Slither 2006
Directed by
James Gunn
Made by
Universal Pictures
Slither Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Slither (2006). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
On a quiet night, a meteorite crashes into Wheelsy, a small town in South Carolina, carrying a malevolent, sentient extraterrestrial parasite. The organism quickly finds a host in Grant Michael Rooker, a wealthy resident, taking over his body and mind. Under its control, Grant begins a disturbing transformation, becoming a grotesque, tentacled monster that exudes a dangerous presence. The parasite also abducts and infects a local woman named Brenda, using her as a breeder for its growing larvae.
Back at home, Starla Elizabeth Banks, Grant’s wife, grows suspicious as she notices changes in his appearance and behavior. She wonders why he hasn’t set foot in a doctor’s office in over a year, and her concern deepens when Grant attacks her. The danger escalates until the police arrive to intervene, at which point Grant flees into the night.
Meanwhile, a posse led by police chief Bill Pardy Nathan Fillion tracks the alien’s trail and discovers Brenda’s body, which has become unnaturally swollen from the larvae inside. The larvae burst out, spreading rapidly and infecting most of the town, sparing only Starla, Bill, Mayor Jack MacReady, and teenager Kylie Strutemyer. The infected townspeople become part of a hive mind, all under Grant’s direction, bent on consuming every life form until only Grant’s consciousness remains.
Despite the invading menace, Grant clings to a stubborn thread of love for Starla and wants to be reunited with her. The survivors realize their best chance is to kill Grant, which would in turn destroy the rest of the aliens. Bill and Kylie manage to escape with Starla and Jack briefly captured, but the group is fractured.
Armed with a grenade, Bill and Kylie head toward Grant’s house, where the infected are absorbed by the increasingly mutated host. Inside, Jack and others are converted into breeders for more larvae while Grant keeps Starla uninfected for the moment, hoping to win back her affection. Starla, resourceful and determined, arms herself with a sharp brush and confronts Grant in a tense showdown.
She tricks him into believing she still loves him, then stabs him with the brush. Grant becomes furious and throws her across the room. Bill and Kylie enter, shooting several infected townsfolk and grabbing a grenade. Grant knocks the grenade into the pool, then subdues Kylie with a couch and attempts to infect Bill with his tentacles. While one tentacle stabs Bill in the stomach, Bill attaches the other tentacle to a propane tank. Starla shoots Grant, who, filled with flammable gas, explodes, killing the rest of the aliens and saving Bill. With the town dead and the threat eliminated, the three survivors head off to seek help.
In a post-credits scene, a cat approaches Grant’s remains and becomes infected by the alien parasite, a quiet reminder that the danger may not be entirely past.
Slither Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Slither (2006) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Meteorite arrives, bringing a malevolent parasite to Wheelsy
A meteorite crashes into Wheelsy, releasing a malevolent, sentient extraterrestrial parasite. The creature survives the impact and begins its slow conquest of the town. The arrival marks the start of a chilling invasion.
Parasite takes control of Grant and begins transformation
The parasite invades Grant, a wealthy resident, taking over his body and mind. He begins to mutate into a grotesque, tentacled form as the creature takes root inside him. The transformation signals the expansion of the alien threat.
Grant abducts Brenda to breed the larvae
Under alien control, Grant abducts Brenda to serve as a breeder for the parasite’s larvae. She becomes a host for the larvae, enabling the infection to spread. The town remains unaware of the danger developing in its shadows.
Starla suspects the changes and Grant attacks
Starla notices unsettling changes in Grant’s behavior and appearance. Grant attacks her, revealing the extent of the infection. The couple’s trust fractures as danger comes to their doorstep.
Police arrive to rescue Starla; Grant escapes
Police arrive to intervene, but Grant flees into the town as chaos erupts. The rescue attempt exposes the spread of the parasite and complicates the search. The monster remains at large, threatening more victims.
Posse discovers Brenda and confirms infection
A posse led by Police Chief Bill Pardy finds Brenda and realizes she is infected. The discovery confirms that the parasite has overtaken at least one town resident. Dread grows as the scale of the threat becomes personal.
Brenda’s body bloats and larvae burst, spreading infection
Brenda’s body becomes grotesquely bloated as larvae mature inside her. The larvae burst forth and infest others in Wheelsy, beginning the town-wide outbreak. The infected start to join a growing hive mind controlled by Grant.
Hive mind forms; a few survivors remain uninfected
Most townsfolk become part of the hive mind under Grant’s control, while Starla, Bill, Mayor Jack MacReady, and Kylie Strutemyer remain uninfected. The group becomes the last line of resistance against the alien takeover. The alien plan edges closer to its goal.
Grant leads the hive mind and seeks total consumption
Grant leads the hive mind from his mutated form and intends to consume all life until only his consciousness remains. He clings to a fragment of love for Starla, hinting at his lingering humanity. The town’s survival hinges on stopping the alien at its source.
Survivors realize killing Grant could end the infestation
The remaining survivors deduce that killing Grant is the only way to terminate the spreading alien infestation. They resolve to confront the monster despite the danger. The plan centers on ending the parasite at its core.
Bill and Kylie pursue Grant with a grenade; Starla and Jack are captured
Bill and Kylie head toward Grant’s home armed with a grenade to kill the monster. During the escalation, Starla and Jack are captured by the infected. The rescue mission evolves into a full confrontation.
Final confrontation and Grant’s destruction
Starla pretends to still love Grant to lure him into a trap, then stabs him with a brush. Bill and Kylie fight off several infected townsfolk as Grant’s power grows. The villain is finally killed when Starla shoots him and a propane-tank setup ignites, destroying the monster and the remaining aliens.
Survivors flee Wheelsy to seek help
With the alien threat ended, the few survivors—Starla, Bill, and Kylie—head off to seek help. The town lies in ruins as they leave behind the dead and the infected. A fragile hope remains for escaping to safety.
Post-credits: a cat becomes infected
In the post-credits scene, a local cat approaches Grant’s remains and becomes infected by the alien parasite. The threat appears to have a lingering, lurking potential for renewal. The final moment hints at a possible cycle of invasion.
Slither Characters
Explore all characters from Slither (2006). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Grant Grant
A wealthy Wheelsy resident whose body is overtaken by a malevolent extraterrestrial parasite. The infection mutates him into a grotesque, tentacled monster and drives his urge to absorb others into a hive mind. He still clings to memories of his wife and seeks to be reunited with her, complicating the fight against the invasion.
Starla Grant
Grant's wife who notices the changes in his behavior and becomes a central figure in stopping the alien. She demonstrates courage, resourcefulness, and determination as she navigates a perilous situation and ultimately confronts Grant. Her actions drive the human resistance and reveal the human cost of the infestation.
Bill Pardy
The town's police chief who leads the posse in the search for Grant and helps protect the survivors. He faces the infecteds, coordinates the plan to kill Grant, and sacrifices effort to save others. He acts as a steady, pragmatic anchor amid the chaos.
Slither Settings
Learn where and when Slither (2006) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Mid-2000s
The story takes place in contemporary America during the mid-2000s. It relies on practical effects and a grounded, small-town atmosphere to contrast with the extraterrestrial threat. The timeframe grounds the horror in a recognizable era, enhancing the film's blend of humor and gore.
Location
Wheelsy, South Carolina
Wheelsy is a quiet town in South Carolina that becomes the focal point of an alien infestation. The parasite's arrival disrupts everyday life as residents are transformed and the community struggles to react. The setting's familiar streets heighten the horror of the outbreak.
Slither Themes
Discover the main themes in Slither (2006). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
🧬
Infection
An alien parasite invades Wheelsy, spreading through victims and mutating hosts into hive-minded beings. The larvae create a collective consciousness that erases personal autonomy. The town's fight against the infection centers on stopping Grant to halt the spread.
💔
Love & Loyalty
Grant's love for his wife persists even after infection, complicating the human-alien conflict. Starla's suspicion of Grant's changes drives the action, and her courage becomes pivotal in the final confrontation. The theme explores how personal bonds can endure and resist monstrous forces.
🔥
Sacrifice
The climax hinges on a tense showdown at Grant's home, with Bill and Kylie fighting to stop the parasite's spread. Starla orchestrates Grant's death, a sacrifice that triggers the aliens' collapse. The explosion destroys Grant and the infected townspeople, allowing the survivors to escape and seek help. The post-credits cat scene hints the threat may survive in a new host.
Slither Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Slither (2006). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the quiet, isolated town of Wheelsy, Georgia, an otherworldly metallic entity crashes into the night sky, bringing with it a strange and deadly plague that quickly begins to alter the very fabric of daily life. The town’s sleepy routine is shattered, replaced by an atmosphere thick with unease and an unsettling sense that something ancient and alien now walks among the familiar streets. Shadows seem to linger longer, and the ordinary becomes a backdrop for a creeping, metallic horror that hints at a far‑reaching danger beyond anyone’s imagination.
At the center of the turmoil is the steadfast sheriff Bill Pardy, a man whose sense of duty is as solid as the town he protects. He finds himself thrust into a crisis that tests the limits of his authority and his resolve, forcing him to confront a threat that defies conventional law‑enforcement tactics. Alongside him is Starla, the determined wife of a wealthy local resident, whose intuition and tenacity make her an unlikely but essential ally in the fight for survival. The couple’s relationship adds a personal thread to the larger conflict, grounding the panic in human connection.
Grant, a prominent figure in the community, becomes an unwitting focal point for the alien presence. His status and resources place him in a precarious position, drawing the attention of both the mysterious entity and the town’s remaining defenders. As the infestation spreads, a small band of survivors—including a resourceful teenager—must grapple with the unknown, each bringing their own strengths and doubts to a situation that feels both intimate and apocalyptic.
The tone of the film balances visceral horror with a tense, almost claustrophobic suspense, inviting the audience to linger in the unsettling juxtaposition of small‑town normalcy and an uncanny extraterrestrial menace. The story is less about grand battles and more about the fragile resilience of ordinary people when faced with an incomprehensible invader, leaving viewers to wonder how far the darkness can reach before the light of humanity can no longer hold it at bay.
Movies with Similar Twists and Themes
Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.
Featured on this page
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.