In a mock film trailer, a maniacal stork puppet stalks a couple that doesn’t want to have a baby. One of the reasons for not being ready to have a child is this line, given with a straight face: “I just joined an ironic kickball league!” At some point, the stork wields a knife toward the couple, only to poke holes in their condoms. The short gets more gruesome but remains goofy fun.

Zak is an artistic and gentle outsider in a hostile French suburb. He enjoys bike rides and naps in the nearby woods and has a crush on a local dealer who protects Zak after the death of his father. Zak gets bitten by a tick that begins to swell and take over his body. Though there is some beautiful photography and more character development than in many short films, I disconnected once the action began. Structurally, the film could have been shorter or longer. It sets the scene beautifully and then ramps up in a less controlled way. The characters' reactions become strange and the film doesn’t hold together.

A slobby bachelor must battle possessed trash and detritus for access to his home and perhaps to his own consciousness. A fun riff on Evil Dead and possibly a 1975 short called Flesh-Eating FIlm Reels. It builds to a dark Body Snatchers vibe, only to puncture that with a “Weird Al” track. You’re either going to love or hate that decision.

We Got a Dog is a doppelgänger story with a twist. Mason surprises his girlfriend with an adopted pet, but the less I say about it, the better. The movie builds while maintaining an already creepy, tension-filled atmosphere, though aspects of the creature design are not as compelling as the mood of the piece. The movie left me wanting more, and the concept could not only be a feature, but also could be rich in a variety of approaches.

More on the arthouse end of horror, Nau is a dark, poetic look at someone discovering who they are, though the jaded could say it’s about someone turning into a fish. It has beautiful uses of light and color mixed with bizarre aquatic imagery. Even though there’s no dialogue, which can sometimes feel like a gimmick or a chore in other films, Nau left me wanting more in a good way.

After Claire becomes pregnant, she decides to have an abortion. With her family behind her, she has the appointment set and begins to have unusual dreams. She expects to be given a pill but has to sit for an examination that becomes distressing. The film is well-acted and well-made but ends abruptly. It’s possible that as a man I missed something at the end and in the earthworm symbolism. Overall, Earthworm contains powerful images, covers important issues, and certainly leaves an impression whether or not one has had the experiences depicted.

A young couple go to Tistlebu Farm to get away from their city lives. As they attempt to reconnect with themselves and nature, they also begin connecting with a primordial force that is part of the countryside and likely beyond. Great music, photography, and mood throughout this Lovecraftian folk horror tale. I don’t think slime has grossed me out in a long time in the way it did here.