Chattanooga Film Festival 2023 – Ringworms isn’t exactly a short that’s restrained. While it’s never gratuitous, it certainly has plenty of icky body horror and a setting and practical effects reminiscent of the Evil Dead franchise.  What starts out as a premise about a 22-year-old who doesn’t quite want to commit to her boyfriend soon turns into a nightmarish tale about a sinister cult seeking a new host.

Directed by Will Lee, who co-wrote the script with Ian Hedman, the short stars Faye Tamasa as Abbie. Her gut tells her that her boyfriend Jacob (Skylar Okerstrom-Lang) just may propose to her during their weekend vacation. She’s unsure about their future together, but really, that’s the least of their problems. The place they rent has an old man in the basement (Robert Christopher Smith) who’s the leader of a death cult. Abbie seems like just the right fit for their hellish plans.

This short is a heck of a lot of fun, and the effects push it to another level. Tamasa turns in a good performance, but it’s the moments of body horror, which erupt in the second half, sometimes literally, that make this one something special. There’s black vomit, worms that inch under the skin, and other gross-out aspects. Some of it’s a bit humorous, while other times, downright horrifying. The thought of ringworms generally creeps me the heck out. Yuck! Add possession on top of that, and you have some nightmare fuel.

Not only does Ringworms contain impressive practical effects, but it also deals with some larger themes about relationships. Overall, it’s a gnarly and gory delight.

7.5 Out of 10