If you’ve ever wanted to witness Michael Rooker transform into a giant, sentient pile of deli meat with tentacles in glorious, pore-popping 4K, your very specific wish has been granted. Visions Home Video has announced that James Gunn’s directorial debut, the cult horror-comedy Slither, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a celebratory theatrical run and a high-def facelift.
The Meat of the Matter
Before he was the Co-Chairman of DC Studios or the architect of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, James Gunn was busy perfecting the “gross-out” genre. The premise is a classic slice of Americana-meets-Abomination. The film sees an extraterrestrial parasite crash-land in a sleepy town and hitches a ride inside the body of the wealthy Grant Grant (Michael Rooker). Grant doesn’t just get a cold; he becomes a hive-mind organism with a singular goal—eating every living thing on Earth. It’s up to the charmingly exhausted Sheriff Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion) and the resilient Starla Grant (Elizabeth Banks) to stop the town from becoming one giant, collective biomass.
A Restoration Approved by the Master
This isn’t just a lazy up-rez. The film has been meticulously restored from 35mm. And it has been personally approved by both James Gunn and Director of Photography Gregory Middleton. Every slime trail and mutant lick is now rendered with terrifying clarity.
For the physical media collectors, a Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray Steelbook combo will hit shelves on May 18. It’s a limited run. So, you’ll want to pre-order via HMV, ZAVVI, and Amazon before fans snap them up.
Why It Still Bites
Slither remains a masterclass in balancing practical gore with genuine wit. It features early-career brilliance from Fillion and Banks. Plus a legendary “what is happening?” performance from Rooker. It’s a love letter to 80s creature features that has aged like a fine, mutated wine.
Starting May 1, 2026, Slither returns to the big screen in select theaters, coinciding with a brand-new 4K Digital re-release. Just a tip: Maybe skip the steak dinner before the screening. You’ll thank us later.
