Top 10 Body Horror Films of the Century: Beyond 'The Substance'

In September 2024, Coralie Fargeat’s highly praised film “The Substance,” showcasing Demi Moore’s powerful performance, has caused quite a stir since its release. For those who missed it in theaters and wish to prepare before the Oscars, this captivating and thought-provoking body horror movie is now accessible for streaming with a Mubi subscription. With a touch of satire and some truly remarkable practical effects, it’s a film that recalls the finest examples from its disturbing subgenre, effortlessly earning itself a place among the very best alongside the masterpieces of David Cronenberg and John Carpenter.

A new rental option, “Wolf Man”, has just been released, which, surprisingly, leans more towards body horror than werewolf action. The transformation of the human character is given more emphasis than the wolf aspect. Of course, there are timeless classics such as Eraserhead by David Lynch, Videodrome and The Fly by Cronenberg, or The Thing by Carpenter that also fall under this category.

Black Swan

Similar to “The Substance”, Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” is one of the rare body horror films that has received Oscar recognition. This is entirely justified, as it offers a profound and impactful viewing journey, backed by outstanding performance from Natalie Portman.

Portman essentially takes on two roles: first, Nina Sayer, a determined ballerina striving to play the lead character in Swan Lake. Secondly, she portrays what or who she transforms into upon securing the role. Although she’ll have her chance, this journey could potentially shatter not only her body but also her spirit.

Stream Black Swan on Max.

Color Out of Space

After a 20-year hiatus marked by the chaotic yet entertaining film “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” Richard Stanley returned to directing with “Color Out of Space.” This time around, he was able to fully express his unique, eccentric style in the project, resulting in a harmonious blend of his imagination and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. In truth, “Color Out of Space” stands alongside “Re-Animator” as one of the top adaptations from Lovecraft’s literature.

The movie titled “Color Out of Space” features Nicolas Cage’s character, Nathan Gardner, relocating his family to their late grandfather’s farm. After a mysterious meteorite lands in their backyard before vanishing, they start experiencing the peculiar influence it has on the surrounding environment. By the film’s conclusion, each family member is witnessing strange, luminescent phenomena and the mother character undergoes a disturbing transformation that makes her unrecognizable.

Stream Color Out of Space on AMC+.

Overlord

In a unique blend, “Overlord” offers elements of war films, pays homage to John Carpenter’s style, weaves a mystery, and delves into body horror. It could be considered the ideal complement to Carpenter’s masterpiece, “The Thing”. Visually and musically, it attempts to mirror “The Thing”, and interestingly, one of its main characters is Wyatt Russell, star of the Marvel series, “Thunderbolts”.

In this unconventional World War II movie, we follow a small unit of American soldiers mysteriously dropped behind enemy lines prior to D-Day. However, they soon discover that the dangers of war extend beyond Normandy as they encounter a secret Nazi group performing gruesome, body-altering experiments. Furthermore, once a Nazi is injected with the film’s central serum, it takes far more than mere gunshots to permanently defeat them.

Stream Overlord for free with ads on Pluto TV.

Planet Terror

Among the highlights of “Grindhouse”, the standout might have been the mock trailers (later turned into genuine films like “Thanksgiving” and “Machete”), but the two primary midnight movies weren’t disappointing either. It’s interesting to note that, given one movie was directed by Quentin Tarantino and the other by Robert Rodriguez, you’d think Tarantino’s would take the lead. However, that’s not always true in this case.

Whereas Tarantino’s Death Proof is languid (though bolstered by a great Kurt Russell antagonistic performance), Rodriguez’s Planet Terror is a nasty good time from front to back. This zombie tale features a game Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling, an exotic dancer whose leg gets torn off and replaced with a machine gun. Naturally, she uses her new, Ash from Evil Dead-like appendage to get to the bottom of this zombified conspiracy.

Stream Planet Terror on STARZ.

Possessor

In a captivating performance and boasting stunning visuals, Brandon Cronenberg, son of the renowned master of body horror David Cronenberg, lives up to expectations with his work, Possessor. The movie features Andrea Riseborough from Oblivion, Christopher Abbott from Wolf Man, and Sean Bean of Game of Thrones. It’s a chilling blend of psychological horror and body horror, with the tension consistently heightened by an intelligent screenplay from director Cronenberg.

In the spotlight is Riseborough’s portrayal of assassin Tasya Vos, who employs an unusual method to carry out her assignments – she seizes control of other people’s bodies to get nearer to her targets. However, this technique has begun to impact her mental state, with disturbing images of intense violence intruding upon her family life. Eventually, it spills over into her professional life as well, causing an unexpected merging of identities (Vos and the fiancé of one of her targets) during a mission, leading to turmoil for Vos’s family.

Rent Possessor on Prime Video.

Raw

As a film enthusiast, I must warn you: If your stomach can’t handle a dash of body horror alongside your popcorn, then Raw might not be the movie for you. This unique blend of coming-of-age drama and visceral body horror is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and it certainly doesn’t pull any punches.

The narrative unfolds around a vegetarian embarking on veterinary studies, where she encounters meat for the first time. Instead of progressing from eating chicken to lamb, she finds herself drawn towards consuming human bodies, starting with the torso. This disturbing development is further complicated when it intertwines with her emerging sexuality, causing distress among the men in her circle.

Rent Raw on Prime Video.

The Skin I Live In

As genius director Pedro Almodóvar stated, “The Skin I Live In” can be described as a chilling horror tale without the traditional screams or fright elements. In this film, Antonio Banderas delivers a powerful performance as Robert Ledgard, a plastic surgeon who has been tirelessly working on a fire-resistant artificial skin. However, his research comes to a halt when he reveals that his experiments aren’t only being conducted on mice, but also on humans.

It’s worth noting that Ledgard has a young woman named Vera in his custody as well. Among those whose skin he’s experimented with, Vera appears to be one of them. However, the full extent of her identity is better left unveiled for first-time viewers to discover.

Rent The Skin I Live In on Prime Video.

Slither

Originally lauded by DCU co-chief James Gunn, the movie “Slither” is a delightfully slime-filled midnight flick. In terms of directorial debuts from the 2000s, “Slither” stands out as one of the most remarkable, demonstrating Gunn’s skill in seamlessly blending genres without alienating potential viewers. Additionally, for fans eager to see some familiar faces, fear not, as Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Gregg Henry, and Michael Rooker all make appearances.

In this scenario, characters Banks and Rooker are effectively utilized as a couple who become separated due to an alien meteorite carrying a parasite. Once the meteorite crash-lands in a secluded town, it falls upon the police chief (Fillion) to uncover why the residents have transformed into vicious zombies. Meanwhile, Banks’ character Starla Grant endeavors to rescue her husband, despite his body being severely damaged by the parasite.

Rent Slither on Prime Video.

Teeth

A movie needs real bravery to tackle the ancient toothy-vagina (toothed vagina) folklore, and it must find a unique tonal balance to succeed. Luckily, the comedy horror film “Teeth” manages this feat perfectly, maintaining a lighthearted approach while avoiding excessive silliness at all costs.

The story revolves around Dawn, portrayed by Jess Weixler, a woman proud of her virginity who encounters the man she decides to lose it with. However, upon doing so, she discovers that the ancient tale of the toothy vagina is not as mythical as once believed, but rather a harsh truth she now faces. Her truth.

Stream Teeth for free with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Upgrade

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, let me tell you that one of the most underrated horror masterpieces from 2018 was none other than “Upgrade.” This film is a testament to the extraordinary skills of its director, Leigh Whannell, who has now taken on the helm for Universal Monsters reboots of “The Invisible Man” and “Wolf Man.” In “Upgrade,” you’ll find an enthralling blend of cyberpunk elements and the action-packed spirit of “John Wick,” interwoven with a chilling dose of body horror. Throughout the film, I found myself utterly captivated, never once losing interest in the unfolding storyline.

The action-horror movie narrates the story of Logan Marshall-Green, who plays Grey Trace in the year 2046, a world dominated by technology. Despite his surroundings, Trace harbors a dislike for technology itself. In an unfortunate turn of events, he gets mugged and left paralyzed. However, a chip is inserted into him that restores his ability to walk, but with the added bonus of superhuman strength. Yet, this newfound ability comes at a personal expense, though not as steep as the price he exacts on those responsible for putting him in such a predicament initially.

Stream Upgrade on Netflix.

2025-02-18 04:41

Top 10 Body Horror Films of the Century: Beyond ‘The Substance’