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My Girlfriend Turned Into a Worm (2026) | Short Film

Alex Herz

152,559 views

"Would you still love me...?" 🪱

When his girlfriend inexplicably turns into a worm, Arthur builds her a miniature world in an attempt to process his grief.

*OFFICIAL SELECTION: Palm Springs ShortFest
*OFFICIAL SELECTION: HollyShorts Film Fest
*OFFICIAL SELECTION: Indy Shorts Film Fest
*OFFICIAL SELECTION: SeriesFest

CAST:

Arthur: Rohan Padmakumar
Annelise: Hannah Leigh
Ramona: Grace Power
Todd: Leo Sheng
Mike: Mat Wright
Burt: David Brown
Worm: Dirt Russell, Virginia Slim, Cary Grit

CREW:

Writer/Director/Editor: Alex Herz
Producers: Nicole Kay Payson, JJ Herz, Alex Herz
1st AD: Katia Koziara
Script Supervisor: Tessa Lee
DP: Jared Levy
1st AC: Max Riley
2nd AC: Ali Arminio
2nd AC: Francesca DiMarzio
Loader/AP: Kyle Blatz
Gaffer: Nick Schulte
Gaffer: Julian Ross
Key Grip: Billy Ortwin
Swing G&E: Jack Seibert
Sound Mixer: Lila Rowel
Prod Design: Rachael Ferris
Art Director: Diana Brennan
HMU: Alaina Davenport, Rachel Stolte, Patrick Santa Ana
Costumes: JJ Herz
Prod Coordinator: Anthony Fazio
Production Secretary: Andie Hutner
Art PA: Liv Wisely
Key PA: Shanea Woods
PAs: AJ White, Annie Colao, Aubrey Elenz, Maram Kamal, Miranda Gruss
Casting Director: Lauren Holdt
Colorist: Jared Rosenthal
Rerecording Mixer/Sound Design: Sal Ojeda
Composer: Zach Robinson

INSTA: @alexnherz
TIKTOK: @ahizzle0
EMAIL: alex@flyswatter.co

20 Comments

@JustBronson 4 days ago

Took a risk on casting a local worm over the stars from Dune but I think it paid off. Masterpiece.

@confusedlemon9289 4 days ago

The worm was such a fantastic actor, it is awful that she wasnt credited in the description. I hope she sues.

@sinkshamer 5 days ago

STOP her name being Annelise and her turning into a kind of ANNELID 💔

@footlong79800 5 days ago (edited)

Great video, a spin on the "would you still love me if I were a worm" question with a neat allegory to the life of someone coping with the tragedy of their partner suddenly becoming severely (mentally &/physically) disabled. More akin to dementia or going medically brain dead (to me at least, but other forms of disability may be suitable here too).

I think it's a job well done on interpreting one of the true meanings of that question in the first place.

@CaitlinKoi 3 days ago

The ending jumpscared me. I can't stop thinking about it, I want it to be real I want her to return. This as an allegory for taking care of someone who suddenly became very ill or disabled hits hard for me, as a disabled woman who requires care from her partner.

@Firemaster27 5 days ago (edited)

I want to believe she turned back into a human, just as suddenly as she became a worm…but the pessimist in me says he’s just hallucinating to cope further 😔

@dylanclark 5 days ago

I remain so impressed by the way you and your actors balanced the comedy and heart here. So well done.

@Boombampop. 5 days ago

Imagine telling your past self that you cried because of a video about a worm

@magnetdesignandadver 4 days ago (edited)

Most original film I've seen in years. I love how there is no explanation.

@CJAshes 3 days ago

11:47 This reminds me of when I was taking care of my mother who had Alzheimer’s. She couldn’t remember my name or who I was. I kept trying to tell her that she used to send me reels of photography tips ‘cause she knew I was into photography, or that when I was in dental school, she bought me new clothes and a new red bag ’cause she knew my favorite color was red. But it’s like you’re with a stranger who has your mother’s face

@Chronomaza 2 days ago (edited)

As someone who had a very close partner who they had to completely cut off after they went through a mental health episode and their entire personality changed you have no idea how hard this hits for me. Even a year later I still have trouble accepting that the person I love might still be alive, but the version of them that loves me is never coming back. I feel like this film is something that finally understands the unique heartbreak and denial going through something like that causes

@Moai-sr4qm 5 days ago

Came for laughs but found myself leaving in tears

@siemvantveld7545 5 days ago

damn, it's sadder than I thought it would be

@Rblonde1017 4 days ago

So freaking good, Alex!! My miniatures have never looked so good, those shots were incredible- the entire crew killed it too!! 🥳 I can’t to see what magic you make in the future, you’re so talented 🥲👏🏻

@HappilibbyEverAfter 5 days ago

If I ever ask a person “Would you still love me if I was a worm?”
This short film BETTER be in their response. Because this is so well done it’s fantastic. I love the little details and the fact that when the main character woke up his first reaction wasn’t fear. It was “let me take care of you. I may not know what’s going on right now but you deserve care” that should be standard for society.

@napstadragon 2 days ago

8:49 This made me so upset. I had a rabbit as a pet once, and I had friends joke about eating him. And I took a guitar to a campfire party, and got jokes about "oh if we need more firewood." This feels just like that. I'm deeply fucking offended for him, and am surprised he didn't punch the guy and walk out right there.

@sinkshamer 5 days ago

Haven't finished the video yet but this feels like a very heartbreaking allegory of dementia and mental illness.

The way Arthur tried to make evrything feel normal, to help Annelise feel adjusted and at home again. Like he tries so hard to hold on but she's not the same person as she was.

The invasive questions from the boys about their new lives also stood out to me. I felt that Todd and Brett's initial response was supposed to be well-meaning and comfort Arthur, but it wasn't what he needed at the time :,(

@gloriacruz8059 1 day ago

When you ask someone who they would be to you if you're not yourself anymore, that's a philosophical question it only can be answered with this kind of lightness and care. Congrats guys for this great work, love it!

@hikarichan5262 5 days ago (edited)

Holy this is beautiful, this shouldn't have made me cry as much as it did. I was honestly kinda expecting that he'll accidentally lose her in an ocean or some, but I remembered that it was from a different video on Tiktok. This film is outstanding