Squirm (1976)

In Fly Creek, a storm knocks down the power lines, transforming worms in mutant creatures. Mick (Don Scardino) travels from New York to meet his girlfriend Geri Sanders (Patricia Pearcy) and stays at her home with her mother Naomi Sanders (Jean Sullivan) and her sister Alma Sanders (Fran Higgins). On the arrival, Mick has a friction with Sheriff Jim Reston (Peter MacLean) and with Geri's neighbor Roger Grimes (R.A. Dow) that woos her. Soon they find that Fly Creek is infested of carnivorous worms that are devouring the inhabitants, but Sheriff Reston believes it is a prank of Mick.

"Squirm" is a lame and laughable trash movie about carnivorous worms. The silly story associated to the poor performances and annoying accent makes this film terrible to see and hear; however it is cult for many viewers. But the gorgeous Patricia Pearcy makes it worthwhile watching. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "A Noite do Terror Rastejante" ("The Night of the Terror Crawly")

Fmovies: Squirm is a film that I first saw on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and I absolutely love that episode. It was just a terrific and hilarious one that will always give me a good laugh. Now believe it or not, I later found this film in the 5 dollar bin at Wal Mart and figured, why not? This movie was just so laughable, why not watch it and make up my own sarcasm. Well, when I watched the uncut version, actually I have to in some ways admit that this wasn't the worst film ever made, worthy of MST3K sarcasm, but I would say that the problems are minor and the film just needs a band-aid, lol. The music and southern accents are just a bit much.

Mick is coming to Fly Creek for a good country vacation and meeting an old friend, Geri. There was a nasty storm the night before and electricity hit the ground hard causing the worms to turn into killers. Mick and Geri, along with her creepy neighbor who is a mixture of Steve Young and Alvin the Chipmunk have to learn how to deal with it. But the worms are going to destroy the town and hopefully tone down the southern accents.

Squirm isn't necessarily a bad movie, well, I think it's one of those movies that it's so bad that it's actually good. Just the way the actors present a lot of the lines are a little distracting and get a good unintentional laugh like "Yer gonna be da worm face!" was said a little oddly. This is a great Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode I would recommend, but as a film, it's worth a look if you're into a cheesy drive in flick type of movie, otherwise, don't expect too much.

3/10

In the small town of Georgia, there was a violent storm in the night and when the power lines falls in the ground. There's millions of earth worms are coming out of the ground. In the next day, Mick (Don Scardino) is a young man from New York City. Who's meeting his lovely girlfriend Geri (Patricia Pearcy), her mother (The late Jean Sullivan) and her sister (Fran Higgins). Which Mick is staying for a couple of days, but when he goes sight-seeing with his girlfriend. They found skeleton and when they told their story to the local sheriff (Peter MacLean). Who's doesn't believe a word of their story. When Mick gets bitten from a worm, he believes that it might has something to do the skeleton they found. But once it's turns night, there's millions of earth worms are coming out of the night and attack the civilians of this small town. Which now Mick and his girlfriend's family are trying to stay alive until the next morning comes.

Written and Directed by Jeff Lieberman (Blue Sunshine, Just Before Dawn, Remote Control) made an decent entertainment horror movie that is intentionally silly at times but it also has some good shock sequences. Lieberman actually takes his time to get the know the characters well enough before they killed or actually by these disgusting worms in the movie. Sure, there's problems in his script. But the cast is good (especially Scardino) and it has good gross make-up effects by Six Time Oscar-Winner:Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Hellboy, Planet of the Apes "2001"). Some people find this movie so awful that is was actually shown in "Mystery Science Theater 3000". Sure, the movie is actually much more sillier today but i think it's genuinely well made for its time and seeing the character of Roger (D.A. Grimes), who was attacked by worms twice is a bit too much. But it does some good shock values and i did have the occasional jump scare in my chair. Horror fans will enjoy more than the others. It's worth a look. (*** ½/*****).

Squirm fmovies. A vicious storm downs a power line near a very small Georgia town. It (somehow) drives all the worms crazy and turns them into vicious man-eaters! The town is cut off from civilization and the worms attack...

The plot is just silly (flesh-eating WORMS? Come on!) but the film never takes itself TOO seriously. A lot of the dialogue is very tongue in cheek, and there are LOTS of close-ups of screaming worms (news to me--I didn't know worms could scream). So it's really hard to take any of this seriously.

The acting is all pretty bad (even Jean Sullivan the one "name" in the cast) and the plot moves in fits and starts. And it does take a while to really get going. But when the attacks happen things really get going. There are some pretty good, if disgusting, special effects (one VERY disturbing scene shows worms burrowing into a guys FACE) and seeing literally MOUNTAINS of worms squirming around is kind of queasy.

It you take this film literally you're gonna hate it. But if you accept it for the low-budget, slightly campy film it is you'll probably have a fairly good time. Worth seeing at least once for the gruesome special effects.

I saw the PG rated one on cable which (I heard) is one minute shorter than the R rated one. Purportedly all that's missing is some minor nudity (some of which was in the PG one) and some swearing. All the gore is still there.

Reading some of the negative reviews for Squirm, I can't help but wonder if some people tend to prejudge it just because its "one of those 70's bug flicks". I saw this movie at the theater when it was first released, and watching it now on video, it still holds up today as a very well made film.

The set locations were perfect for giving that "small town down south" feeling. And, though the acting by some of the locals left something to be desired, I thought the main characters did a very good job, especially considering the type of movie this was. The music score was terrific and gave the film some great moments. The photography was very good, and probably one of the best using low-light scenes with only candles. And the special effects hold up very well by today's standards.

O.K., I'll point out a few negatives. Some of the dialog is hilariously bad, and tends to stereotype "southerners". Of course, as with most of these types of films, the science doesn't hold up, but thats why its called "science FICTION".

In closing, I can highly recommend this movie to any fan of sci-fi-nature-strikes-back and horror movies. But please, watch it with an open mind- you'll enjoy it better.

Definitely not MST3K material.

Against FOOD OF THE GODS, DOGS, KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS, the irrepressible SLUGS and other nature-gone-berserk flicks, SQUIRM stands tall.

The worms are the thing here, but their existence does not short-change the film's acting, storyline and characterizations. Director Jeff Lieberman, a fellow of immense cinematic intelligence (BLUE SUNSHINE, JUST BEFORE DAWN), has crafted a smart, stylish little thriller that delivers on its promise.

Rick Baker's worms are very impressive and Lieberman knows when to reveal them and when to keep them -- literally -- in the dark.

The set-up is simple. Following a filthy, dirty storm, downed powerlines send bolts of electricity into the earth. Shocked worms turn rabid and begin to menace "us".

The film is exceptionally well photographed and acted, the rural setting works beautifully, and the climax packs a punch.

Solid filmmaking all 'round.