Chalk it up to a relatively slow news week, but the crew over at CHUD.com just got an exclusive peek at this crazy gory freaked-out monster from an upcoming horror flick called "Slither" -- and I just knew it deserved an RT Newsday mention.

Written and directed by James Gunn (screenwriter of "The Specials," "Dawn of the Dead," and "Scooby-Doo"), "Slither" is about (get this) "a small town that's taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters." And if you've already checked out the pic, then you can plainly see what the term "mutant monster" means. (By the way, that's the excellent character actor Michael Rooker hidden beneth all the green gore.)

In addition to the aforementioned (and goo-coated) Mr. Rooker, the flick stars Nathan Fillion ("Serenity"), Gregg Henry ("Femme Fatale"), and Elizabeth Banks ("Spider-Man 2").

The Universal release "Slithers" (ha) into theaters on January 6th of next year ... and I'll bet you a tub of popcorn it'll be rated R.