Creepy Crawlies
Squirm (1976) d: Jeff Lieberman
Slugs (1988) d: Juan Piquer Simón
Slither (2006) d: James Gunn
Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys (2014) d: James Cullen Bressack
If you’re into campy B-level creature features, Squirm is such a delightful gift. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it earlier, I just adore it. This movie is about killer earthworms. Yes. They used a combo of fake worms and real ones - there are so many real worms in this, the movie wiped out all of the glycera worms in New England. One important thing elevates this movie over contemporaries - its special effects were done by none other than the patron saint of special effects makeup, Oscar-winner Rick Baker (Yeah, I said it. Fight me, Tom Savini). This movie was almost much better than it is - Kim Bassinger auditioned for the main female role but the director passed, Martin Sheen was originally in the cast, the composer of Pyscho was slated to score it but he died….but what we ended up getting is magic in its own batshit way.
(There are so many fun tidbits about this movie. A Boy Scout troop earned a merit badge for helping make the worms undulate. For some reason, this movie premiered at Cannes. The inspiration came from the director’s experience: when he was a child, his brother connected a transformer to the ground to make worms emerge. The film inspired an album called “Worm in my Egg Cream.”)
Slugs is very much a spiritual sister to Squirm, except the focus is Slugs obviously. Mutant, carnivorous slugs. Like Squirm, the film uses a bunch of real black slugs, giving the movie some fun, sticky, tactile grossness. Also like Squirm, this movie excels in the gore and special effects department. It was a joint American/Spanish production, and the film actually won a Goya Award (Oscar Equivalent) for its Effects. At one point, someone’s head literally explodes with eels (not slugs, because honestly, who cares about reality or continuity?). It’s ridiculous in the best way.
I’m surprised Slither isn’t better known, especially considering James Gunn’s current fame and the fun cast including Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Rooker. It’s gooey and gross and hilarious. It definitely pays homage to movies like the two before it in this list, and 80s-style goopy Body Horror (one of the side characters is literally named MacReady). Despite generally positive critical response and being named Best Film of the Year by Horror Magazine, Rue Morgue, Slither was a huge box office flop, which is pretty confounding, and a damn shame. While it has rightfully gained a small cult following since its release, it deserves much more recognition, so check it out.
Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys is a made-for-TV movie that premiered on Animal Planet. So, you know, there’s that. Look, this isn’t a good movie, BUT I found it super entertaining and I have a soft spot for the plot as a Michigander. Plus, it’s got Christopher Lloyd! It’s got Shannon Doherty too, so it’s one half step above the usual SyFy 9 PM creature features (all love to those, by the way). It’s stupid, but it’s fun.