"Slither" - The Story: Wheelsy is like a lot of other small towns in America. The people are decent, friendly folks and not a whole lot goes on in the town after dark. But that all changes when the sleepy little community is invaded by an alien lifeforce bent on destroying everything on Earth.
James Gunn Goes the Practical Route: Gunn opted for practical effects rather than a lot of CGI in "Slither." "I really wanted that feel of the old gritty '80s horror films that I grew up with, that were fun and over the top and gory," explained Gunn. "And I think prosthetics effects is the way to do that. I think that there’s a lot of craftsmanship to prosthetic effects that’s missing in today’s horror. I wanted to do something completely unique – so that’s what I did."
James Gunn on Achieving the Right Tone: You can't slap the label horror film on "Slither" and do it justice. It's as much a comedy as it is a scary movie, and that's just what Gunn was aiming for. "It’s a balancing act. I mean, we had to be scary but we were also very funny. Luckily we had a cast that was having a good time and I really think that helped us a lot to sort of go back and forth between the horror and the humor. And, in the end, I think it helped the movie a lot."
James Gunn Didn't Set Out to Direct "Slither:" "I was actually attached to direct another movie when I was writing this film. I was writing this movie and I was going to sell it to have a little bit of money to do an extremely low-budget independent film. But as I started doing the rewrites on this film after I sold it to Universal and Gold Circle, I fell in love with it. I also realized that the tone was really something strange and unique because it was funny and it was scary, and it’s a hard balance. And so I felt most comfortable if I directed it myself. Otherwise I foresaw being very unhappy on this night if it was directed by somebody else."
Does that mean he considers himself a writer who just happens to direct? Gunn said, "I think I always considered myself as being a filmmaker. I like writing; I like directing. I like them all. I just want to be a part of making fun movies and wherever I fit in on whatever project, that’s what excites me. But right now I really like directing a lot and this movie was very comfortable to me - and it was fun.
I’ve always gotten in trouble as a screenwriter on other movies. I’ve gotten yelled at by every director I’ve ever worked with. I’m very controlling, you know? (Laughing) It’s not a very good thing for a screenwriter to be as controlling as I am, because I have a way that I think that things should be. Like a lot of directors, I think that I know best and I don’t always – but I think that I do. And that sometimes causes me to butt heads with whatever director I’m working with at that time."
Sticking to the Script: Gunn admits he's controlling but that doesn't extend to making his actors stick to the script. "I actually think the actors…if I’m extremely prepared and I know exactly what I want, then that gives me a lot of freedom to improv and do a lot of things that are fun on the set. And to allow each actor and each person who’s creatively involved in the film, from the production designer to the DP, to add their own thing that’s creative to the movie. I think it’s really important to the creative process, to let everyone have their own individual voice be heard, even if it’s in a small way. So I just like directing. I’m more comfortable in that position."
The Appeal of Horror Movies: "I think we’re living in a scary time and I think people need a way to express their fears and feel their fears in a situation that really isn’t that dangerous. And that’s why horror movies will be eternally helpful to us in that way. I really do think they’re a cathartic experience. I think we, as human beings, have a lot of innate fears of different things and horror movies are a way to express that and for an audience to get some relief."
James Gunn Interview - Play the Video
