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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Slithis" )

 

directed by Stephen Traxler
USA 1978

 

The discovery of several mutilated dogs along the canals of Venice Beach and the subsequent murder of a couple in a nearby home prompts the police to believe that some sort of mutilation cult has appeared in the area. Frustrated high school journalism teacher Wayne Connors (Alan Blanchard) decides to do some poking around of his own and discovers traces of mud at the murder scene. His science teacher friend Dr. John (J.C. Claire) identifies the slightly radioactive mud as "slithis" which first appeared in Utah in a lake near a nuclear power leak and was capable of absorbing and taking on the characteristics of living organisms. Wayne and his girlfriend Jeff (Judy Motulsky) learn from one of the Utah scientists (Dennis Lee Falt) now horribly disfigured by radiation that a nearby power station may be the responsible for the presence of slithis. With the help of diver Christopher Columbus Alexander (Mello Alexandria, PSYCHIC KILLER), Wayne discovers slithis in the water near the power plant and that fish have entirely disappeared from the area. He conjectures that whatever creature developed from the slithis has moved inland in search of food after having depleted his food sources in the water. When Wayne and Dr. John close off the canal access, the monster strikes at the marina. When the police will not believe his story, Wayne, Dr. John, Jeff, and Christopher decide to track the beast and destroy it themselves. SLITHIS is pretty strong for a PG rating (then again, this was before the PG-13 rating where the violent and sexual content was just as likely to get a PG as it would an R) with some shredded corpses, shredded blouses, and lots of paint-red blood. That said, it's the perfect cheesy grindhouse venture with a sub-HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP monster, laughable scientific dialogue, bland performances (save for a police lieutenant who looks and sounds like a bad Shakespearean villain), distorted monster POV's (some sort of vaselined center spot filter that suggests the monster has cataracts rather than heightened senses), a solarization effect or two, and a multitude of transitional optical wipes and irises. The Venice, California setting is attractively rendered with some good exterior location choices (including some covert conversations between the four protagonists shot at various exteriors solely for production value) and there is the expected "surprise" ending. Fast-paced (despite some static expository scenes) and unintentionally funny, SLITHIS is a must for bad movie fans.

Eric Cotenas

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 21st, 1978

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Comparison:

Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution

Code Red

Region 0 - NTSC

Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:26:18         1:26:38.193 
Video

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.33 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
 

1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,685,260,359 bytes

Feature: 21,028,558,848 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.64 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2066 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2066 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles None None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Code Red

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer (4:3; 3:00)
• Trailers for HORROR HIGH, RIVALS, THE BLACK KLANSMAN, BRUTE CORPS, A LONG RIDE FROM HELL, and
• FAMILY HONOR.

DVD Release Date: June 1, 2010
Amaray

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio:
Code Red

 

1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,685,260,359 bytes

Feature: 21,028,558,848 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.64 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

THEATRICAL TRAILER (03:01)
TRAILERs ("The Being", "Sole Survivor", "The Dark", "Devil's Express")
DELETED SCENE (01:12)


Blu-ray Release Date:
February 16th, 2021
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 13

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Code Red Blu-ray (February 2021): Code Red presents a Blu-ray release of Stephen Traxler's "Slithis" (aka "Spawn of the Slithis"). This single-layer Blu-ray is from a 2017 2K scan of the original camera negatives. The 1.78:1 HD image is accompanied by a moderate bitrate averaging in the high 20's (kbps). The 1080P image certainly benefits from the HD upgrade over the previous SD DVD version. Not only is the framing improved, but the image looks less horizontally squeezed. Colors are no longer washed out, and are now quite distinctive, especially during the nighttime attack sequences. "Slithis" fans will surely be pleased.

NOTE: We have added 18 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Code Red gives this
Blu-ray release of "Slithis" a 24-bit 2.0 DTS-HD Master audio track. While there are a few tiny instances of unwanted noise in the presentation, the cheesy dialogue is as pristine as ever. The score is thanks to Steve Zuckerman. Sadly there is no subtitle track on this Region 'Free' Blu-ray from Code Red.

Code Red has included the trailer for Slithis as a bonus (even featuring a William Castle-like gimmick at the end). Trailers for "The Being", "Sole Survivor", "The Dark", "Devil's Express" are also included. Other than these previews, the only extra on the
Blu-ray is a 1-minute long deleted scene. Unfortunately, the audio for the clip could not be located (according to a title card before the scene) making the sequence all the more ineffectual.

Fans of so-bad-it's-good cinema could do a lot worse than "Slithis". A fun monster picture reminiscent of the old 50's/60's B-creature-features. Though Code Red's
Blu-ray release is rather bare-bones, the movie is all you need for a fun night. Grab some friends and some beer and put on "Slithis", you'll thank me. 

Colin Zavitz

Although extremely light on extras, Code Red present SLITHIS (onscreen title: SPAWN OF THE SLITHIS) in an anamorphic, progressive single-layer transfer that represents the source print well. The colors are attractive, grain varies from scene to scene (likely more to do with the original shooting and cheap processing; a wide high angle shot early exhibits some flare but that's from the sun.)

NOTE: A digital glitch occurs for a frame or two at roughly 57 minutes as a result of a mastering error. Forum posting have confirmed that it appears on the finished discs but it should not ruin the viewing experience.

Reel change marks are prominent and the picture quality coarsens slightly during those moments but does not spoil the experience (it actually enhances the feel of the film). Some kill scenes are lit with red gels but the lack of detail in those shots is likely inherent in the print materials. A trailer for the film is the only related extra. Trailers for other upcoming Code Red releases are also included.

  - Eric Cotenas

 


Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC

 

Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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1) Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC  TOP

2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC  TOP

2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC  TOP

2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

  

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution

Code Red

Region 0 - NTSC

Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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