PopHorror Let's Get Scared
These days, mutant killer animals are the stuff of SyFy Channel original movies. But there was a time when stuff like this got theatrical releases. 1988’s Slugs is one of those flicks.
People are dying under mysterious circumstances in the town of Ashton. Bodies are being found with the flesh eaten off. Health inspector Mike Brady (Michael Garfield) begins investigating these strange murders and makes a startling discovery: toxic waste has mutated the local slug population and they’re feeding on the populace!
Years ago, if someone had told me that a flick about killer slugs was gonna be so much fun, I’d have said they were full of shit. Slugs: a movie about killer slugs. How could this possibly be any fun? How could this possibly even be a movie? Add salt – presto! – movie over! But when Chas. Balun says a movie about killer slugs is fun, you tend to perk up and listen.
Adapted from Shaun Huston’s 1982 novel of the same name, Slugs is a garden of fun. Seeing people getting offed by killer slugs is certain to tickle your funny bone – until you get a load of the gruesome effects. Then you’ll know the film is being deadly serious, which makes it all the funnier!
The hilarious concept is pushed into Trash Brilliance Overdrive by the woefully bad acting from pretty much everyone, with lead Michael Garfield being the biggest sinner here. None of his lines are delivered with an ounce of conviction. Case in point: his reaction to discovering that the slugs bite people. My response was a complete lack of belief. But I was laughing.
A few of the deaths are absolutely hilarious, especially the explosive conclusion an old couple comes to. I was laughing so hard I about fell off my chair. And speaking of explosions, the climax is guaranteed to have you exploding with laughter.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are here to lend some class to the proceedings – even though most of what they provide sounds like failed 80’s sitcom music.
Final Thoughts:
Slugs is way more fun than it has any right to be and is a perfect example of what trashy horror should be. The movie can be watched on Amazon Instant. It can also be purchased from many fine and not-so-fine retailers everywhere. Go watch it and keep some salt handy.
