When it comes to the horror genre, many subgenres exist that have become popular with audiences. Among them are body horror films which, for many decades, have entertained and repulsed audiences in equal measure and resulted in some of the most iconic and important horror movies the genre has witnessed.
Updated January 6th, 2023: If you’re a fan of all things gruesome and gory, you’ll be pleased to know this article has been updated with additional content and frightening films.
Body horror in modern cinema has been utilized for both comedic and dramatic purposes, and over the years has evolved alongside trends in special effects as well. When determining which body horror films are the scariest, there are many subjective factors one could determine, from visuals and effects to plotting and creativity; this is a subgenre that’s constantly innovating. Let’s delve into the scariest body horror films and see which ones are practically guaranteed to make your skin crawl and have you jump out of your seat.
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8 The Thing
Universal Pictures
Being trapped in the arctic is a scary enough prospect, but when you have a bloodthristy alien possessing people around you, it only adds to the discomfort. John Carpetner left his stamp on the body horror genre with his tense and atmospheric remake of The Thing starring Kurt Russell. The film relies on physical horror as the titular monster jumps from a dog to human hosts and evolves throughout. The practical effects here are grotesque yet creative, and are considered among some of the best effects in horror.
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Carpenter ratchets up the intensity throughout, casting plenty of ambiguity on what form the creature could be taking. The arctic setting adds to the bleak nature of the film and Ennio Morricone’s haunting score perfectly complements the mood. The Thing is an example of how the body horror genre can lend itself naturally to suspenseful and taut filmmaking, and Carpenter intelligently crafts an exquisitely unnerving game of cat and mouse. With its tight pacing, strong visuals, unique setting, and imaginative storytelling, The Thing is an example of the body horror genre at its most richly crafted, resulting in a visceral and captivating experience.
7 Martyrs
Wild Bunch
Chronicling the bloody and violent rampage a revenge-seeking young woman leaves in her wake, the psychological body horror film Martyrs follows the traumatized abuse victim as she sets out to seek vengeance against her oppressors along with her childhood best friend. Director Pascal Laugier drew inspiration for the picture from movies like Hostel and The Passion of Joan of Arc, with the intention of wanting to “make a movie about pain” as he was in a severe state of depression at the time he wrote the screenplay. Laugier wanted the audience to understand and be a forced spectator to the tremendous violence and pain represented in the spine-tingling picture.
Martyrs caused quite the stir upon its release, with a man collapsing at one screening and a woman vomiting due to the graphic nature of the brutal flick. It is widely considered as a prime example of new era French horror films and has been praised as one of the greatest horror films of the 21st century, with both Rolling Stone and IGN ranking it on their respective lists.
6 Re-Animator
Empire International Pictures
Technically billed as a horror comedy, Re-Animator still manages to amp up the gore and thrills factor and deliver a nasty yet sly package of body horror. The film, which loosely plays off of classics such as Frankenstein and the H.P. Lovecraft book Herbert West: Reanimator, involves two medical students who discover a way to resurrect dead bodies and begin a series of tests which end up taking a wrong turn.
The film is a rollercoaster ride of outlandish visuals, dark humor, and a chilling cautionary tale about the dangers of playing god. While the film does have plenty of edgy humor, it isn’t without its moments of chills and suspense and offers up some truly inventive special effects and gore in the process. At a brisk 90 minutes, Re-Animator is an uncompromising, hilarious, yet original dose of body horror that both delights and disturbs in equal measure.
5 Splinter
Magnet Releasing
Toby Wilkins dialed up the gory and grisly when he directed Splinter, centering on an escaped convict and his addict girlfriend who take a young couple hostage after carjacking them; when the four stop at a remote gas station, they are terrorized by a deadly horde of parasites that mutates their victims into lethal hosts. Wilkins set out to initially create a “classic siege movie” before settling on a parasitic creature with the ability to take over a human’s body, believing this element heightened the fright factor. Splinter features stomach-churning scenes involving the fungus-like creatures that grotesquely infect their hosts, mutilating their bodies in the process.
Splinter was well received by critics and went on to win six awards including Best Picture at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival. In their glowing review of the horror flick, the New York Times wrote, “With Splinter, the director Toby Wilkins honors the conventions of the horror genre with skill and enough wit to keep the scares sharp.”
4 The Fly
20th Century Fox
A list of the finest body horror has to offer couldn’t possibly not include the maestro of the genre, director David Cronenberg. While he has many films that could easily land on this list, his 1986 remake of The Fly feels the most appropriate, somehow simultaneously his most mainstream and perhaps his most icky. The film tells the tragic story of Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) who suffers freak accident involving an experiment and begins to slowly morph into a human-fly hybrid.
The film’s visual effects are notably grotesque, but Cronenberg also utilizes the body horror aspect for genuine emotion as well. The way he depicts Goldblum’s character transformation slowly adds to the tragedy and suspense, so while The Fly delivers plenty of the gore and thrills fans look for in the genre, its mature storytelling and affecting performances elevate it to masterpiece status. The Fly proves that body horror can be equally adept at pulling the heartstrings as it is at turning our stomachs. Since then, it’s continued to be critically acclaimed and has joined the ranks of other great, award-winning horror films.
3 Invasion of The Body Snatchers
Allied Artists
While this (alongside Fiend Without a Face) is more a progenitor of the subgenre, there’s no stronger case for body horror then your friends and family being impersonated by something possibly evil, yet looking no different. The classic sci-fi film Invasion of The Body Snatchers plays upon this concept to profoundly disturbing effect. The 1956 film offers a chilling commentary on McCathisim while also being an intelligent and crafty thriller that expertly plays off of paranoia.
While it isn’t as gory or sensation-driven as other entries on this list, it does have some nice, gross little special effects. The real basis of its body horror is the human impersonation angle here, taking the concept to a more personal and haunting perspective. The film has since been noted as a strong piece of social commentary that has continued to resonate. Invasion of The Body Snatchers has been remade several, allegorically different times, most notably in 1978 starring Donald Sutherland. As an example of body horror, Invasion of The Body Snatchers is still regarded as a masterwork.
2 Cabin Fever
Lions Gate Films
Eli Roth made his stellar directorial debut with the skin-crawling hit Cabin Fever, telling the startling tale of a group of college friends who set out to celebrate their spring break in a remote cabin, where they encounter a ghastly flesh-eating virus that quickly infects them one-by-one. The film horrifically depicts the devastating effects of the bacteria, and includes many nauseating scenes such as one involving a female who goes to shave her legs and her flesh begins to peel off in the process.
Roth created the premise of the story after developing a harsh skin infection while working in Iceland, and he initially faced pushback from studios who felt the film’s premise was too unsettling and that the horror genre was unprofitable. With Cabin Fever, the director paid homage to low-budget horror flicks and earned praise for his unique perspective, with Quentin Tarantino himself lauding the cult classic and calling Roth “the future of horror.”
1 Slither
Brightlight Pictures
Long before he became known for his work on franchises such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, director James Gunn crafted a chilling, edgy yet darkly comic piece of body horror known as Slither. In the vein of classics like The Thing, the film involves a parasitic alien that begins to possess a small town. Slither works thanks to its impressive effects and clever set pieces, along with it’s respect for the genre. The self-aware nature of Slither allows it to bypass much of the clichés and conventions and offer up a fresh and exciting experience.
For fans of body horror, it provides the gore, thrills, and suspense required but with an artistry and personality that’s truly invigorating. For those looking for an underrated gem to add to the body horror catalog, Slither is a worthy choice that more than 15 years later still holds up as a cult classic.
