

The most terrifying horror movie of 2022? It's a documentary. About snails.
From an infant who wound up in the ICU to a surfer who had to relearn to walk and talk after the parasite crept into his nervous system, the documentary gives an eye-opening look into the potentially catastrophic consequences of Rat Lungworm disease shared through several accounts from Hawaiʻi residents on their battles with the parasite.
Direction
Intimate patient stories avoid exploitation.
Production
Striking contrast of Hawaiian beauty and horror.
Director
James W. O’Keeffe
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) has exploded in Hawaiʻi due to introduced rats and snails—an invasive species nightmare nobody asked for.
The disease disproportionately affects locals who forage traditional foods, creating tension between cultural practice and public health warnings that the film navigates carefully.
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