5 Shocking Body Horror Movies Every Fan Must See
The Horror Inside Us
Like found footage and folk horror, body horror movies are among the most popular subgenres of the 21st century. But what, exactly, is body horror? Definitions vary. Oxford Reference defines body horror as having “a particular focus on human bodies that are subject to torture, mutilation, mutation, decay, degeneration, and transformation, usually shown in graphic detail“.
That is a very broad definition. It could be applied to zombies, torture porn, and werewolf movies. I consider those genres to be separate from body horror. To me, true body horror movies are about the shocking, irreversible, and usually unwanted alteration of the body.
The Evolution of Body Horror Movies
Body horror has existed in literary fiction since long before the advent of the motion picture. Mary Shelly’s classic novel Frankenstein (1818) is an early example. Frankenstein was adapted into a short film in 1910 and then into an acclaimed full length movie in 1931, which was followed by numerous sequels.
The first notable original body horror movies were released in the 1950s. Early hits included Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Blob (1958), The Fly (1958), and Eyes Without A Face (1960).
Body horror kingpin David Cronenberg emerged with Eraserhead in 1977. He also helmed Shivers (1975), Rabid (1977), and the remake of The Fly (1986).
The 1980s saw an explosion of body horror movies, including Videodrome (1983), From Beyond (1986), Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), and Society (1989). The Blob was remade in 1988.
A dry spell followed in the ’90s, when horror broadly endured a decline in popularity. But body horror has bounced back in a big way in the 21st century, with many critically acclaimed films. Cronenberg’s son, Brandon, has made his own mark on the subgenre, directing Possessor (2020) and Infinity Pool (2023) .
A Limited But Devoted Audience
Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly is one of the few body horror movies to achieve mainstream commercial success. It’s no surprise that this genre has rarely been a huge box office draw. It’s weird, bleak, and grotesque. These movies aren’t exactly brimming with mass audience appeal.
Still, body horror movies have gained a devoted following. Many of them are cult classics. Their surreal imagery, creativity, and practical effects have earned plenty of fans.
Here are five shocking body horror movies that every horror fan must watch.
American Mary (2012)
Mary (Katherine Isabelle) is a broke medical student studying to become a surgeon. She applies to work at a strip club, but the owner instead offers her an unexpected opportunity. He needs her to perform surgery on an injured man in the club’s basement.
Buoyed by the success of her first operation, Mary starts an underground extreme body modification business. She is willing to perform virtually any operation. The weirder, the better! Her eccentric clientele is eager to fork over their hard earned cash.
Mary’s most memorable customer is Beatress (Tristan Risk), who uses plastic surgery to transform herself into a bizarre and unsettling version of Betty Boop, the famous 1930s cartoon character.
With her business thriving, Mary quits medical school. But the police have questions for her. Her sleazy former professor, Dr. Walsh, has mysteriously vanished. Walsh has been accused of misconduct by several female students. The cops want to know if Mary has any knowledge of his whereabouts.
American Mary is definitely not for the squeamish. Along with all the wild surgical shenanigans, it has graphic depictions of torture, mutilation, and sexual assault. You’ll need a strong stomach for this one.
Despite its tough subject matter, and a rather depressing ending, American Mary has becoming something of a cult classic. Katherine Isabelle gives one of the best performances of her career, on par with her role as Ginger in Ginger Snaps.
Watch American Mary on Screambox
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is body horror in the most literal sense. Tommy (Brian Cox) and Austin (Emile Hirsch), a father-son duo of coroners, get the challenge of their careers when the unidentified body of a young woman arrives in their morgue. The corpse shows no outward signs of trauma. There appears to be nothing wrong with her. Well, except for being dead.
They cut the body open, but what they find inside her only deepens the mystery. Spooky paranormal events begin to occur. After finally uncovering the shocking truth about the girl’s identity, Tommy and Austin try to escape the morgue. But is it too late?
Olwen Kelly (Jane Doe), an Irish actress and model, is able to successfully pull off her unusual role. She was required to spend nearly the entire movie lying naked on a slab. Many filmmakers would have chosen to use a dummy, but director Andre Overdal knew his film would be more effective with a real person playing Jane.
He has stated that he chose Kelly because of her knowledge of yoga, which enabled her to control her breathing. Cox and Hirsch also give solid performances. Their strong chemistry makes their relationship believable.
This movie must have been uncomfortable to make for everyone involved. Along with Kelly needing to constantly be naked around her male costars, I’m sure it was awkward for Cox and Hirsch to examine her. The logistics of making this movie are just as fascinating as the film itself. It’s great to see the cast’s efforts pay off.
Watch The Autopsy of Jane Doe on Shudder
The Fly (1986)
Numerous Cronenberg body horror movies could have made this list, but it’s hard to beat this iconic remake. Be afraid, be very afraid!
At its heart, The Fly is a tragic love story. A perfectly cast Jeff Goldblum stars as Seth Brundle, an eccentric scientist who gradually transforms into a grotesque monster after an experiment goes awry. Geena Davis stars as his love interest, journalist Ronnie Quaife.
Seth’s mutation starts with small changes, like enhanced strength and new body hair. But he soon realizes that something is terribly wrong. Seth makes several desperate attempts to stop his body’s mutation, but he continues to change into something inhuman.
Like many of Cronenberg’s films, The Fly contains plenty of fun gooey makeup. The practical effects still hold up well. This movie does a great job showcasing Brundle’s gradual transformation. Goldblum appears in several different stages of makeup throughout the film.
Seth’s mutation into a human-fly hybrid is truly shocking. A big part of The Fly’s effectiveness is the suspense that is built up. Cronenberg is wise enough to make the audience wait until the very end before the full transformation is revealed.
Hellraiser (1987)
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser probably isn’t the first movie that comes to mind when you think about body horror. But “body horror” is the perfect way to describe what happens to Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman), an amoral voyeur who is this movie’s main antagonist. Castle encounters the monstrous Cenobites, led by Pinhead (Doug Bradley), after a magic puzzle box sends him to Hell.
After being subjected to extreme torture, Frank is revived by a drop of blood. He appears in the attic of his brother’s home to his shocked sister in law, Julie (Clare Higgins). Frank has escaped, but there’s a catch – he has returned skinless. Frank convinces Julie, who is infatuated with him, to bring him fresh victims.
As he consumes more blood and flesh, Frank’s body gradually returns to normal. He and Julie hatch a diabolical plot to murder his brother and run off together. But the Cenobites are hot on his trail. After accidentally summoning them herself, Frank’s niece Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) makes a deal to give up her maniacal uncle in order to save herself.
Unlike this film’s many sequels, Pinhead isn’t the big bad here. He and his demonic crew are supporting characters, but they steal every scene that they’re in. Bradley spouts much of the movie’s best dialogue, like “No tears, please. It’s a waste of good suffering!”
Hellraiser is, in a sense, a reversion of the normal body horror movie formula. When Frank returns, he looked like a flayed zombie. Then he spends the rest of the movie transforming into something approaching normalcy. His character arc is one of the many unique and shocking aspects of the movie.
Teeth (2007)
We’ve covered some incredibly weird movies in this list, and Teeth is certainly no exception. It’s a disturbing and morbidly funny film based on an ancient folk myth. Teeth is about a young woman who discovers that she has teeth in an unusual part of her body. She is horrified at first, but gradually realizes the positive implications of having them.
Dawn (Jess Weixler) is a Christian teenager who believes in abstinence. Her convictions are tested when she encounters Toby, a fellow Christian whom she’s attracted to. Jess eventually becomes uncomfortable with Toby’s advances. Angry at her rejection, he becomes aggressive with her. Toby is the first of several guys to pay the price for molesting Dawn.
Teeth is a dark feminist satire with a sense of humor that’s as sharp as Dawn’s special teeth. But beware of this film’s graphic content. It depicts multiple instances of sexual assault, mutilation, and castration.
Watch Teeth on Fandango at Home
The Future of Body Horror
The development of the modern beauty industry has made body horror more relevant than ever today. The movies of the future are likely to feature cutting edge technological advances in body modification.
This article in Forbes explains how beauty companies are already using AI to develop and market their products. This industry is positively teeming with material for horror movies, and it’s a good bet that many future genre films will have themes involving AI.
We are also likely to continue to see an influx of movies like Immaculate and The First Omen, body horror films with themes related to female bodily autonomy. The increased political relevance of these issues means that many more movies are likely to explore these themes.
