Year: 1988
Runtime: 89 mins
Language: English
Director: Juan Piquer Simón
When a series of gruesome, unexplained murders sweeps the town, health worker Mike Brady suspects a terrifying cause: carnivorous slugs. Dismissed by officials, his warning is ignored until the deaths mount and a British slug specialist arrives, confirming that the slimy predators are indeed the killers.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Slugs (1988), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In the fictional town of Ashton, a grim night ends with Ron Bell, Stan Schwartz, eaten alive by a massive swarm of carnivorous slugs right inside his living room. The next day, Mike Brady, Michael Garfield, a health inspector and sewer manager, along with Sheriff Reese, John Battaglia, head to Ron’s home to serve an eviction notice, only to discover a nearly skinless body and trails of slime winding from the basement that defy easy explanation.
Later, Mike and his co-worker Don Palmer, Philip MacHale, are summoned to clear a sewer blockage, where Don uncovers several animal carcasses wedged in the pipes, hinting that something unthinkable lurks beneath the town. In the meantime, Harold Morris, Juan Maján, a local gardener, unwittingly slips a slug into his glove; the creature bites his hand, and chaos unfolds as he knocks over chemical jars, causing a fire that triggers a gasoline tank explosion, killing both him and his wife Jean Morris, Lucía Prado, in a brutal, fiery accident.
Back at home, Mike’s wife Kim Brady, Kim Terry, shares the news of the spread of danger as they discover abnormally large, aggressive slugs in their own garden. Mike collects a few specimens in a jar and consults John Foley, Santiago Álvarez, the town’s science teacher, hoping for answers. Foley witnesses one of the slugs attack and devour the class hamster, underscoring the threat the slugs pose.
The menace escalates as the slugs attack and kill two teenagers, while Mike’s friend David Watson, Emilio Linder, unwittingly consumes a slug that had been concealed in a salad prepared by his wife. The following morning, Mike and Reese are tasked with investigating the teen deaths, and Mike stubbornly suggests the slugs as the culprits, though his theory is dismissed by officials who distrust his claim.
Don then discovers that the locations of the murders align with the town’s sewer network, reinforcing the idea that the slugs’ aggression may be tied to something dumped into the wastewater. A separate chain of events unfolds as David falls ill in a restaurant, bleeding from the nose and collapsing as blood flukes burst from his eyes, a grotesque sign of the infection spreading through the town.
Seeing the pattern, Mike pleads with the town mayor to cut off the downtown water supply, hoping to starve the creatures, but his warnings fall on deaf ears. In the school lab, Foley introduces lithium-based arsenic that could kill the slugs in the sewers, and Mike convinces Don to join a plan to deploy it. Foley prepares a large batch of the arsenic, while Mike and Don storm the sewer system to confront the breeding ground.
That night, Don falls into the underground lair and is eaten by the insatiable slugs, a grim reminder of the danger they face. Mike then collaborates with Foley to pump the arsenic into the sewer using a firetruck hose, triggering an explosive reaction that destroys the slug population beneath Ashton, even though the detonation causes significant damage to much of the town.
As emergency services arrive and Kim reunites with Mike, the final twist reveals that, despite the widespread destruction, a single slug has survived the explosion, leaving a silent reminder that the threat may not be entirely eradicated.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:35
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Isolated communities besieged by a relentless force of nature.If you liked the small-town invasion horror of Slugs, you'll enjoy these movies where an ecological disaster or mutated creature terrorizes a community. These films share a similar vibe of relentless dread, graphic biological horror, and a desperate fight for survival against a nature gone wrong.
These narratives typically begin with a strange anomaly that escalates rapidly into a full-scale crisis. A protagonist, often an outsider or a local official, must struggle against bureaucratic indifference to uncover the truth before the community is decimated. The story follows a straightforward investigation and survival arc against an unstoppable natural force.
They are grouped by their shared premise of a localized ecological disaster, a dark and tense tone, and a focus on the gruesome consequences of humanity's disruption of nature. The experience is defined by high-intensity dread and a visceral, creature-feature horror.
Visceral, fast-paced horror where practical effects and gruesome deaths take center stage.For viewers who enjoyed the slimy, graphic violence of Slugs, this collection features similar movies with gruesome creature effects and extreme body horror. These stories prioritize fast-paced action, shocking practical effects, and a high level of gore, creating a dark and brutal viewing experience.
The plot often serves as a straightforward framework to showcase a series of inventive and gruesome kill sequences. Character development is secondary to the escalating threat and the visual horror of the creature's attacks. The narrative moves quickly from one set piece to the next, building to a final confrontation that is as bloody as it is cathartic.
They are united by a commitment to practical effects-driven horror, a high level of graphic violence, and a dark, unrelenting tone. The shared appeal is the visceral thrill of seeing monstrous creatures unleash chaos in the most gruesome ways possible.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Slugs in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Slugs is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Slugs with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Slugs. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Slugs that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Slugs: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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