Slither, the James Gunn horror comedy from 2006, was partly inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing. The critically acclaimed film was not a success at the box office, but has since become a cult favorite after its initial release.
Gunn’s directorial debut, a love letter to the horror films of the 80s, featured a variety of iconic names and in-jokes. The plot concerns a small town hit by a meteorite containing an alien parasite intent on taking over the world. The organism quickly infects Grant, a wealthy resident played by genre vet Michael Rooker, who begins transforming into a tentacled creature. He abducts a woman whom he immediately infects to use as a “breeder” for additional alien parasites. She eventually explodes, releasing the slug-like creatures – who begin slithering throughout the town and infecting everyone in their path. The parasites enter the mouths of their hosts and create zombie-like being that are controlled by Grant.
Even with a cast of well-known genre names including Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Gregg Henry, Jenna Fischer and Rooker, the film failed to find a wide audience. However, the film garnered positive notices and soon developed an enthusiastic cult following through video and cable showings. Gunn’s clever script and myriad genre references gave fans reason to revisit the film multiple times. Obvious influences include Night of the Creeps, which was singled out early on by horror fans, Cronenberg’s Shivers and Gordon’s From Beyond. But there was another film that also served as inspiration for the horror pastiche that was a bit more subtle.
Slither Was Inspired By John Carpenter’s Sci-Fi Horror Classic
Hardcore horror fans have pointed out the nods to John Carpenter’s remake of The Thing. An abandoned building, curiously labeled as “Auctioneers & Funeral Home” is named R.J. Macready after Kurt Russell’s character in the film. The mayor, played by Henry, is named Jack MacReady, which is another reference to Russell in The Thing as well as his character Jack Burton in Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China. The opening of Slither, which shows the meteor hurtling toward earth is a subtle visual nod to the opening of The Thing also. An alien presence taking on the appearance of its human host is also reminiscent of the 1982 remake, which Gunn has admitted is one of his favorite horror films and his favorite Carpenter movie.
Clever references to Rosemary’s Baby, A Nightmare On Elm Street, and even Zack Snyder’s solid remake of Dawn of the Dead, also written by Gunn, are evident. But Slither, regardless of its many Easter eggs, is also an exhilarating gross-out comedy with a style all its own. Over a decade later, it remains a genuinely engaging entry in the horror genre – with superior effects and a game cast that really delivers. Made a few years before he broke out with Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn’s first film is worth another look as it is often overshadowed by his foray into big budget Marvel movies.