Summary
In recent years, body horror has seen a revival in popularity among young filmmakers. These movies explore complex subjects, such as sexuality, evolution, and identity, with gruesome effects and bodily mutations. Not since the 1980s, with body horror classics such asThe Fly(1986),The Thing(1982), orFrom Beyond(1986), has the genre seen such a rich array of movies released.
From returning franchises and old masters to a new generation of directors, these films have shocked audiences worldwide. They have gained industry recognition and awards for their unique and disturbing visions that ensure thecontinued popularity of horrorin mainstream cinema.
8The First Omen
The Long-Running Series Returns
This prequel to the original 1976 movie, and the sixth overall installment in theOmenfranchise, brings a chilling atmosphere, disturbing body horror, and strong performances from its entire cast. The film revolves around an American Nun who has been sent to Rome to work in an orphanage but uncovers a sinister plot to bring forth the antichrist.
In her feature directorial debut, Arkasha Stevenson expertly crafts a disturbing tale that tackles themes of female bodily autonomy and sexual abuse. This latest installment expands on the long-running plot with plenty of scares that will please manydie-hard horror fans.
7Swallowed
A Tense and Unsettling Body Horror
Swallowedfollows two friends, Ben and Dom, on their final night out before Ben moves to L.A. to become an actor in the gay adult industry. Roped into an illegal drug run to Canada, the two men are forced to swallow a mysterious substance.
Swalloweddelivers on the promise of body horror, with somecreepy and disturbingscenes that are both shocking and gruesome. The film explores themes around queerness, drug abuse, and friendship and presents scenes that are genuinely tense and unsettling.Swallowedis a must-watch for body horror for fans looking for an original movie that will disturb as much as it engages.
6Hatching
A Stylish Horror Fairytale
This Finnish coming-of-age body horror centers around a young gymnast, Tinja, and her controlling mother and seemingly perfect family. The film follows Tinja’s story as she discovers a strange egg that hatches into a terrifying creature. The creature eventually grows to become the girl’s doppelgänger, who acts out Tinja’s repressed emotions.
Hatchingwas one of the standout horror releases of 2022, with a strong emotional core set around a classic body-horror trope. With plenty of grotesque imagery and underlying themes,Hatchingis a recent horror gem thatgenre fans are sure to love.
5Hellraiser
A Quality Reimagining
Based on Clive Barker’s novella,The Hellbound Heart, TheHellraiserseries has been a staple of horror cinema since the original film was released in 1987. The series revolves around a mysterious puzzle box that opens a gateway to hell, releasing the demonic Cenobites.
While the original movies arehorror classics, the franchise would dip in quality with subsequent releases. However, in 2022, this excellent remake would revitalizeHellraiser, reimagining the central antagonist, Pinhead, and moving back toward Clive Barker’s original vision. With typical blood and gore,Hellraiserexplores ideas of sexuality, addiction, and the lines between pleasure and pain. For fans,Hellraiseris a welcome return to form in a series that grew stale and formulaic.
4Crimes of the Future
Evolution Gone Wrong
Body-horror master David Cronenberg returns withCrimes of the Future. Thissci-fi horrorfilm is set in a future where humanity’s biology has changed in various ways, and physical pain and infectious diseases have largely disappeared. In this strange new world, Tenser, played by Viggo Mortensen, can spontaneously regrow organs. Taking advantage of this, he and his wife perform live surgery as performance art.
Crimes of the Futureis David Cronenberg in his element, with grisly effects and philosophical questions. The film delves into the concepts of technology and the human body. While the film struggles to reach the heights of the director’s best work,Crimes of the Futureis a nostalgic return of one of the genre’s greats.
3Possessor
The Breakout of Identity
In this disturbing psychological horror film, director Brandon Cronenberg, son of legendary body horror maestro David Cronenberg, crafts a memorable and stylish story of a woman losing control of her own body. In the film, Andrea Riseborough stars as an assassin who possesses the bodies of other people to complete her contracts.
As the lines start to break between her body and mind, her everyday life starts to unravel.Possessoris a high-concept film grounded by expert direction and a strong central performance from Riseborough.Possessorsolidifies Brandon Cronenberg as an up-and-coming director and would go on to win several awards at film festivals around the world.
2Titane
Unexpected and Shocking
Up-and-coming French director Julia Ducournau follows her fantastic debut,Raw(2016), with the Palme d’Or-winningTitane. This psychological body horror movie follows the story of showgirl Alexia. After having a titanium plate implanted in her head as a child, as an adult she has become a serial killer who is sexually aroused by automobiles.
Titaneshocks as it engages with a strong central performance from Agathe Rousselle in her feature film debut. WhileTitane’s body horror and automobile fetishization are reminiscent of David Cronenberg’sCrash(1996), Ducournau stamps her own identity on the film with confidence and style.
1The Substance
A Modern Body Horror Classic
The Substancehas been one of the most successful andcritically acclaimed horror moviesin recent years and has even been nominated for several Academy Awards. The film follows Demi Moore’s aging celebrity, Elisabeth Sparkle, whose career is fading with her youth.
After being fired, she decides to try a mysterious underground drug, which creates a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley.The Substanceoffers all the gore and creature effects body horror fans adore, with a sharply satirical script and fantastic performances. The film touches on themes such as aging and extreme beauty practices.
