‘They slime. They ooze. They kill.’
Slugs: The Movie is a 1987 [released 1988] Spanish-American horror feature film directed and co-written by Juan Piquer Simón (Pieces), very loosely based on the 1982 novel Slugs by British author Shaun Hutson. In the US, it was distributed by New World Pictures. The Spanish title is Slugs, muerte viscose
The movie stars Michael Garfield, Kim Terry, Philip Machale, Alicia Moro, Santiago Alvarez and John Battaglia.
Plot:
An American rural town becomes prey to a strain of black slugs spawned from toxic waste dumping. It is up to the local health inspector to stop them. People are dying mysteriously and gruesomely.
Only health worker Mike Brady (Michael Garfield) has a possible solution, but his theory of killer slugs is laughed at by the authorities. Only when the body count begins to rise and a slug expert begins snooping around does it begin to appear as though Mike might be right…
Reviews:
” …it’s a good thing Slugs: The Movie has plenty of gore because there’s not much else in the film to get excited about. The acting is bad from start to finish, and the first few scenes with the slugs, including one where they attack an elderly couple named Harold (Juan Majan) and Jean (Lucia Prado), go absolutely nowhere.” 2,500 Movies Challenge
“Slugs is a bit of a forgotten gem in the sub-genre of nature-attacks horror, and that’s a shame because it’s actually good gory fun. Spanish director Juan Piquer Simón (aka JP Simon) makes a solid-looking film on a budget and as with his earlier classic, Pieces, he never shies away from gratuitous entertainment in the form of gross practical effects and exposed flesh.” Film School Rejects
“Yeah, it’s somewhat entertaining, there are a few fun scenes, but it’s hamstrung by clumsiness. Worth a watch, you might even find yourself checking the lettuce for unwelcome guests afterwards, but don’t expect anything great. And, don’t forget to read the book as well, it’s way better.” Horror Chronicles
“Slugs is one of the most misanthropic films of all time […] It’s not even mean-spirited. It just happens to show humanity at its most unappealing. It’s populated with selfish drunks, puppy-kicking vagrants, snotty teen girls, underaged n’ thick-necked rapists, stick-up-the-ass bureaucrats, sinister law enforcement, whiny n’ concerned taxpayers, opportunistic politicians, corporate interests, nagging wives, and brain-dead husbands.” Junta Juleil’s Culture Shock
“If there’s a real complaint to be made against Slugs (besides the obvious), it’s that things get a little (ahem) sluggish towards the end. That aforementioned Halloween party sounds like it’d be an awesome place for a climactic gore spectacle, but it really just amounts to a bunch of extras hanging out in the woods.” Oh, the Horror!
Choice dialogue:
Sheriff Reese [John Battaglia]: “Killer slugs, for chrissakes! What will it be next? Demented crickets? Rampaging mosquitos, maybe?”
Blu-ray release:
On September 27, 2016, Slugs was released on Blu-ray by Arrow Video with the following special features:
Brand new restoration from original film elements
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original Uncompressed PCM Stereo audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio commentary by writer and filmmaker Chris Alexander
Here’s Slugs In Your Eye an interview with actor Emilio Linder
They Slime, They Ooze, They Kill: The Effects of Slugs an interview with special effects artist Carlo De Marchis
Invasion USA an interview with art director Gonzalo Gonzalo
The Lyons Den an interview and locations tour with production manager Larry Ann Evans
1988 Goya Awards promo reel
Original Theatrical Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter
Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by writer Michael Gingold
Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.com
Buy DVD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Buy novel: Amazon.co.uk
Cast and characters:
Michael Garfield … Mike Brady
Kim Terry … Kim Brady
Philip MacHale … Don Palmer
Alicia Moro … Maureen Watson
Santiago Álvarez … John Foley
Concha Cuetos … Maria Palmer
John Battaglia … Sheriff Reese
Emilio Linder … David Watson
Kris Mann … Bobby Talbot
Kari Rose … Donna Moss
Manuel de Blas … Mayor Eaton
Andy Alsup … Officer Dobbs
Frank Braña … Frank Phillips
Stan Schwartz … Ron Bell
Juan Maján … Harold Morris
Filming locations:
Lyons, New York
Madrid, Spain
Technical details:
1 hour 32 minutes
Metrocolor
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
Audio: Mono
Trailer:
