Indie Film Podcast Review: Wormtown

When mind-altering parasites take over a small town, a trio of women in lockdown are dragged into a fight for survival and revenge.

Written by Victoria Horn.

Wormtown: The Indie Film Podcast Review

Looking for something to get under your skin? Wormtown is worth the purchase.

True to its poster, Wormtown is a gloriously gory body-horror that reaches beyond the flesh, into faith and fanaticism. Set in small-town America (read: Ashland, Ohio, albeit a fictionalized version), the film drops us into a dystopian future where worms run the world. These UV-phobic parasites infect leaders, starting with Mayor Joshua (Jim Azelvandre), who uses propaganda and fearmongering to recruit more hosts over his haunting, persistent radio broadcasts. Our story follows three rebellious women, hell-bent on avoiding infestation as they pursue greener pastures in nearby Amish country, which remains safe from the world-dominating worms.

Jess (Caitlin McWethy), Kara (Rachel Ryu), and Rose (Emily Soppe) each end up squaring off against the worms in their own way, though their paths diverge dramatically. Through beautifully orchestrated direction and careful storytelling, each woman faces the same eventual question: What’s the price of devotion?

The characters created by writer Andrew James Myers are complex and twisted, and in many cases, grotesque. The performances by McWethy, Ryu, and Soppe are compelling and inviting, easily keeping audiences engaged through their relational turmoils and the main story. But what truly brings this piece together in a standout, cohesive success is the direction by Sergio Pinheiro. While it’s obvious that everyone on screen has the chops to bring audiences into this fictitious world, I’d be remiss if I didn’t call out the art department and cinematography, both of which truly took this film to the next level. From literal skin-crawling worms to exquisitely decomposing bodies, Wormtown will delight anyone who loves a gorefest realistic enough to make you squirm. Beautifully paired wide, ghost-town vistas with up-close POV shots of parasites surging through pores showcase the effects and makeup, without being so ostentatious as to draw attention away from the intense or meaningful moments. On a technical level alone, this entire team gets a ten out of ten in my book.

Where many indie horrors unravel, the Wormtown film only deepens. It’s a multifaceted allegory you can peel back layer by layer with every rewatch. On the surface, it’s a pointed commentary on oppression or the consequences of bowing to “The Man Behind The Curtain” (looking at you, Oz). However, the religious imagery and affronts to gender norms in our leading trio’s appearances lend themselves to multiple interpretations. From baptismal motifs to an Amish character’s pop-culture knowledge frozen in the 80s, this film has something to pull everyone in and make them ask that same question: What’s the cost of devotion, and are you willing to pay it?

Indie Film Podcast Recommendation: Buy This Film!

If you’re looking for a film that scratches every itch for horror fans, while also proposing the nuanced story of leadership v. science v. faith, all delivered with technical precision and heart, Wormtown is for you. I’m proud to give it a firm “Buy It” rating. After multiple viewings, it’s still slithering through my brain in the best way, and I’m confident fellow indie, sci-fi, horror, and dystopian fans will feel the same.

Learn more about Wormtown at crankedupfilms.com