Educational Media Reviews Online

The Worm Hunters aims to answer the question “what can the humble earthworm tell us about Earth’s geographic evolution” but it misses the mark. The film follows several earthworm taxonomists on their quest to find and catalog new species of worms.

The film introduces the narrator, a young English earthworm taxonomist, on her way to discover a “big, blue worm.” It then quickly jumps to taxonomists in Germany, Brazil, and South Africa, all who have individual quests to find undiscovered earthworms. But we never actually get to see these worms; much of the film is spent on the journey to where these earthworms might be found. A considerable about of time is also devoted to introducing the earthworm scientists. These lengthy introductions do not leave ample time for exploration of what the earthworm can tell us about Earth’s geographic evolution, how they can cure cancer, or reverse Earth’s infertile hot spots, as the synopsis promised.

The narration can be hard to follow at times due to the films constant cutting from one scientist to the next. This makes it difficult to keep track of the various goals of each scientist. These jumps are further compounded by the scientists’ thick accents; subtitles would have been useful and made the film more understandable.

Despite its flaws The Worm Hunters did provide a generalized overview of several known earthworm species and how many more that might become extinct before they can be discovered.

The Worm Hunters is not recommended. Despite this, public libraries and individuals with a passing interest in biology may enjoy the film. It could also be used as a springboard for further discussion of earthworm biology, conservation, or taxonomy.