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Horror films are no longer as notorious for their ability to disgust audiences, with modern horror often eschewing gruesome and gory elements. However, there’s a reliable subgenre that continues to captivate those who enjoy a visceral experience – body horror. The human body becomes a canvas for the macabre imaginations of horror creators, leading to films that can make viewers squirm, avert their gaze, or even hit the “stop” button. Here’s a list of some underappreciated body horror movies that are bound to elicit strong reactions, whether it’s covering your eyes or reaching for a bucket.
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15 Underrated Body Horror Movies That Are Sure to Gross You Out
The Fly (1986)
In David Cronenberg’s often overlooked adaptation of The Fly, the brilliant scientist Seth Brundle develops a revolutionary teleportation device with the potential to change the world. However, his decision to test the machine on himself takes a horrifying turn when a fly accidentally joins him in the teleportation pod. This mishap leads to a gradual and grotesque transformation as Brundle’s genetic code fuses with that of the fly, turning him into a monstrous entity.
Regarded as Cronenberg’s finest work, The Fly stands out as a pioneering achievement in makeup effects. The film’s team earned an Academy Award for their exceptional work, showcasing groundbreaking and visceral visuals, including the unsettling depiction of Brundle’s body slowly deteriorating and a continuous display of bodily fluids. The intense and stomach-churning nature of the film ensures that it leaves a lasting impact, potentially evoking a visceral response from its audience.
Videodrome (1983)
Certainly, Cronenberg is a recurring figure in lists dedicated to body horror, given his mastery of the genre. Videodrome stands out as one of his most intriguing works, revolving around a television executive who stumbles upon a signal showcasing extreme violence. Initially aiming to exploit it, he becomes entangled in a darker conspiracy.
The unsettling elements of the film include scenes with living VHS tapes inserted into a character’s anatomically suggestive torso. Moreover, attempting to remove the tape results in pulling out a gun, gradually connected to the arm by metal cables inserted into the skin. The most intense moment involves a head seemingly rejecting a bullet, causing the entire body to violently react during the expulsion.
Society (1992)
Brian Yuzna’s Society is an underrated body horror film about Bill Whitney, a socially awkward teenager who one day discovers the truth about his parents and the cult they belong to. The film’s second half consists of poor Billy inevitably accepting his fate: he gets caught and evidences a “party” of some kind. This is one that’s better seen than spoiled.
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Society has a great number of practical effects that stand among the best of the genre. Many of those are displayed during the film’s pivotal scene of a “society” showing its true side: a monstrous organism consisting of many human bodies fusing themselves into a huge, oozy organism that feeds off the horny attitude of its members. The scene is truly unforgettable.
The Skin I Live In (2011)
Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Skin I Live In” is not typically categorized as a body horror film, despite containing elements of the genre. While the movie is not overtly associated with horror, it incorporates tropes commonly found in body horror, leading to a disturbing narrative twist. The storyline revolves around Dr. Robert Ledgard, a plastic surgeon who creates synthetic skin and tests it on a captive patient.
The film’s inclusion in the body horror genre becomes evident as the plot unfolds, revealing Dr. Ledgard’s true motives rooted in revenge. The captive patient undergoes a transformation from a man to a woman due to a past event, depicted graphically in the film. Despite not being widely recognized as a horror film, “The Skin I Live In” is praised as one of Almodóvar’s finest works and received critical acclaim upon its release.
The Brood (1979)
In “The Brood,” directed by David Cronenberg, the narrative revolves around Frank, a man entangled in a harrowing custody battle with his ex-wife, Nola. Nola undergoes an experimental psychoplasmics treatment devised by psychotherapy innovator Hal Raglan. This treatment aims to release repressed emotions through physiological functions, leading to bizarre and dangerous physical manifestations of those emotions.
While the film isn’t consistently gruesome, its climax features a particularly unsettling scene. In this final moment, Nola gives birth through unconventional means, and she goes on to lick the newborn to clean it. Notably, the original version of this scene was more extended, but U.S. censors compelled Cronenberg to edit it to secure an R-rating. Despite its disturbing elements, “The Brood” effectively delves into thought-provoking questions about parenthood.
Clown (2014)
Before gaining widespread recognition for his work on numerous Spider-Man films, Jon Watts directed a unique and modest feature called “Clown.” The film revolves around a father named Kent, who, in a desperate attempt to save his son’s birthday party, dons a clown suit he finds in a house he’s selling. Unexpectedly, Kent discovers that the costume is cursed, leading to bizarre and horrifying consequences. The story unfolds as Kent grapples with the increasingly sinister effects of the clown suit, including scenes where he and his wife struggle to remove a fake nose that seems oddly attached. As the horror intensifies, Kent realizes that the only way to break the curse is by resorting to a chilling solution—involving children. “Clown” stands out for its originality, with notable scenes depicting the eerie transformation of Kent as he becomes entangled with the cursed clown suit.
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)
“The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is renowned for its unsettling body horror, featuring a plastic surgeon with a bizarre and unfounded hatred. His deranged goal involves abducting innocent victims and surgically connecting them into a human centipede formation, sharing a single digestive system. Director Tom Six’s film is infamous for its gruesome scenes, particularly when the front part of the centipede needs to relieve itself. Despite attempts to expand on the concept in later films, they failed to achieve the same impact as the original.”
Contracted (2013)
Eric England’s “Contracted” chillingly narrates Samantha’s nightmarish journey after a sexual assault by a man who, unsettlingly, had just engaged in necrophilia. The film expertly unfolds as Samantha undergoes a gradual and visually disturbing decay due to the contracted disease, serving as a potent cautionary tale about the severity of STDs. What sets it apart is the deliberate pacing of Samantha’s deterioration, making the experience deeply unsettling. As she seeks revenge, the narrative takes a darker turn, with body parts, both dead and alive, becoming unhinged. The film’s relentless portrayal might prompt viewers to involuntarily cover their mouths in shock, making it an underrated yet impactful addition to the genre.
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Shivers (1975)
Cronenberg’s Shivers narrates the tale of residents in a condominium who become victims of parasitic creatures infiltrating their bodies, transforming them into sexually driven zombies. The film serves as Cronenberg’s social commentary on the vulnerability of high-class elites when confronted with primal forces.
Why it Earns its Place This body horror film fully embraces Cronenberg’s distinctive style. Instances include slugs emerging from a man’s stomach and leaping into a doctor’s mouth. A desperate character resorts to using pliers to extract them, finding them deeply embedded in his face. Another memorable scene features a slug crawling up an elderly woman’s trembling arm, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer.
Raw (2016)
The 2016 film “Raw” by Julia Ducournau is often overlooked as a body horror movie, with some viewers considering it sophisticated and forgetting its gruesome depictions of the human body. The story revolves around Justine, a lifelong vegetarian attending veterinary school, who, after an initiation ritual, tries meat for the first time and develops a taste for it, associating rabbit meat with human flesh.
What makes “Raw” underrated is the visceral nature of Justine’s cravings, including her consumption of raw chicken, which proves to be more unsettling than one might initially think. The film features a particularly shocking scene where Justine’s sister, Alexia, attempts a bikini wax that goes awry. The wax dries, leading to the use of sharp scissors. When Alexia accidentally cuts her own finger and faints, Justine succumbs to her cravings and eats the severed finger whole. Through this film and “Titane,” Ducournau establishes herself as a modern icon in the realm of body horror.
Slither (2006)
In James Gunn’s uproarious sci-fi horror comedy, Slither, a small town falls victim to an extraterrestrial parasite infestation. The initial target is Grant, a wealthy individual unable to escape the alien influence, transforming into a monstrous, tentacled creature. As the contagion spreads throughout the town, only Officer Bill, Grant’s wife Starla, the Mayor, and a daring teenager remain uninfected. Together, they unite to protect Earth from succumbing to the alien threat.
The standout horror element lies in Grant’s grotesque transformation – a repulsive organic creature bearing a resemblance to Grant, with his face grotesquely visible amidst oozing flesh and teeth. However, it’s Brenda’s unsettling discovery that adds a memorable twist to this underrated body horror comedy. When officers enter a barn, they encounter Brenda transformed into a grotesque, fleshy balloon, featuring her face, bloody nostrils, and the humorously alarming declaration, “Something’s wrong with me.” The inevitable and explosive outcome is both shocking and darkly comedic.
Barbarian (2022)
Zach Cregger’s Barbarian, one of horror’s recent gems, unfolds the tale of a young woman discovering that the unsettling stranger accompanying her in an Airbnb is not the source of danger—it’s the ominous secret hidden behind the basement door. This concealed horror takes the form of a tunnel leading to a nightmarish reality.
What sets Barbarian apart is its underrated status. The film introduces The Mother, a humanoid creature that has dwelled in darkness for centuries. Its only connection to the outside world is a video instructing women on breastfeeding. The Mother’s unsettling instinct is to transform every victim into its “baby.” While the film depicts gruesome scenes, such as crushing eyeballs, it is the feeding sequences that truly leave an impact. Whether using a feeding bottle or its own deformed breast, Barbarian explores the chilling consequences in vivid and disturbing detail.
Cabin Fever (2002)
Eli Roth’s directorial debut, the 2002 horror film Cabin Fever, serves as a compelling introduction to his distinctive filmmaking style. The plot revolves around a group of college students opting for a weekend getaway in a cabin, only to find themselves infected with a flesh-eating virus. As paranoia takes hold and bodies succumb to the gruesome consequences, the film weaves elements of comedy into its horror narrative. While Cabin Fever occasionally deviates from its horror roots, it effectively maintains its impact during the intense and graphic scenes. A notable example involves Marcy’s attempt to shave her legs, resulting in skin peeling off—a moment that is sure to evoke discomfort in viewers of this underrated body horror sleeper hit.
Martyrs (2008)
Martyrs, a prominent work within the New French Extremity movement, narrates the unsettling tale of a girl seeking vengeance against those who had abused her during childhood. The story unfolds as she mercilessly eliminates an entire family, prompting her friend Anna to join in the aftermath. As they bury the bodies, a dark secret begins to unravel, shrouding the narrative in mystery.
What makes the film remarkable is its intense and graphic nature, which, unlike gratuitous violence, serves a purpose. Anna’s unimaginable torture is not merely for spectacle; instead, it culminates in a revelation during the film’s climactic third act. Martyrs pushes the boundaries of body horror to unprecedented levels, creating an unparalleled cinematic experience that has yet to be replicated.
Color Out of Space (2019)
Richard Stanley’s Lovecraftian sci-fi horror film, Color Out of Space, unfolds the unsettling tale of a family residing on a picturesque farm in a small town. The arrival of a meteorite triggers a series of bizarre transformations, altering everything from water hues to living organisms. As the mystery unravels, teenager Lavinia makes a chilling discovery – the invasion is orchestrated by extraterrestrial entities from another world.
Despite its captivating elements, Color Out of Space remains underrated. One noteworthy aspect is the incorporation of body horror elements, particularly the harrowing scene where Theresa, the wife and mother, becomes fused into an organic mass with her child, Jack. This disturbing visual lingers, leaving a lasting impact and the potential to induce nightmares for days.
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