There are a lot of different Horror movies out there, ranging from supernatural ghost stories to downright chilling tales about Urband Legends or blood-thirsty monsters that live in the most remote corners of the world. But some of the most gripping and terrifying films in recent decades revolve around the prospect of Body Horror, a genre that sees the human form being grotesquely transformed into something frightening and stomach-churning.
With Halloween rapidly approaching, now is the best time to check out some of the following Body Horror films, which are sure to make viewers uncomfortable. Many entries on this list feature practical effects, special effects, and masterfully made prosthetics that are so gruesome-looking they'll make anyone's skin crawl.
10 The Thing (1982)
In terms of Body Horror, it's hard to beat The Thing. Although there are films that feature on this list that are equally as gruesome, if not more so, The Thing is perhaps one of the most visually and mentally frightening films ever made. For a film crafted way back in the early 80s, it features some truly stomach-turning visuals, with human heads sprouting spider-like legs and household pets morphing into towering parasitic monstrosities.
All of this is eye-candy atop a tense storyline about a group of researchers that find themselves locked in a research facility with a killer alien parasite. It's masterfully written and stands out as one of the best Horror films from the 80s (and of all time) for good reason.
9 Slither (2006)
James Gunn is one of the most influential directors of the modern age, lending his name to some of the most popular films that have come from the Marvel and DC universes (Guardians of the Galaxy and Suicide Squad respectively). But back in 2006, he helped grace the world with one of the most truly disgusting body horror films ever created.
Slither is similar to The Thing in the idea that it centers around a parasitic alien force that begins to take over the bodies of those around it but the creature in this film is much more ambitious. With some of the most gruesome transformations to date, Slither will make viewers' skin crawl.
8 The Fly (1986)
Jeff Goldblum has had a long and flourishing career in cinema and many fans likely recognize him from Jurassic Park. Surprisingly, it's not the actor's first run-in with DNA splicing and super science. Back in the 80s, Goldblum portrayed super-smart scientist Seth Brundle, a driven man who successfully created a teleportation device. Unfortunately, his experiment took a dark and disgusting turn when he attempted to test things for himself.
The Fly is a gross look at what things may look like if human DNA was ever merged with that of a housefly. The special effects and prosthetic makeup are absolutely horrifying in some scenes.
7 The Human Centipede (2009)
Not to be outdone by the rest of the world, Dutch filmmaker Tom Six crafted one of the most visually and mentally disturbing films the world had ever seen. This 2009 limited theatrical release (in the USA) twisted what many considered to be body horror up to that point, giving birth to something that seemed beyond Horror comprehension at the time.
The film follows three tourists that find themselves at the hands of a deranged German surgeon who plans to sew them together to create a human centipede, complete with one solid digestive tract. It's unnerving, to say the least.
6 The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
The Body Horror genre features a lot of Sci-Fi tropes and disgustingly-morphed forms but it's easy to forget that there are some individuals who work in the medical field and are required to create what many would consider body horror on a daily basis. Coroners spend most of their time breaking chest cavities open and cutting through skin to discover a cause of death for crime victims.
This concept is turned supernatural in The Autopsy of Jane Doe, which features a truly eerie story and some gruesome up-close-and-personal looks at what Coroners go through every day in their careers.
5 Hellraiser (1987)
Those looking for some seriously unsettling Body Horror should check out the Hellraiser series, starting with the original 1987 release. Revolving around a mysterious and iconic puzzle box, some unaware people end up summoning a group of interdimensional sadists, deriving pleasure from the punishment of those around them. Hellraiser is truly alarming for its time and features some absolutely incredible prosthetic makeup.
4 Re-Animator (1985)
The prospect of zombies has been rife in Horror media in recent years. Hordes of the undead suddenly roaming the Earth and feeding on the living has been seen in tons of mediums throughout the late 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. Back in the mid-80s, it took a different form with Re-Animator, the tale of an enigmatic scientist that set out to revitalize dead tissue.
It's centered much more on the Body Horror aspect of things, and some of the practical effects and prosthetics are panic-inducing.
3 V/H/S 94 (The Subject) (2021)
The V/H/S series has been a cult classic for some time now and many fans were absolutely elated to see that it would be receiving a "reboot" of sorts in 2021. This year, anxious fans were greeted by the V/H/S formula for the modern age, and many were happy with the finished product. For those unaware, the V/H/S series always revolves around short films within a film.
Although almost all of the stories featured in V/H/S 94 showcase some sort of Body Horror, it's The Subject that truly stands out. The story follows a mad scientist of sorts that is attempting to create a human/machine hybrid. It features some incredible special effects and some truly terrifying creations.
2 Teeth (2007)
Teeth takes the concept of a "black widow" and amps it up to eleven, instead focusing on a young girl with an alarming secret. Branded as a Horror Comedy, the tale follows an abstinent girl who is tempted by a lover and then ends up showcasing a side of herself that shocks both her partner and the audience. It's not nearly as gruesome as some of the other Body Horror films on this list in terms of visuals but it's an alarming premise based on old folklore from multiple cultures.
1 The Brood (1979)
David Cronenberg has created some truly alarming creatures in his time but perhaps none more unsettling than what's seen in The Brood, a film that Cronenberg considers to be his own "true Horror film."
The premise of this incredibly unsettling tale follows two individuals going through a nasty divorce. Through the pain and suffering of the entire ordeal, a brood of violent children are produced.