I’d like to take a moment to introduce a short, independent horror film called Tapeworm 2, created by the awesome Slash and Chill film studios. The best way I can describe it is by looking back at two iconic horror TV show’s from the 90’s – Tales from the Crypt and Tales from the Darkside. If you’re reading this and have never watched those programs  – shame on you. Go out and stream these shows like right now!

What do these have to do with this little gem called Tapeworm 2? Well, it’s simple – if Tapeworm 2 was written and submitted for one of these shows, it would fall under the Tales from the Darkside umbrella. You see back then, Tales from the Crypt was an HBO production – which meant they could bring on top talent screenwriters, Hollywood A and B list actors, and have some pretty spiffy special effects; Tales from the Darkside, however, was kind of the opposite of all that since it was produced for regular syndicated programming.  Tapeworm 2 is a low budget flick for sure, but Slash and Chill packs it with a ton of charm, visceral gore, and humor to create something special – something one could easily have seen on late night TV.

The film follows a group of people trying to get home after a night at the bar, when they encounter strange alien worms that not only eat people, but can also take control of their bodies. That’s it. Simple. No politics, no SJW bullshit, just straight up walking, talking buffet for worms that come out of people’s assholes (yes this happens in the flick).

The movie is about 25 minutes long and has your classic, mini-horror scene opening straight out of Tales from the Darkside – its really well done. From there, the movie does take a bit of a lull as we go to the bar to meet our meat for the beasts. To be honest with you, I don’t know any of the characters names – in fact, I’m not sure if it even states who they are. You have an obnoxious drunk, who is probably one of the funnier characters in the movie, and a group of friends consisting of a couple of girls and guys – again, we don’t know who they are or what their relationship is outside of being ‘friends.’ This is probably the weakest part of the film – the bar scene does drag on a bit, not all of the jokes land, and some of the acting (as to be expected in a film like this) is subpar.

The filmmakers also fail to establish the setting; I’m not talking about where the film takes place, but where all the different locations are in relation to each other. You have the bar, a truck stop, and a farm house – but the viewer never really understands where they are in relation to each other, which causes a few minor issues with the finale.

Once the group of friends starts trekking home the film really picks up with some fun, creative kills and gore – something you would easily find in Tales from the Crypt. This is where Slash and Chill does an amazing job and instantly breathes fresh life into Tapeworm 2. The third act of the film is by far the best and really keeps you entertained until the ending.

Tapeworm2 does a great job in Act 1 and 3 of this little flick – but struggles a bit in Act 2 when it comes to character development and motivation. Outside of a few plot holes, a bit of subpar acting, and some questionable CGI, Tapeworm 2 is a fun horror flick I would recommend to anyone looking for something different.

If you are not sure if this is for you or not, I would recommend another film they did called Cereal Killer Alien Werewolves. I love this movie and have watched it a couple of times when I’m in the mood for something fun and different. At just over 18 minutes – the flick is freaking hilarious and has one of my all-time favorite werewolf transformations ever captured, and no, I’m not being facetious. Here is a link for the flick.

So in closing, if you’re bored and want something fun to watch, or maybe you just want to support a local artist, check out Tapeworm 2. Here is a link to the trailer and a link to purchase the DVD. If you watch either of these, post your comments below and let me know your thoughts!

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