Squirm (1976)

Director:

Jeff Lieberman

Writer:

Jeff Lieberman (written by)

Release Date:

30 July 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

An avalanche of killer worms...writhing across the land in a tidal wave of terror!

Plot:

At the beginning of the film, we learn from one of the characters that earthworms can be called to the surface with electricity...

Plot Keywords:

Worm | Storm | Fishing | Ecology | Southerner

Cast

Don Scardino	...	Mick
Patricia Pearcy	...	Geri Sanders
R.A. Dow	...	Roger Grimes
Jean Sullivan	...	Naomi Sanders
Peter MacLean	...	Sheriff Jim Reston (as Peter Mac Lean)
Fran Higgins	...	Alma Sanders
William Newman	...	Quigley
Barbara Quinn	...	Sheriff's Girl
Carl Dagenhart	...	Willie Grimes
Angel Sande	...	Millie
Carol Jean Owens	...	Lizzie
Kim Iocouvozzi	...	Hank
Walter Dimmick	...	Danny
Leslie Thorsen	...	Bonnie
Julia Klopp	...	Mrs. Klopp
Ralph Flanders	...	1st Man at Lunch Counter
Albert Smith	...	2nd Man at Lunch Counter
Jim Shirah	...	3rd Man at Lunch Counter
Harold Mumm	...	Bus Driver
W.A. Lindblad	...	Power Line Repairman (as W.A. Lindblatt)

Directed by
Jeff Lieberman

Writing credits
Jeff Lieberman		(written by)

Produced by
Joseph Beruh	....	executive producer
Edgar Lansbury	....	executive producer
George Manasse	....	producer

Original Music by
Robert Prince

Cinematography by
Joseph Mangine		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Brian Smedley-Aston

Casting by
Geri Windsor

Art Direction by
Henry Shrady

Costume Design by
Dianne Finn-Chapman		(as Dianne Finn Chapman)

Makeup Department
Rick Baker	....	makeup designer
Norman Page	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Don Blackburn	....	unit manager
Peter Kean	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Hindenburg	....	assistant director

Art Department
Neal DeLuca	....	assistant art director (as Neal De Luca)
R. Bruce Steinheimer	....	prop master (as Bruce Steinheimer)

Sound Department
Harriet Fidlow	....	sound editor (as Harriet Glickstein)
George Burton Goen II	....	location sound (as George Goen)
Al Gramaglia	....	recording mixer: Magno Sound
Dan Sable	....	sound editor: Magnofex
Bernard Stevens	....	assistant sound editor
Luis Vidal	....	boom man

Special Effects by
Don Farnsworth	....	special effects
Lee Howard	....	special effects
Bill Milling	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Balton	....	assistant camera
Mik Cribben	....	stillman
Robert Ippolito	....	key grip (as Bob Ippolito)
Kevin Janicelli	....	best boy
William W. Lister	....	gaffer (as Bill Lister)
Jon Neuburger	....	second assistant camera (as John Neuberger)
Jerry Whittington	....	electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Fatt	....	assistant editor
Lois Freeman	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Hal Hackady	....	lyricist

Other crew
Bill Chant	....	location coordinator
Ed Geil	....	assistant to production manager
Rick Hutto	....	production assistant
Darrell Jonas	....	production coordinator
Deborah Kiser	....	production assistant (as Debbie Kiser)
Lee Minter	....	production assistant
Nan Pearlman	....	production associate
Connie Poindexter	....	production assistant
Judy Rosenthal	....	script supervisor
David Sheldon	....	production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Squirm Company

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1976) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Vestron Video (1983) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Trojan Productions (2004) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)
• Orion Pictures Corporation (worldwide) (TV)

Other Companies

• Big Six Music  music coordinator
• Firelock Films  production services furnished by
• Geri Windsor & Associates  casting (as Geri Windsor and Associates)
• Jay Rich Films  production services furnished by
• Magno Sound  recording mixer
• Magnofex  sound editor
• Movielab  color

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min | USA:93 min (uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | France:-16 | Norway:16 | UK:18 | USA:PG | USA:R (original rating) | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cut) | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Port Wentworth, Georgia, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The inspiration for the film came from a childhood experiment between director Jeff Lieberman and his brother. One evening the two hooked up a train transformer to wet soil and used the electricity to drive hundreds of worms out of the ground. Young Lieberman noticed that the worms tried to get away from the glare of the flashlight that the boys were using to see by because worms are light-sensitive. It became the scientific basis behind this film and the story of the experiment is re-told by the character of Roger Grimes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When a worm slides down the wall behind Mick, it leaves a trail of slime that disappears in the next shot.

Quotes:

Sheriff:[making love to his girl in an empty jail cell] How do you like the accomodations?
The Sheriff's Girl:Just fine, honey!

Movie Connections:

Featured in AIP: Fast and Furious (1985) (V)

Nature goes berserk in style

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.