Sure, axe-wielding, demon-possessed, undead were-zombie ghouls are scary in theory, but there’s a special kind of creepiness in the concept of having our humdrum lives interrupted by a faceful of Nature at its most malevolent. To celebrate this spooky season, Slice’s resident master of horror Brian O’Daniel presents a triskaidekaphobic spate of film selections in which the animal kingdom attempts to reassert its dominance over humanity.
Film: Ben (1972)
Critters: A swarm of telepathic rats
Audience Left With: Musophobia
Tagline: “Where ‘Willard’ ended… Ben begins. And this time, he’s not alone!”
Film: Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
Critters: Acid-spitting birds that burst into flames on contact with the ground
Audience Left With: Ornithophobia
Tagline: “Why did the eagles and vultures attacked (sic)?”
Film: Black Sheep (2006)
Critters: Genetically mutated carnivorous sheep
Audience Left With: Ovinaphobia
Tagline: “Get ready for the violence of the lambs!”
Film: Dogs (a.k.a. Slaughter) (1976)
Critters: Domestic dogs gone feral
Audience Left With: Cynophobia
Tagline: “Terror is unleashed.”
Film: Empire of the Ants (1977)
Critters: Giant ants mutated by toxic sludge
Audience Left With: Myrmecophobia
Tagline: “It’s no picnic!”
Film: Frogs (1978)
Critters: Snakes, lizards and hundreds of frogs
Audience Left With: Batrachophobia
Tagline: “Today the pond… Tomorrow the world!”
Film: Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)
Critters: Tarantulas, William Shatner
Audience Left With: Arachnophobia, Cacothespiphobia
Tagline: “A living, crawling hell on earth!”
Film: Night of the Lepus (1972)
Critters: Gargantuan, man-eating rabbits
Audience Left With: Leporiphobia
Tagline: “How many eyes does horror have? How many times will terror strike?”
Film: Piranha (1978)
Critters: A school of razor-teethed fish
Audience Left With: Ichthyophobia
Tagline: “Lost River Lake was a thriving resort – until they discovered… PIRANHA.”
Film: Squirm (1976)
Critters: Sanguinivorous earthworms
Audience Left With: Helminthophobia
Tagline: “An avalanche of killer worms… writhing across the land in a tidal wave of terror!”
Film: Sssssss (1973)
Critters: Cobras, man-snake mutant
Audience Left With: Ophidiophobia
Tagline: “Terror is ready to strike!”
Film: Strays (1991)
Critters: Violent, feral cats
Audience Left With: Ailurophobia
Tagline: “They have nine lives. We only have one.”
Film: The Swarm (1978)
Critters: Killer beeeeeeeees
Audience Left With: Apiphobia
Tagline: “It’s more than speculation – it’s a prediction!”
