Nothing can be more traumatising than watching something so familiar as the human body twist into something completely terrifying. Whether it’s the disturbing science experiments gone wrong or those unimaginable transformations, the body horror subgenre never fails to make you deeply uncomfortable.
Here are the 10 defining body horror movies of all time that everyone should experience at least once.
10. Re-Animator (1985)
Inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft, ‘Re-Animator’ follows the brilliant but dangerously obsessed medical student Herbert West. Somehow, West has successfully created a serum that can bring the dead back to life.
Teaming up with his fellow student, Dan Cain, he begins experimenting on corpses, which unleashes consequences way out of their control. Packed with outrageous practical effects and twisted, gory scenes, ‘Re-Animator’ is a defining classic and an unforgettable nightmare.
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9. Under The Skin (2013)
A modern body horror favourite, ‘Under the Skin’ is a much more philosophical take on the subgenre. Starring Scarlett Johansson as an extraterrestrial creature disguised as a woman, the film follows her as she lures isolated men across Scotland.
She brings her human prey to an otherworldly dimension where they are consumed. But existence and the notion of human identity slowly start to unravel her mission. Along with its haunting visuals, the movie takes up the theme of identity in a deeply unsettling way.
8. Society (1989)
An overlooked gem that has brilliantly blended social satire with unforgettable body horror. ‘Society’ tells the story of teenager Bill Whitney, who finds out his wealthy Beverly Hills family actually belongs to a horrifying cult of social elites.
But his paranoia only continues to grow as he inches closer to a grotesque truth that is far beyond human imagination. The film is best remembered for its practical effects, but it’s the commentary on class divide that really makes it a memorable watch.
7. Hellraiser (1987)
Based on his own novella, Clive Barker redefined horror with ‘Hellraiser’, which continues to disgust us in the most horrid yet satisfying way. The story follows the devoted hedonist Frank Cotton, who has indulged himself in every form of desire.
After coming across a mysterious puzzle box, Frank is left trapped between life and death. His only help, Julia Cotton, tries to rebuild his body through some very gruesome means.
6. Possessor (2020)
One of the most inventive modern body horror films, ‘Possessor’ follows an elite assassin who uses advanced brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies and carry out killings.
But as each mission blurs the line between her identity and her host’s, she begins to lose control over her own mind. ‘Possessor’ is a psychological horror that stands out because of its shocking body transformations.
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5. Raw (2016)
Taking the idea of body horror to its most literal extreme, ‘Raw’ follows a lifelong vegetarian whose first taste of meat at veterinary school awakens an uncontrollable craving for human flesh.
What begins as a coming-of-age story gradually takes on a more and more disturbing exploration of the body’s darkest instincts. It is also guided by fearless storytelling, which is why it stands out as one of the defining horror movies of the 21st century.
4. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Unapologetically grotesque, ‘Tetsuo: The Iron Man’ will leave you squirming with its visuals. An ordinary salesman gets into a hit-and-run accident and finds that his body has started to mutilate into a disturbing fusion of flesh and metal.
The transformation continues to spiral out of control, and reality descends into a nightmare for him. This Japanese horror movie is wildly experimental, but that is what makes it so deeply disturbing.
3. Videodrome (1983)
Though it wasn’t an immediate hit upon release, ‘Videodrome’ has now become one of the biggest body horror films ever made. It follows a television executive who stumbles upon a mysterious broadcast channel.
When he starts to uncover the source of this signal, it triggers disturbing hallucinations, which cause him to lose his grip on reality. ‘Videodrome’ had some bold ideas, and it doesn’t shy away from showing them with the most disturbing visuals.
2. The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg is quite literally reigning in the subgenre of body horror. When a brilliant scientist’s teleportation experiment goes horribly wrong, he slowly transforms into a horrifying human-fly hybrid.
Now, his girlfriend suddenly finds herself caring for this creature whose insect half is gradually taking over. Though the movie is mostly known for its groundbreaking use of practical effects, ‘The Fly’ is equally powerful when it comes to the exploration of themes like disease, mortality, and love.
1. The Thing (1982)
One of the greatest horror films ever made, ‘The Thing’ has defined the subgenre of body horror. It takes place in an isolated Antarctic research station, where a team of scientists comes across the titular “Thing”.
This shape-shifting creature is able to perfectly imitate its victim, hiding in plain sight amidst its prey. The way Rob Bottin and Stan Winston use practical effects to create visuals in this film has set the gold standard for horror movies today.
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