Worm

Worm is an interesting movie. It's filmed entirely by a GoPro camera mounted facing the protagonist (Worm) played by Andrew Bowser, and he is pretty much the only character we will see with the exception of a few glimpses at some other characters in the background.

So, can a movie so restricted by its camera angle and low budged hold your attention for 90 minutes? I can, thanks to Andrew Bowser.

The story it tells feels sometimes rushed, specially towards the end, where some segments can get a little ridiculous. But it does not matter because that's not the greater strength of this movie.

This movie is filmed in (what seems like) a continuous 90 minute shot, and that whole story is unfolded during this time period. It lets Andrew Bowser shape and mold the charismatic protagonist "Worm" in real time, you see him go trough all variety of emotions seamlessly, with no cuts, so it feels all the more real. The story ends up being just an excuse to showcase the incredible array of acting skills Andrew has.

That's why I gave it a 7 and not more. Because with a little more work on the plot and secondary characters this could easily get an 8.

It is an average story with a very interesting artistic direction that has an exceptional actor carrying the whole thing. But I think that was the point, for Andrew to present himself and show off what he can do. And I hope he gets hired for something bigger and better after this.

And yes, it is worth watching, it'll keep you interested in "Worm's" story for its full length. Unlike other movies I've seen recently (James Bond "spectre" and The Martian come to mind). It is actually pretty fresh compared to what you would expect from a triple A movie studio.

Excellent film, noir type black and white underground...I have watched this 3 times. Difficult to describe...at times sad, wrenching, still uplifting. Well worth the watch. Looking forward to Bowser's new film coming out later this year: onyxthefilm.com

Worm is a striking achievement in independent cinema that showcases both raw creativity and technical prowess. Directed, written by, and starring Andrew Bowser, the film immediately grabs your attention with its single-take format-a feat that not only amplifies the tension but fully immerses you in the story. The camera's unbroken gaze pulls you straight into the small-town, morally gray world of Worm, a socially awkward man desperately seeking validation.

Bowser's portrayal of Worm is magnetic, with every awkward tic and nervous utterance bringing to life a character that's as endearing as he is unsettling. The supporting cast shines as well, with Drew Pollock as the overconfident Maverick and Rett Terrell as the elusive Miller, both giving performances that add depth and layers to the narrative. The seamless flow between actors in this continuous shot underscores their chemistry and commitment.

What makes Worm so engrossing is not just its stylistic ambition but the way it maintains an air of unpredictable tension. You're constantly on edge, not knowing if Worm's story will end in redemption or ruin. The film offers a gritty, unfiltered look into a troubled mind, capturing moments of dark humor, quiet despair, and bursts of frenetic energy. It's a film that keeps you riveted from start to finish, as you realize you're not just watching Worm's unraveling-you're living it with him.

For those who appreciate innovative storytelling, Worm is a must-watch, proving that with the right vision, independent cinema can deliver an experience as intense and captivating as any big-budget thriller.

The biggest reason to see this film is not for the plot line, but for the unique perspective resulting from the method of filming. It was shot with a GoPro Hero camera mounted to a Snorricam and produced with a seamless edit. This enables the audience to experience the events of the story along with the main character, Worm, in a cool way that I'd never seen before. The second biggest reason to see the movie is Andrew Bowser's portrayal of Worm that wins the audience's sympathy so fully. The story line isn't bad either, with the exception of a couple of plot holes. These were totally overshadowed by the thrill of feeling like I knew exactly what Worm was going through every second. I saw the film at DeadCenter Film Festival, and at the end of the movie, it was obvious from the audience's reaction that they had come to identify with Worm and his plight completely. I can't wait to see what Andrew Bowser comes up with next.

This is a crime thriller unlike any other picture that comes to mind. Film-maker Andrew Bowser can be relied upon to craft original features that try something a little different, like them or not. With the distinct way this is shot, 'Worm' definitely stands out in a crowd.

Having accordingly been filmed in and around Guthrie, Oklahoma, 'Worm' absolutely has the look and feel of a story playing out in Small Town, USA. Disparate old buildings, abandoned structures, knucklehead cops, sleepy streets, and dusty roads round out the setting. There's a strong sense in the dialogue and characterizations that this is a place where everyone knows each other. Moreover, the title character, of whom more is revealed as the movie goes on, seems very much like a familiar figure that we can all recognize in someone among our high school classmates of however many years ago.

The narrative doesn't do much to impress at first, but turns in the plot keep us watching. Story beats are written well and stitched together into a cohesive whole that's ultimately quite rewarding, especially at the climax. I also appreciate the ending, summarily cutting to the end credits with an open-ended curtness echoing Worm's jarring, eye-opening journey. Characters, meanwhile, don't necessarily seem developed beyond the purpose they serve in the film, including the aforementioned scenery for the setting. Yet having served that purpose - and given that 'Worm' is enjoyable as is - I'm not going to harp on that particular deficiency.

The prime attraction of 'Worm' is in its technical craft - or deliberate lack thereof. Bowser has taken three novel, relatively uncommon ideas and combined them into one: The movie is filmed with a GoPro camera, worn by Bowser in the starring role. Unlike other features or personal videos that utilize a first-person perspective, Bowser does the exact opposite here, and has the camera turned back onto himself for the entirety of the runtime, creating a minor fishbowl lens effect. And these methods are employed, as per Bowser himself, for the two sole long takes of which the picture is seamlessly comprised, creating the appearance of one continuous shot.

It's an inventive and profoundly risky endeavor to shoot a feature film in any of these ways, let alone all of them, as each technique carries liabilities of one sort or another. Bowser is to be applauded for daring to create something so out of the ordinary, whether it completely succeeds or not. That said, in my mind, 'Worm' does pull it off, quite well.

There's an overarching sense of claustrophobia to the film - not for any specific confined space, but in a more esoteric, thematic sense. Worm, the character, is a man effectively trapped by his past and status in the small town where he was raised. The intrigue he's caught up in has him in a tight spot, and the persistent orientation of the camera further emphasizes this, as though he's in a bubble. The visual of a continuous shot, the believable real-time transpiration of the course of events over 90 minutes, the consciously unrefined quality of the film, and at length the finale - the very last lines of the picture - all build into that atmosphere of oppressive, narrowly enclosed circumstances. This unifying slant to the movie is gratifying for the consideration it's given.

As much as 'Worm' deserves praise, it's not perfect. The film-making style is novel, and it works, but it's easy to imagine that it's a hard sell to a general audience for so much of each scene to go unseen. Bowser has demonstrated reasonable skills as an actor previously, but the "camerawork" here is such that even the most celebrated A-lister has their work cut out for them - and furthermore, Bowser has written himself into a particularly dynamic role that demands strong emotive range. I don't like to be an abject critic, but with these notions in mind, I don't think he's entirely able to sell the part - at least, not when it matters most, unfortunately. And while the weight assigned to preceding plot points makes up for the weakness, I also don't feel like the final scene wholly imparts the gravity that's intended - the briskness of the final minutes, and arguably the camerawork again, detract from the momentousness.

Still, these perceived shortcomings do not outweigh what is otherwise a highly enjoyable movie. Bowser's acting under these conditions is mostly suitable, if thusly imperfect. The narrative is solid. The original music of Aaron Marsh, largely unobtrusive, rears its head to underscore important emotional beats. Every aspect of the feature lends deftly to an intangible air of bounds, and constraints. And this is all achieved, faults and all, with an imaginative, unconventional approach to the production.

Anyone with a keen interest in Bowser's career should have already watched this, and it's especially worthwhile too for any viewer who seeks films treading a path less taken. At that - so long as the atypical storytelling style isn't a turn-off, this is a fine watch for a wider audience. Though not without its flaws, 'Worm' is a carefully and cleverly crafted thriller, and recommended as a fun movie to check out.