In a nutshell, “Earworm” delves into the disturbing world of Dr. Corvath’s experiments, touching on a range of human emotions like depression, shyness, love, jealousy, madness, rage, and violence. While the story itself is compelling, its execution leaves much to be desired. Viewers might have appreciated more background on Dr. Corvath and how he assembled his associates.
The film effectively showcases how low-lives like Corvath exploit the vulnerabilities of people like Henry and Williams for their own twisted desires. “Earworm” effectively portrays Henry, an introvert striving for normalcy, as he’s exploited by those around him. Greg uses him as a prop to boost his own image, while Corvath, seemingly a beacon of hope, manipulates him for his dark experiments. Williams’s character hints at the depth of his family issues, but the lack of exploration leaves the characters feeling shallow. This lack of depth makes it challenging to become invested in their stories or empathize with their struggles. The climax falls short of expectations, and while the background music is mediocre, the underlying theme is captivating. With better execution, the film had the potential to be a compelling choice for fans of the psychological thriller genre.
Earworm (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis
In the 2023 mystery drama film “Earworm,” directed by Kyle Kleege, we follow the story of Henry, an introvert who finds it hard to connect with others. Seeking help, he turns to Dr. Corvath, who assists him in overcoming his shyness. However, as the plot unfolds, we discover that there is more to it than meets the eye. The film also introduces us to Detective Williams, another key character, who is grappling with his own personal challenges while investigating a series of mysterious and gruesome deaths.
What did Dr. Corvath do to Henry?
Dr. Corvath, initially seen as a helpful writer and therapist conducting seminars for shy individuals, reveals a dark side as a manipulative, toxic individual. He implants “earworms” in his patients’ minds, seeking to control them. The movie kicks off with one of Corvath’s subjects committing a brutal murder. Detective Williams and his team are tasked with solving the case. Through CCTV footage, they identify the killer, who is found to possess a book authored by Corvath. When the detectives arrive at the murderer’s home for investigation, they find the place to be painted with blood.
The book leads Detective Williams to attend one of Dr. Corvath’s seminars for the sake of the investigation. Therein, he questions the doctor about the murderer, but Corvath denies any knowledge of it. At the seminar, Henry meets Corvath, who suggests a more intimate session. Despite his friend Greg’s skepticism, Henry trusts Corvath and agrees to see him soon. Later that night, Greg takes Henry to a speed dating event. While appearing supportive, Greg is actually using Henry to sweeten his own image. Henry, however, finds a genuine connection with a barista named Camille. This leaves Greg feeling threatened, and he disrupts their conversation.
After the speed dating event, Henry attends a private seminar with Dr. Corvath. During the session, Henry unknowingly drinks a spiked drink and begins to feel unwell. As he starts to lose consciousness, he sees Dr. Corvath bringing in his previous victim and transferring the “earworm” from him to Henry. Upon waking, Henry has a vague memory of what has happened and confides in Greg. Unfortunately, Greg, who is also a bully and know-it-all, ignores Henry’s story.
Why did Henry turn violent?
Following the previous events, Henry visits Camille, now filled with newfound confidence, and asks her out. She accepts, and their relationship blossoms. However, Greg becomes increasingly resentful of Henry’s transformation. One day, at their workplace, Greg insults Henry as usual. This time, however, Henry stands up for himself and punches Greg in front of their colleagues. Not stopping there, Henry later goes to Greg’s house and murders him. Detective Williams begins to notice similarities between Greg’s murder and the initial crime.
Meanwhile, Henry becomes increasingly erratic, not seeing Camille for days and exhibiting strange behavior when they finally meet. He coughs up blood and behaves rudely before abruptly leaving. As Henry’s behavior becomes more aggressive, Camille tries to avoid him. However, Henry starts stalking her, growing increasingly violent. One day, as Camille leaves work with Sebastian, Henry follows them. He kills Sebastian and tries to attack Camille, but she fights back, ultimately stabbing Henry in self-defense.
Earworm (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Is Detective William The New Host of The Earworm?
After collecting Camille’s statements, Detective Williams becomes certain that Dr. Corvath is the mastermind behind the crimes. To gather evidence, Williams engages in a conversation with Corvath under the guise of discussing personal matters. However, Horvath sees through the ruse, and his associates restrain Williams. Corvath plans to implant the earworm in Williams, but he manages to grab a gun from one of the doctor’s associates and shoots everyone in the room. In the following scenes, Williams reconciles with his wife and resolves the issues with his colleagues. However, the final scene reveals Williams following one of his colleagues with a gun, suggesting that he may have been infected by the earworm. So was he?
Remember the climactic scene where Detective Williams seizes a gun from one of Corvath’s associates as Corvath tries to implant the earworm in him? The screen fades to black, followed by the sound of gunshots. The next shot reveals the lifeless bodies of Corvath’s associates strewn across the floor as Corvath pleads for his life. However, Williams shows no mercy and shoots Corvath dead.
Earlier in the movie, Detective Williams is shown to be struggling with his marriage, experiencing hallucinations of his wife leaving him. The climax leaves room for speculation as it does not reveal whether the earworm infected Williams or not. After dealing with Dr. Corvath, Williams visits his wife in an attempt to repair their marriage, and they dance together. Williams also displays unusual friendly behavior towards his colleagues.
But the very last scene of the movie speculates many possibilities. In the final scene, Williams is shown following one of his colleagues with a gun, leaving the audience to speculate about the possibilities. One interpretation could be that Williams is indeed infected with the earworm, but he manages to resist its control and eliminates Dr. Corvath before the earworm can fully take over. This possibility is supported by the synopsis of the movie and makes Williams’ character even more ambiguous, leaving his ultimate fate open to interpretation.
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