Slotherhouse is the perfect blend of sloth and slaughter
This movie is a wild ride that embraces its absurdity with gleeful abandon. Slotherhouse takes a hilariously outlandish premise—a murderous sloth loose in a sorority house—and runs with it, delivering a tongue-in-cheek slasher that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Directed by Matthew Goodhue, this film knows exactly what it is: a campy, sloth-infused horror-comedy that revels in its ludicrousness.
At the heart of this tale is Emily, a college senior looking to cap off her final year with a bang by becoming her sorority’s president. What better way to charm her sisters than with a cute, Instagrammable pet sloth? Enter Alpha, the sloth with a surprisingly homicidal streak. The film quickly transitions from a quirky sorority comedy into a chaotic, thrill-filled ride as the body count starts to rise. It’s refreshing how Slotherhouse doesn’t waste time trying to be profound or groundbreaking; instead, it dives straight into the absurdity, letting the sloth steal the spotlight with its slow-motion kills and sinister glares.
The comedy in Slotherhouse is delightfully self-aware. The film doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at horror movie tropes, using the sloth’s inherent slowness to build tension in the most ludicrous situations. Picture a scene where the sorority girls scream in terror as Alpha slowly—ever so slowly—crawls toward them, knife in paw. The humor is further amplified by the fact that the characters, initially oblivious to the sloth’s true nature, treat it like just another sorority drama until things turn bloodily clear. It’s this mix of horror and humor that makes the film so entertaining, playing off the absurdity of a sloth as the villain.
Performances are spot-on for the movie’s campy tone. The cast, led by Lisa Ambalavanar as Emily, balances the line between earnestness and parody, selling the ludicrousness of the situation while keeping viewers invested. The sloth itself, a combination of practical effects and animatronics, is given just the right amount of personality to make its actions both menacing and oddly comical. Kudos to director Matthew Goodhue for keeping the pacing tight and never letting the gag wear thin.
Where Slotherhouse stumbles a bit is in its predictability. The film sticks to the formula of classic slasher flicks, so seasoned horror fans might see the plot twists coming a mile away. However, this familiarity works in its favor for the most part, as it allows viewers to focus on the ridiculous fun of a sloth committing murder rather than getting bogged down in complex plotting. The film’s climax delivers a satisfying mix of thrills and laughs, wrapping up the bizarre tale with a wink and a nod.
In the end, Slotherhouse is a delightful blend of horror and comedy that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a silly, sloth-filled bloodbath. It’s the kind of movie that’s best enjoyed with friends and a sense of humor, making it a standout for fans of campy creature features. If you’re looking for high-brow horror, look elsewhere. But if you’re up for some good-natured fun with a murderous sloth, this one is definitely worth the watch.
