Like a modern-day version of 1986’s “Night of the Creeps,” “Slither” is an underrated horror gem that plays like several genre movies at once. Much like “Creeps,” it borrows liberally from classic and modern horror, everything from “The Blob” to “Arachnophobia” to “Dawn of the Dead,” and the result is an entertaining, exciting and occasionally icky blast. The lead trio of Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker, are each perfectly cast and manage to play off each other very well, and in the process they create likable characters the audience can root for. The movie has a wicked sense of humor, throwing out semi-meta one-liners once in a while to keep the audience on their toes, and the contrast with the over-the-top gore (which often gets respectably grisly) manages to make both elements stand out even more. It’s a shame that things fall apart in the last act, as the movie takes a predictable and tiresome turn for its climax, but on the way there, this is a solid little cult classic waiting to happen.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
