat will be inherited by offspring. So, the parody lying between horror (with scientific milieu or a straight slasher) and a comedy (of american type) is a popular target for some unexperienced director, and right this thing is a bull’s eye to satire of this movie. I cannot call James Gunn unexperienced, as well as I cannot call a production of “Slither” poor, so here we have a targeted sarcasm merged with work of strong director and simultaneously with homage to lot of really strong classic horror movies like “The Thing” (even with direct references like names of people and places).

More interesting is that I cannot call “Slither” a pure hybrid of such type, but nevertheless I cannot call him a pure parody either. Unlike pure hybrids (for example, “Hatchet”), Slither does not belong to straight comedy because director do not elucidate the comic element, directly deriding stamps, but tightly weave it in fabric of narration, and the main tool of this element is an acting. All that makes you laugh in Slither doesn't lay mainly in dialogues and deeds of characters, but is dissolved in narrative and origins from outstanding performing of almost each role (although Elisabeth Banks looks relatively weaker). Michael Rooker does really know how to perform anybody, even a man who become a giant slick flesh consuming bulk of protoplasm from outer space and does it with nonchalant chic; Gregg Henry calls a smile just by his look, and because of his acting the mayor I laughed my ass off the geostationary orbit; and of course the brilliant acting of Nathan Fillionis the pivot of the movie, a cramp that holds everything in whole – and it was the first film when I saw him years ago, and it is definitely not the last. And sure the uproarious cameo appearances of James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman cannot leave anybody indifferent. Awesome film, light as capuccino. P.S. Due to Nathan Fillion's matchless performing here, I make here a special tag named of him. And for James Gunn too. Hail them!

As A Result: pure professionalism and subtle irony.

Watch It?: of course.