Slither (2006), the feature directorial debut of James Gunn, is a gloriously grotesque blend of sci-fi horror and pitch-black comedy. Drenched in slime and soaked in references to classic creature features, it’s a love letter to the golden age of body horror—with a modern, foul-mouthed twist.
Set in the sleepy town of Wheelsy, South Carolina, the story begins when a meteorite crashes nearby, carrying with it an alien parasite. The first victim is wealthy local Grant Grant (played with creepy conviction by Michael Rooker), who becomes host to the alien's rapidly evolving biology. As the creature inside him grows stronger, he mutates grotesquely—sprouting tentacles, losing humanity, and spreading the infection like wildfire.
Soon, slithering slug-like creatures are invading people’s mouths, turning them into mindless, flesh-hungry drones. Sheriff Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion) and Starla (Elizabeth Banks), Grant’s increasingly horrified wife, are thrust into the middle of a full-scale alien infestation that threatens to devour the entire town.
Slither excels at balancing horror and humor. The gore is outrageous, the practical effects gloriously disgusting, and the tone dances between deadpan comedy and genuine dread. Gunn’s sharp writing infuses every grotesque set piece with wit, irony, and a surprising amount of heart.
While the film pays homage to The Thing, Shivers, and Night of the Creeps, it carves out its own identity with unrelenting energy and gleeful nastiness. Beneath the oozing chaos, Slither explores themes of love, control, and collective consciousness—wrapped in one of the slimiest packages horror has ever seen.
Because sometimes,
What comes from the stars
Isn’t wonder—
It’s worms.
