Slither

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Slither

PG

Released Mar 7, 1973

1h 37m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Fresh out of prison for car theft, Dick Kanipsia (James Caan) goes to visit a fellow ex-con, Harry Moss (Richard B. Shull), and arrives just in time to see him gunned down by faceless assassins. Dick tracks down Harry's friend Barry (Peter Boyle), who reveals that he and Harry had a small fortune they entrusted to a shady investment expert years ago. Dick and Barry form an uneasy partnership and, with the help of a sexy drifter named Kitty (Sally Kellerman), try to trace the money.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Slither is a suspense comedy that keeps promising to be a knockout entertainment; it never delivers, and it finally fizzles out, because the story idea isn't as good as the curlicues.

Sep 12, 2023

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Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

Zieff's talent goes further than a skill for packaging sound scripts and performances.

Mar 17, 2020

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Zieff would rather go for good moments than construct an over-all structure. So the movie is heavy on moments, light on structure, and that's OK.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2004

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Slither peters out to a fairly palpable degree once it progresses into its meandering and often excessively quirky midsection and second half...

Rated: 2/4

May 5, 2022

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Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

There are a number of amiable performances. All first-rate.

Jan 2, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A confoundingly funny pic.

Rated: A-

Feb 4, 2009

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Audience Member

From the director of 'Private Benjamin' and 'My Girl The late James Caan, Peter Boyle, and Sally Kellerman Caan plays Dick, an ex-con searching for a small fortune of embezzled money His buddy Harry suffers a gunshot wound and decides to give him a task to aquire a large sum of cash Dick then goes on a wild goose chase with a small band leader, his doting wife who remembers him from high school, and a kooky drifter The chase ends up taking them to trailer camps, bingo halls, laundromats, and ultimately a showdown with unconventional foes The film is just alright; likable characters, good actors, heavy on movements and light on structure Not too many thrills sad to say and the ending is disappointing Still such amiable performances

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Audience Member

From the director of 'Private Benjamin' and 'My Girl The late James Caan, Peter Boyle, and Sally Kellerman Caan plays Dick, an ex-con searching for a small fortune of embezzled money His buddy Harry suffers a gunshot wound and decides to give him a task to aquire a large sum of cash Dick then goes on a wild goose chase with a small band leader, his doting wife who remembers him from high school, and a kooky drifter The chase ends up taking them to trailer camps, bingo halls, laundromats, and ultimately a showdown with unconventional foes The film is just alright; likable characters, good actors, heavy on movements and light on structure Not too many thrills sad to say and the ending is disappointing Still such amiable performances

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I absolutely love this game!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Sometimes amusing mashup of comedy and crime drama with an ambling mood and relaxed performances from its cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

great cast make this one kinda watchable

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Howard Zieff

Director

James Caan

Dick Kanipsia

Peter Boyle

Barry Fenaka

Sally Kellerman

Kitty Kopetzky

Louise Lasser

Mary Fenaka

Allen Garfield

Vincent J. Palmer

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Synopsis

Fresh out of prison for car theft, Dick Kanipsia (James Caan) goes to visit a fellow ex-con, Harry Moss (Richard B. Shull), and arrives just in time to see him gunned down by faceless assassins. Dick tracks down Harry's friend Barry (Peter Boyle), who reveals that he and Harry had a small fortune they entrusted to a shady investment expert years ago. Dick and Barry form an uneasy partnership and, with the help of a sexy drifter named Kitty (Sally Kellerman), try to trace the money.

Director: Howard Zieff
Producer: Jack Sher
Screenwriter: W.D. Richter
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Talent Associates Ltd.
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 1973, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 37m

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