cult film freak: SUMMARY REVIEW OF THE NEO NOIR SLITHER W/ JAMES CAAN

Written by James M. Tate / 1/09/2016 / No comments / crime , james caan , neo noir , peter boyle , thriller , warner archives

SUMMARY REVIEW OF THE NEO NOIR SLITHER W/ JAMES CAAN

1/09/2016 | No comment

YEAR: 1973

James Caan as roving con artist Dick Kanipsin, emerging from a hole in the ground while the word SLITHER appears on screen, describing the title that has nothing to do with snakes...

He had narrowly escaped an exploding house owned by mob-wanted Richard B. Shull (the same year Shull appeared in SSSSSSS, a bonafide serpent flick where his character is equally doomed).

Thus we know that Caan's slick rogue most likely squirms in and out of trouble, and yet the rest of the film is more centered than his meandering life has probably ever been: since he was initially given a task by Shull to recover stolen money, he winds up joining Peter Boyle on the maze-filled name-dropping hunt, getting sidetracked by a crazy Sally Kellerman along the way: a wacko Bonnie desperately seeking her Clyde.

While not as footloose as our anti-hero has the potential of being, SLITHER manages a spontaneous vibe and worthy performances: although it may seem a bit slow in the middle, that is, until you see it another time, and another, and then some more.

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Tags : crime , james caan , neo noir , peter boyle , thriller , warner archives

James M. Tate

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