Night Bugs is the kind of stuff nightmares are made of. As if a pest infestation wasn’t enough… What if those pests had malicious intentions? That’s just what happens in Night Bugs and the result was highly satisfying. 

Let me be clear… I am NOT a fan of bugs. But I AM a fan of this short film. Night Bugs does a stellar job of doing a lot with a little. The entire thing was shot on an iPhone during the pandemic with a budget of $50. This film is proof that you don’t have to have a big budget or a fancy camera to make a good film…you just need a fun story, creative vision, and some dynamic talent to bring it all to life. 

The storyline is wonderfully original. I have yet to see a film with your average everyday centipede assuming the role of the ultimate antagonist. This sounds far-fetched (and it is), but Night Bugs isn’t a cheesy half-baked attempt at scaring people. It’s a well thought out story that honestly makes me not want to see a centipede ever again. The visuals of these multi-legged villains taking over the house are only made worse by the sounds. The only word to describe the sound effects used for the centipedes’ movement is “cringey”. I’m sure that was intentional and I have to say it definitely worked. 

Michelle Moyer assumes the role of Night Bugs’ young vlogging heroine and I loved every second of her performance. She was adorable, compelling, and sincere, making her performance enjoyable and believable. As the film comes to a close, we are left with an unsettling score and disturbing pictures of centipedes. If you ever thought centipedes were cute you won’t after you see the drawings. Night Bugs looks like it was a family affair, and this family should be proud–I can’t wait to see more from this father-daughter duo!

Want to see the film for yourself? Check it out below!

7 out of 10