When it comes to thehorrorgenre, many subgenres exist that have become popular with audiences. Among them arebody horror films, which, for many decades, have entertained and repulsed audiences in equal measure and resulted in some of the most iconic and important horror movies the genre has witnessed. The image of the human body being morphed, transformed, and twisted in horrific ways has fascinated and terrified audiences for years.
Body horror in modern cinema has been utilized for both comedic and dramatic purposes and, over the years, has evolved alongside trends in special effects as well. When determining which body horror films are the scariest, there are many subjective factors one could consider, from visuals and effects to plotting and creativity; this is a subgenre that’s constantly innovating. Let’s delve into the scariest body horror films and see which ones are practically guaranteed to make your skin crawl and have you jump out of your seat.
19’Tusk' (2014)
InTusk, we follow a popular podcaster who suddenly gets captured by a deranged retired seafarer. His captor begins to surgically transform his body into a grotesque walrus. The scientist forces his captive to think and behave like a walrus while recounting his life. While the victim manages to get rescued, his life will be very different.
Why It Makes the List
In the realm of body horror, it’s strange to find Kevin Smith on the list, yet the director has taken a few cracks at horror movies with mixed results.Tuskis one of his weirdest offerings with a twisted sense of humor. Written and directed by Smith, the casting features Justin Long, Michael Parks, and Genesis Rodriguez, but don’t let Smith’s usual humor give you the wrong idea.Tuskis very unsettling precisely because Smith doesn’t aim at making a comedy horror, and instead goes for full-blown horror. Chances arethe so-called sequelwill be made at some point.
18’In My Skin' (2002)
In My Skin
Marina de Van wrote, directed, and starred in the deeply disturbingIn My Skin, a mix of New French Extremity and body horror that chronicles the unsettling mental spiral of Parisian marketing professional Esther as she becomes increasingly obsessed with self-mutilation after injuring her leg at a party. Esther’s behavior grows more and more erratic as she uses household items, knives, and tools to cut and inflict wounds on her body, leading her to descend into madness.
The stomach-churning film is not for the faint of heart and is sure to getunder your skinas Esther embraces her compulsions by maiming and devouring herself, taking a twisted pleasure in putting her body through unfathomable trauma as she feeds her obsession. Though it starts out as a slow burner,In My Skinquickly amps up the gruesome factor and delivers squirm-worthy bloody visuals as Esther’s mutilation techniques escalate and her limbs begin to get a mind of their own.
17’The Sadness' (2021)
The Sadness
Canadian filmmaker Rob Jabbaz made his directorial debut with the pulse-pounding Taiwanese movieThe Sadness, which follows the young couple Kat and Jim as they attempt to reunite with one another amidst an airborne virus that is plaguing the city and causing the infected to give into their darkest sexual urges and aggressions. The violent and homicidal victims find their bodies desecrated by the frightening pathogen and in turn ravage anything that dares cross their paths, forcing the terrified pair to fight for their survival.
Based on the Garth Ennis comic bookCrossed, The Sadnessfeatures both a grisly internal and external transformation of the infected as they compulsively carry out their most barbaric and depraved thoughts imaginable, even crying as they fulfill their demented urges as they are unable to stop it. The white-knuckle flick takesthe zombie genreand completely turns it upside down, employing hair-raising visuals and provocative practical effects to showcase the corruption of society.
16’The Substance' (2024)
The Substance
The latest body horror sensation taking audiences by storm is Coralie Fargeat’s Oscar-winning filmThe Substance, an equally grotesque and profound story that centers on fading Hollywood movie star Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) as she goes to desperate measures to recapture her youth, using a black market serum to generate a young and beautiful version of herself named Sue (Margaret Qualley). Naturally, terrifying side effects plague both women as they fight for dominance over their shared body.
Brilliantly blending satire, horror, and social commentary,The Substancefeatures Elisabeth and Sue as they fight to maintain control of their body and reclaim their independence, with the two women mutilating one other and going to war for control through the use of the serum to try and maintain the upper hand. The birth of Sue through a slit in Elisabeth’s back, the actress' gruesome transformation into a hunch-backed “Gollum,” andthe brutal grand finaleare sure to make viewers' stomachs churn as the women horrifically destroy themselves.
15’Tetsuo: The Iron Man' (1989)
Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Shinya Tsukamoto’s cyberpunk horror gemTetsuo: The Iron Manopens with quite a horrendous bang as a young man viciously shoves a piece of scrap metal through his thigh before being struck in a hit-and-run accident in a scene that sets the grim tone for the remainder of the flick. When a Japanese salaryman accidentally strikes the aforementioned victim with his car, he begins to sprout metal pieces all over his body that transforms him into a man/machine hybrid.
The Salaryman and his victim, aptly known as the Young Metal Fetishist (played by Tsukamoto), begin to find their bodies becoming one as they are both consumed by metal and are brutally mutated, with the two merging in a horrific final act. Favorably compared to the work ofbody horror king David Cronenbergas well as both Sam Raimi and David Lynch,Tetsuo: The Iron Manis a deeply frenetic and unapologetically extremist low-budget film that features manic storytelling and some truly nightmarish visuals.
14’Possession' (1981)
Possession
The story ofPossessionfocuses on a couple whose marriage begins is slowly disintegrating. As their relationship unravels, the wife seems affected by disturbing visions and otherworldly experiences pushing the boundaries of her sanity and her perception of physical reality. The husband, desperate to understand what is happening with his wife (Isabelle Adjani in the best performanceof her career), hires a private eye, who leaves him with more questions than answers. When the reason for her behavior is revealed, you’ll be shocked to your bones.
Possessionis the type of movie that demands a certain mindset before sitting down to see it. This body horror film holds off the graphic violence and disturbing visuals right until the movie’s end, and it’s totally worth the wait. This disturbing feature is written and directed by Andrzej Żuławski, and it’ll have you wondering what exactly is going on in the mind of the director. It’s very scary because it’s completely disorienting and pushes for a surrealistic tone that’s fully accomplished in the iconic third act.
13’The Stuff' (1985)
The Stuffis a movie written and directed by Larry Cohen; it’s a satirical piece starring working actors such as Michael Moriarty, Andrea Marcovicci, and Garrett Morris. The film presents a world where the mysterious, addictive dessert-like substance becomes a nationwide obsession, with several people refusing to eat it while investigating why this product seems to have taken over everyone so quickly. It’s afunny but blunt critique of consumerismand the dangers of blind conformity.
Some of the best body horror movies have the silliest and over-the-top plots you may imagine. Picture this scenario for a moment: a group of artic miners suddenly find a white, glob-like substance in the icy parade. They take a bite of it, and it tastes good! What are they to do with this finding? Well, what else but sell it in the open market as a food replacement? They even have a catchy name for it that also makes a great title. As funny as it sounds, The Stuff is very unsettling because, to be honest, it hits a little bit too close to home.
15 Underrated Body Horror Movies That Are Sure to Gross You Out
Gory and goopy horror movies aren’t for everyone, but if they are your bag, you should check out these underrated gems.
12’Shivers' (1975)
Shiverstakes place in a high-rise apartment complex where a parasitic organism suddenly takes over residents. The organism infects every single tenant, causing uncontrollable sexual desires and violent outbursts in each one of them. The contagion spreads quickly, turning the building into a nightmare. A few tenants attempt to hold off the infected, but the parasite is taking over more people after a few deaths. The last remaining survivor is taken over, with the whole building getting ready to go out in the open and spread their disease to the world.
It would be so easy to fill this list withmost of David Cronenberg’s works.Shiversis his third film, and it’s one that sinks hard into depravity with body horror elements. The film is also written by Cronenberg, and the cast features Paul Hampton, Joe Silver, and Lynn Lowry. It’s quite scary because of its practical effects which make the threat a bit more tangible, and also the sexual element of the epidemic simply makes it a cautionary tale about STDs that most viewers will feel compelled to observe.
11’The Thing' (1982)
Being trapped in the Arctic is a scary enough prospect, but when you have a bloodthirsty alien possessing people around you, it only adds to the discomfort. John Carpenter left his stamp on the body horror genre with his tense and atmospheric remake ofThe Thingstarring Kurt Russell. The film relies on physical horror as the titular monster jumps from a dog to a human host and evolves throughout. The practical effects here are grotesque yet creative and are considered among some ofthe best effects in horror.
Carpenter ratchets up the intensity throughout, casting plenty of ambiguity on what form the creature could be taking. The arctic setting adds to the bleak nature of the film, andEnnio Morricone’s haunting scoreperfectly complements the mood.The Thingis an example of how the body horror genre can lend itself naturally to suspenseful and taut filmmaking, and Carpenter intelligently crafts an exquisitely unnerving game of cat and mouse.
With its tight pacing, strong visuals, unique setting, and imaginative storytelling,The Thingis an example of the body horror genre at its most richly crafted, resulting in a visceral and captivating experience.
10’Martyrs' (2008)
Chronicling the bloody and violent rampage a revenge-seeking young woman leaves in her wake, the psychological body horror filmMartyrsfollows the traumatized abuse victim as she sets out to seek vengeance against her oppressors along with her childhood best friend.
Director Pascal Laugier drew inspiration for the picture from movies likeHostelandThe Passion of Joan of Arc,with the intention of wanting to “make a movie about pain” as he was in a severe state of depression at the time he wrote the screenplay. Laugier wanted the audience to understand and be a forced spectator to the tremendous violence and pain represented in the spine-tingling picture.
TheFrench modern horrorfilmMartyrscaused quite the stir upon its release, with a man collapsing at one screening and a woman vomiting due to the graphic nature of the brutal flick. It is widely considered a prime example of a new-era French horror film and has been praised as one of the greatest horror films of the 21st century, with both Rolling Stone and IGN ranking it on their respective lists.
Chances are the film will feel like too much at some point, and you will want to pause it. So, perhaps it’s more shocking and disturbing than scary, and something fans will definitely look for in body horror.
