Halloween Horrors: Slither DVD Review

Image from source, Wikipedia

[Editor's Note: Minor spoilers may follow, but I'll try to be gentle]

After slogging through some movie dreck this weekend (which inspired this post), and discovering that even $3 at Big Lots is too much to pay for some DVDs, I stumbled upon a jewel. Well, a bloody, dripping, oozing jewel. I picked up Slither (2006), not because I'd ever heard of it, or because I'd initially confused it with Squirm (a bad 70s film). I picked it up because it stars Nathan Fillion, the dashing Capt. Malcolm Reynolds from Joss Whedon's TV series Firefly and the movie Serenity.

Well, that and because it was $3. But unlike the rest of my selections, Slither was a hoot and a half. There is a tipoff at the beginning that this isn't your typical slice and dice, or run of the mill horror movie. If you've ever seen Critters or The Blob (either version), you'll catch a similar vibe (and plot point) when the film starts. Clearly, the film knows its audience, or at least it knew me. From there, we get to know a few of the denizens of a small Texas town, notably the police. Fillion is of course the main cop, and the girl he's sweet on is the unlucky wife of the philandering guy who pokes a meteorite with a stick.

The movie is chock full of different horror movie conventions and tropes, but handled wonderfully well. The humor and dialogue is right in line with what you might expect from other Fillion-centric productions. And the constantly changing, always disgusting "creature" (and its "spawn") will make you squirm with icky movie delight. Also starring with Fillion is Elizabeth Banks (Scrubs), Jenna Fischer (The Office) and a slew of lesser-known but recognizable character actors. I will not dub this my favorite movie of all time, but it is my favorite discovered by accident, bargain bin find of all time. I'm sure it will find its way into one of my Halloween Top 10 Lists. Now, what am I going to bump to make room?

My review: Highly recommended for the Fangoria set, and for Nathan Fillion fans.

Halloween Horrors: Top 10 CLASSIC Horror Movies

Last year, when this blog barely got 50 hits per day, I ran a series of Top 10 Halloween horror movie lists, to help people find some videos to rent for a fright night. Since we're around to that time of year again, I'll be continuing to rerun those lists, with some sprucing up and updates.

Photo from Wikipedia.org

All right, I've covered my favorite scary horror movies, my top funny horror movies, even the bad horror movies., and now it is time for a list of all-time classics. These movies may no longer scare as much as they once did, but they must not be missed, if you are a true horror fan. If you haven't seen any of the movies in this group, do yourself a favor, and add them to your Halloween viewing list!

Greenlee Gazette Top 10 CLASSIC Horror Movies

1. Psycho (1960) - Already reviewed here, this movie still ranks as the all-time classic. It's very nearly perfect. It may not have the unrelenting gore of Hostel, or the outright laughs of Shaun of the Dead, but this movie still contains enough humor and horror to qualify for all three of my lists. A must see, but avoid the remake.

2. Rosemary's Baby (1968) - Another of the best 60s horror films. Very high-brow, and stylishly shot. And Ruth Gordon is one little old lady you do not want living next door.

3. Jaws (1975) - Not strictly a horror film, but has more scares than some whole lists of movies. It might not work for Halloween, but wait a few weeks, and then pop this one in for a refresher on what a good scary time you can have any time of year. The sequels get progressively worse, so stick to this one, and maybe Jaws 2.

4. Night of the Living Dead (1969) - In a slightly different league from the first three on this list, this low-budget, black and white film still deserves a spot on the list. George Romero squeezed every last cent out of his budget, and delivered a film that can still scare (and disgust) you, almost 40 years later. This film is in the public domain, so watch out for bad prints. Also avoid the colorized version, and the remake. The sequels though, are pretty good, particularly Dawn of the Dead. The ending of this film might tick you off though.

5. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - The first movie set the tone, but the sequel hits it out of the park. Outstanding, nearly flawless horror film. Trust me, if you haven't seen it, it is a must. And if it weren't for this film, there might never have been a Young Frankenstein!

6. Alien (1979) - You might have thought it was just a sci-fi film, but don't be fooled. This is top-shelf horror, it's just that the haunted house is a space ship! Even better that it sets up one of the best sequels in history, Aliens.

7. Suspiria (1977) - Creepy, and moody and very, very foreign in tone, this movie will wig you out. A little astray from the other movies in this list, and not for all tastes, but still a classic.

8. Carrie (1976) - Possibly the best strictly horror adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Piper Laurie is an anti-religionist's worst nightmare. Also started the "surprise ending" motif for horror movies for years to come.

9. The Last House on the Left (1972) - Another low-budget cheapie that delivers a wallop. Seriously, you will have a pillow in front of your face during some parts. Wes Craven is the master.

10. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1986) - Yes, I know, a sequel. But part one is in my "scary" list, and this one is so good, I still consider it a classic. Eerie, moody, and Fred Krueger isn't quite an anti-hero yet. Plus, once again, Wes Craven is at the helm.

Previously:

Halloween Horrors: Psycho

Halloween Horrors: Top 10 FUNNY Horror Movies

Halloween Horrors: Top 10 SCARY Horror Movies
Halloween Horrors: Overlooked Horror Films

Halloween Horrors: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Movies I Can't Wait to See: Friday the 13th

Halloween Horrors: Top 10 BAD Horror Movies

Halloween Horrors: Overlooked Horror Films

Image from Wikipedia.org

My last post was a review of the A Nightmare on Elm Street movie franchise. This post is intended to give you a heads up on the other horror films out there to get you ready for the upcoming Halloween holiday.

The Blob (1988) - One of the best updates of classic horror films. This one stars Shawnee Smith (Saw I, II and III) and Kevin Dillon (Entourage). An awesome update of the kitschy and silly 60s movie, the 80s blob was far more threatening. The origins of the creature are completely believable and frightening, and the characters are fun. Not overly scary, exactly, but a really good time. It even breaks the "don't kill 10-year-olds" unwritten horror movie law!

Dawn of the Dead (1978) - This sequel to Night of the Living Dead far supersedes the original in fright, irony and enjoyability. Way better than the remake, too. This zombie masterpiece even makes you forget about the zombies for a while, while the "normal" humans acclimate to their environment. Outstanding, and really, really scary.

Fright Night (1985) - This movie was better in the 80s, but is still fun. What if the vampire next door was a suave and sophisticated hottie? Something is lost, 20+ years later, but this movie is funny, enjoyable, and has more than a couple of scares in it. Stars William Ragsdale (Herman's Head--and not much else), Amanda Bearse (Marcy from Married With Children) and Roddy McDowell.

Bad Dreams (1988) - This flick falls right in with A Nightmare on Elm Street for me, with scares aplenty. It got a hideous review from Leonard Maltin, but I don't care. I loved it. Not enough movies play into the plentiful horrors that religious fanaticism provides. Plus, Jennifer Rubin from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors!

More to come!