One thing we have in common with superheroes is that we all have origin stories; but instead of being bitten by a spider and developing supers, you may have been kicked out of school for setting the fire alarm off one too many times, and ended up a postman.

Directors can have origin stories too. Take James Gunn for example; now known for not only bringing superhero origins to the big screen, but also the co-CEO of DC Studios.

In 2006 however, he directed his first film, a comedy horror that he also wrote, that is being re-released with a 4K restoration, to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Welcome to Wheelsy, South Carolina, small town America. It may not have much going for it to put it on the map, but that doesn’t stop an unexpected guest finding it, who arrives by meteorite.

Out in the woods is Grant Grant (Michael Rooker), who is stepping out with someone other than his wife. They stumble across a trail of slime, and follow it, which leads them to a hungry parasite, who decides to make its new home in Grant’s chest.

It transpires that the icky parasite has big ideas, and doesn’t just want to make Wheelsy home, but the entire planet. The only obstacles in his way are possibly Police Chief Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion), and Grant’s own wife Starla (Elizabeth Banks), who are downright reluctant to end up infected like much of the town quickly is.

The biggest film of 2006 was Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, that earned over a billion at the box office.

Unfortunately for Gunn, his directorial debut didn’t quite have the same success. Despite being made on the cheap ($15 million), it only took just over $12 million back. It made an impression with those that counted however, because his third film ended up being 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and the rest, they say, is super-powered history.

And to his credit, it has aged well. The plot pays homage to the classic sci-fi horror films of the fifties and sixties, with some deliciously gross monster scenes, paired nicely with some dark humour.

It was a starring role for Fillion, who had cult success from starring in the TV show Firefly, and should have springboarded him into wider fame – but didn’t.

Banks fared better, going on to have a solid career, through parts in The Hunger Games franchise, and TV roles in 30 Rock and starring in the new series The Miniature Wife.

The real winner is, of course, Gunn, whose origin tale includes this box office dud, that would see him become all powerful in Hollywood.

And considering its 20 years old now, it still manages to impress on the effects front, with its dark humour in its embryonic form, that has gone on to be part of his directing signature.

Still quirkily entertaining, deserving of its moniker cult classic, as it slithers back onto our screens as an enjoyably gross reminder how it all began for Gunn.