Never would I expect a movie about people being taken over by parasitic worms to be a heart-wrenching film about the power and pain of love. And yet, director Sergio Pinheiro achieves just that in his new feature, Wormtown. Written by Andrew James Myers, Wormtown is equal parts gnarly body horror and sapphic love story, a surprising yet welcome combination that isn’t really seen in the genre. But don’t worry, the human elements are decimated, quite literally, with stomach-churning practical effects and buckets of worms.

It’s been a year since a strange infection swept through a small Ohio town, leaving residents riddled with parasitic brain worms. They’re still alive, but they can’t go out into the sunlight, and they are constantly on the search to bring others into their hive. Plus, they worship their cult-like leader, Mayor Joshua, who commands Ranchers to seek other humans to join their group. Trying to survive this hellscape are Jess (Caitlin McWethy), Rose (Emily Soppe), and Kara (Rachel Ryu), who have built a bunker for themselves, hidden away from the Nightcrawlers, as they call them. There, they do experiments and try to figure out these creatures. They stay out of sight, but are still in constant danger when they wander out while the sun is up.

Then, one day, their tentatively peaceful existence is shattered, and Jess must flee to find a way to survive. This leads her to Rose’s family, an Amish family close by. Yes, it sounds outlandish, as Amish characters are often the butt of the joke in most films. But here, Pinheiro uses the characters in careful, interesting ways that make Wormtown unlike any apocalyptic horror film you’ve ever seen. 

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While many of this cast aren’t big names on the horror scene, they should be, especially Caitlin McWethy, who pours everything into her portrayal of Jess, a woman trying to survive not just the end of the world, but through the experience of grief. Maggie Lou Rader is also stunning as Alice, a cult member who uses her maternal energy to lure in new members and help them through becoming part of the hive. She is also dealing with grief, and her story running parallel to Jess’s provides a fascinating look into this twisted world.

Wormtown is a film that, while full of wormy body horror, hinges on its characters and how their respective actors bring them to life. So much of this film could fall into melodrama or B-movie sleaze. But Pinheiro and Myers, plus their talented cast, strike that careful balance rather beautifully. They never want to forget the real, human heart beating at the center of Wormtown, sometimes to the detriment of the film’s pacing. While they balance the film’s tone well, the film’s pace suffers from trying to be both a drama and a disgusting piece of body horror.

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David Greathouse is the master of that disgusting body horror, a frequent collaborator with Cranked Up Films, working on the Fresh Hell trilogy. In Wormtown, he’s bringing the slime, blood, and worms in a myriad of ways that would make Cronenberg squirm. Cinematographer Roy Rossovich films Greathouse’s creations beautifully. Worms have never looked so beautiful. Plus, he imbues the film with a desolate beauty, making every landscape both gorgeous and sad, hopeful yet bleak.

Overall, Wormtown is one of 2025’s biggest surprises. It’s not just stomach-churning, but it’s also heartfelt and poignant, a unique genre experience that isn’t afraid to make you cry and nauseous in the same beat. Cranked Up Films is secretly creeping up as a must-watch company as they continue to help create nasty indie art. 

Wormtown comes to digital and VOD on November 7, 2025. 

Summary

Wormtown is one of 2025’s biggest surprises. It’s not just stomach-churning, but it’s also heartfelt and poignant, a unique genre experience that isn’t afraid to make you cry and nauseous in the same beat.

Categorized: Reviews