Sundance Film Festival 2026 – The Worm is such a strange little movie. The film leans into comedy more than horror, with a gonzo premise about a young man who is paranoid that a worm wants to kill him and eat his body. Hence, his obsession with finding the worm and ending its life before it’s too late.
The movie stars Joe Bird as the worm-obsessed protagonist Kieren. His family stages a intervention regarding his paranoia, and these are some of the best scenes in the film. The dialogue is great, as are the performances from Bird and his fellow cast members who act as family. They even hire a psychologist, played by Heather Mitchell, as a last-ditch attempt to save the family and Kieren’s sanity. This is certainly a clever premise for a short film, and it veers into some surprising territory.
Other than the laugh-out-loud scenes between Kieren and his family, the short works especially well when the lead shows vulnerability. There’s a point when Kieren admits he’s afraid that people don’t like him. This effective sequence grounds the film from its otherwise bonkers premise. In fact, I wish there were one or two more scenes like this to show another side from the lead.
That said, the tone largely stays ridiculous, leading to quite the wild ending. Yes, after a lot of digging in the mud, Kieren finds the worm. However, the last scene is quite a surprise and maintains the film’s absurdist tone. The film largely sticks to the comedy, though I suppose Kieren’s paranoia that a worm will eat his body certainly veers into horror territory.
Overall, The Worm is a funny and creative short film. It takes the concept of a dysfunctional family to an entirely new level, all leading to an untamed ending that fits with the short’s tone. I’d love to see more of Kieren and his worm obsession.
