Body horror basics: 7 essential films every fan should see
Re-Animator, The Incredible Melting Man, Society, and more
If you’re looking to examine your own deep seated anxieties about the human body, this may be the perfect video for you. If you’re squeamish, however, you may want to consider a more academic approach than the stomach-churning effects compiled here.
The A.V. Club has put together a quick guide to body horror films, those movies that lean into the grotesque and the sometimes fantastic treatment of things that the human body really shouldn’t do. We’ve highlighted seven classics from the genre, as well as the streaming services where you can watch these films now.
The titles here use imaginative approaches and, in some cases, groundbreaking special effects that offer up thinly veiled commentary on a diverse array of topics, from anxieties about nuclear war in post World World II Japan to class struggle in modern societies.
Body horror isn’t always easy to watch, but it can be equally difficult to look away from. And in the right hands, these films can be as compelling as it is smart.
Here’s the complete list of films in this video: