The Worm Review: A Teen is Haunted by a Back Garden Pest in Delightfully Bizarre Horror Short
Joe Bird (Talk to Me, Leviticus) stars in the 13-minute film from Aussie director Tom Noakes
Words by Alex Secilmis 2 February 2026
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
When his family stages an intervention, young, neurotic Kieran (Joe Bird) isn’t chastised for your typical adolescent struggles. Rather, his loved ones have a thoroughly irregular concern: Kieran is convinced all his problems are willed by a malevolent, telepathic worm.
Moving at a breakneck pace, Tom Noakes’ short film is a riotous ensemble piece driven by Will Goodfellow’s irreverent script. Covered in mud, Kieran walks into his living room where his family has gathered with the comically calm Dr Spelling (Heather Mithcell). His mother (Susie Porter) delicately broaches the subject (“I love you and I’ve tried my best to be understanding about your beliefs…”), and we learn that he has stolen from his father’s life insurance to fly in a worm grunter (Peter Stephens) to find and squish his nemesis. But Kieran, who alleges that the worm is whispering suicidal thoughts to him, doesn’t budge, and he cites his friends from an online forum to explain his predicament. Apparently, it’s either him or the worm.
Credit: Aaron McLisky
Endearingly wacky, endlessly amusing, and somehow moving, The Worm is a superlative horror comedy short that leaves you wanting more in the best sense. The jokes come fast and the film never lets up, and Noakes and Goodfellow have such a strong grasp of its tricky, layered tone that you’re left wanting a feature adaptation. And with stylish and atmospheric cinematography courtesy of Aaron McLisky (Talk to Me, Bring Her Back), The Worm is equally propelled by Callum O’Reilly’s eccentric score, contributing an eerie, guttural soundscape that offsets the script’s outrageous humour.
Credit: Aaron McLisky
Playing a troubled teen who blames his erratic behaviour on a wriggling invertebrate, Joe Bird is an enthralling lead boasting off-kilter charm and razor-sharp comedic timing. Bird is known for his starring roles in two deadly serious Aussie horror films, the global A24 hit Talk to Me and the new queer horror romantic drama Leviticus—which also made waves at Sundance and has already been acquired by NEON—but The Worm sees him excel in a spooky absurdist comedy, channelling the same intensity but directing it towards a thoroughly quirky film to hilarious effect.
As an offbeat comedy and a disarmingly poignant mental health parable, The Worm is an exciting, original short and a promising calling card for director Tom Noakes.