Slugs(DVD & Blu Ray) — Slugs(DVD & Blu Ray)
Slugs(or Slugs, Muerte Viscose to give it’s original title) appeared in 1988, and was directed by Juan Piquer Simón- whose most known film was trashy-yet-fun & bloody euro slasher Pieces. The film was roughly adapted from English horror writer Shaun Hutson’s first book of the same name- it’s plot sees the story moved from the near London setting of the book to America. The film tells of a small town that has had a spate of gruesome & gory deaths taking place, and health inspector Mike Brady attempts to convince the town that the perpetrators are amassed group of human eating slugs. The films cast is made up of Spanish actors, whose dialog is stiltedly dubbed over in English American, to at times quite amusing results. But really with this type of film it's all about it’s gore & over-the-top deaths, and they certainly are a few on offer- we get some one cutting their hand off with garden shears, eye & head popping sequence, and naked women seething on the ground as she’s eaten by the slimy black ones, etc. With a film & idea such as killer slugs you really have to enter into this film with low expectations & a feeling of fun, and really as 80’s creature features go this isn’t half bad.
As you’d expect from Arrow you get a nice classy presentation with both the DVD & Blu Ray versions of the film. You get their normal double-sided cover design; featuring both newly created artwork & original film poster work. And a glossy inlay booklet, featuring a new write-up about film, & stills, etc.
Extra wise on the discs themselves you get four fairly short featurettes- these take in: a interview with the lead actor. Interviews with the effects team, a interview with the art director, and a interview/ tour of filming locations from back in 1988. You get two recent & brand new commentaries on the film too- ones with Shaun Hutson, and the other is Chris Alexander - whose a long time horror fan & editor of horror website Shock Till You Drop. Of the two I’d say the one with Mr Hutson was of most interest to myself, as I’m a big fan of his work, and it’s great to hear him chat about the film, his original book, and his career in general. He comes across as very down to earth & funny, with really the whole thing feeling like a discussion down the pub.
So if you’re either a fan of gory creature features, or chessy 1980’s euro horror Slugs is well worth checking out. Another quality reissue of a cult horror film title from Arrow video.