9 Body Horrors So Disturbing I Won’t Watch Them Ever Again
David Cronenberg and body horror are inseparable. But beyond him there's a whole world of gory subgenre to discover.
If you love body horror as much as I do, you may've been faced with other people's eternal question: why? The truth is, body horror speaks to different people in different ways. For me, it serves as an exploration of our deepest fears about physical existence and loss of control.
Aside from being a huge fan of the genre, I also consider it the most unrewatchable. With that being said, these 9 films have taken it to a whole new extreme, and not even the most hardcore fan can stomach another visit. So if you're someone who wants to get into the genre, these are perfect (and dangerous) options.
American Mary (2012): Medical Surgeries Horror
- On Rotten Tomatoes, American Mary has 61% from critics and 53% from the audience.
- On IMDb, American Mary is rated 6.2/10.
With all its flaws, American Mary managed to traumatize me in a way I couldn't have anticipated. This gritty story follows Mary Mason, a broke medical student whose desperate need for money leads her into the morally murky waters of underground body modification.
American Mary is as great for its context as it is for its body horror. The directors, The Soska Sisters, question how far a person can go to become their own version of beauty standards.
Available on Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex and Fawesome for free.
Taxidermia (2006): Generational Trauma at Its Fullest
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Taxidermia has 80% from critics and 76% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Taxidermia is rated 6.8/10.
This Hungarian film follows three generations of men, each more disturbing than the last: a pervert seeking satisfaction, a speed eater and a taxidermist with unique ambitions.
The movie's approach to body horror is unique. But in the best tradition of the genre, each story feels like a fever dream from which you can't wake up. Loved it but have no interest in coming back
Available on: Here TV, Here TV Amazon Channel.
Possessor (2020): The Ultimate Identity Crisis
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Possesor has 94% from critics and 59% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Possesor is rated 6.5/10.
Possessor was directed and written by Brandon Cronenberg (David Cronenberg's son). It really reminded me of disturbing episodes of Black Mirror. In the world of Possessor, your body can be hijacked by an assassin who can make you do literally anything.
The body horror aspects are shocking, but it's the psychological implications that will keep you up at night.
Available on Kanopy for free.
Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989): A Cruel Transformation
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Tetsuo: The Iron Man has 83% from critics and 76% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Tetsuo: The Iron Man is rated 6.9/10.
Tetsuo is a cyberpunk nightmare that follows a man's transformation into a metal hybrid after a fatal encounter with The Metal Fetishist. If you loved Cronenberg's The Fly, you'll love Tetsuo. Like most Japanese horror, Tetsuo is aggressive, chaotic, and unapologetic in its approach.
Available on Kanopy for free.
Excision (2012): The Dark Side of Adolescence
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Excision has 85% from critics and 60% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Excision is rated 6.1/10.
High school was rough for everyone, but not quite like this.
AnnaLynne McCord transforms herself completely as Pauline, a teenager with surgical aspirations and a complicated relationship with reality. The film balances dark humor with genuinely unsettling imagery that will make you want to forget what you've seen.
Available on Hoopla, Plex and Fawesome for free.
Color Out of Space (2019): Nic Cage's Masterpiece
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Color Out of Space has 86% from critics and 82% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Color Out of Space is rated 6.1/10.
A family's peaceful farm life is shattered when a meteorite crashes nearby, bringing with it a force that transforms everything it touches. The film's use of color and practical effects creates one of the most memorable body horror scenes in recent memory.
Available on Hoopla for free.
Videodrome (1983): Long Live the New Flesh
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Videodrome has 83% from critics and 80% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Videodrome is rated 7.2/10.
I tried to avoid Cronenberg's films because they are obviously body horror classics, but this one takes the cake for me and it would be criminal to skip Videodrome.
The story follows a TV executive who stumbles upon a mysterious broadcast signal that causes hallucinations and physical transformations. The famous “long live the new flesh” scene alone is enough to scare you and keep you thinking about it for weeks.
Available on: Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV.
Society (1989): The Ultimate Class Commentary
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Society has 62% from critics and 60% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Society is rated 6.5/10.
If you're into social commentary mixed with your body horror, Society is a wild ride. It follows a Beverly Hills teenager who discovers that his wealthy family and their social circle aren't exactly human. The film builds up slowly, but the payoff in the final act is something that will stay with you forever.
Available on Plex for free.
Cabin Fever (2002): Vacation Goes Wrong
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Cabin Fever has 62% from critics and 44% from the audience.
- On IMDb, Cabin Fever is rated 5.6/10.
Five friends rent a cabin in the woods (always a great idea) and encounter a flesh-eating virus that turns their getaway into a nightmare. It's a dark comedy with increasingly disturbing body horror as the story progresses.
Available on: Starz, Philo, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV.
