WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A slimy, 80s gore-fest that's exactly what it says on the tin: killer slugs, lots of blood, and zero logic.
5.329%
Slugs is a relic of the 80s 'creature feature' boom that prioritizes slime and blood over things like 'plot' or 'likable characters.' It’s a 'horny gorefest' that will likely bore a modern audience while simultaneously grossing them out.
If you aren't an ironic horror fan looking for a laugh at Tubi’s bottom-shelf offerings, there is absolutely no reason to subject yourself or your family to this. It’s salty, slimy, and dated in all the wrong ways.
This is strictly for adults or older teens who are already deep into the horror genre. It’s too gross for kids and too silly for most adults who aren't looking for a B-movie laugh.
The film is mean-spirited, with characters who are constantly angry at each other for no reason, and it leans heavily into 'gross-out' horror rather than any kind of emotional health.
The practical effects from the late 80s show some creative craftsmanship in the gore department, even if the premise is a standard 'nature strikes back' trope.
This is a hard-R gorefest. We're talking exploding bodies, 'horny' sequences, and unrestrained practical blood effects that would traumatize a child.
Unless you are a film student studying 80s creature features or practical makeup effects, there is zero educational or ethical value here.
If you’re scrolling through Tubi or ARROW on a Friday night, you’ve probably seen the poster: a giant, slimy mollusk looking way more threatening than any garden pest has any right to be. Slugs is a fascinating relic because it doesn't just lean into the "nature-run-amok" trope; it leans into a very specific, 1980s brand of hostility.
The most striking thing about this film isn't actually the creatures—it's the people. Every single character in this rural community seems to absolutely loathe everyone else. Neighbors are rude, officials are dismissive, and the dialogue is delivered with a level of aggression that feels totally disconnected from reality. It creates this unintentional surrealism that makes the movie much more entertaining than your standard, boring B-movie. You aren't watching for the plot; you're watching to see which jerk gets eaten next.
While the critics on Rotten Tomatoes were clearly not impressed, there is a very specific reason horror fans still talk about this one: the mess. In an era where we’re used to clean, weightless CGI monsters, Slugs is a reminder of how effective (and disgusting) practical effects can be.
We aren't just talking about little gray tubes wiggling on a floor. The movie features "slug-related" deaths that involve people literally exploding from the inside out or having their faces shredded. It is visceral in a way that modern low-budget horror rarely achieves. If you have an older teen who is interested in special effects makeup or the history of creature features, this is a textbook example of how to do a lot with a little. Just be prepared for the "horny" subplots that were mandatory for 80s horror—they add a layer of cringe that makes the experience even more dated.
This is not a movie you sit down to watch for a gripping narrative. It’s a "party movie" in the truest sense. If you’re trying to figure out why Slugs (1988) is the grossest 80s B-movie you need to see, it’s because it hits that sweet spot of being technically competent enough to be visible, but logically broken enough to be hilarious.
The "science" behind why these slugs are suddenly carnivorous and explosive is thin at best, involving toxic waste and a lot of shouting. It’s the kind of film that works best when you’re actively mocking the screen. If your kid liked the campy energy of something like Gremlins but is now old enough to handle extreme, stomach-turning gore, this is a weirdly logical, albeit much nastier, next step. It’s a loud, bloody, and deeply silly artifact of a time when "killer garden pests" was a viable pitch for a feature film.
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