No, VALLEY isn’t talking about the 1978 horror film. The movie genre, however, is precisely what this article dives into: body horror. Specifically, films where creatures jump out of characters like in “The Thing” or the infamous “Tusk” (if you know, you know). During or after watching these films, the audience’s reactions are often extreme. It’s as if they are on the big screen watching themselves contort. So why does this happen, and how does the movie industry use it to its advantage?
Revolting and Recent
This past September, “The Substance” was released in theaters. In summary, the film follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an aerobics star, played by Demi Moore, who is aging into her fifties. With the changes in her appearance, she doesn’t look the same as she did in her early twenties.
To solve this problem, she is offered a substance that will make a younger version of her appear. VALLEY is going to let your imagination figure out how the younger Elisabeth appears, but let’s just say it isn’t pretty.
Audiences across America posted TikToks that showed their reactions before and after seeing the film. It’s safe to say they were either shell-shocked or feeling uncomfortable in their own skin.
Though gruesome, the film won several awards including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay. It takes a tremendous team to disturb critics that much. Well, what about body horror makes audiences squeal and hide? Is it just the gore or is it something deeper, more psychological?
It’s Us Up There
Horror films are meant to incite fear, that’s their whole point. However, with body horror, it crosses over into a vulnerable realm. The films feel like they reach through the screen to grab at you.
As an audience member, you physically feel what is happening on the screen. You pay for the ticket, you pay to feel the characters’ emotions.
For example, take the 1960 film “Psycho.” Even though it wasn’t body horror, it shocked audiences because of the infamous shower scene. It was the first of its kind to make viewers feel uncomfortable in their own homes.
Humans are generally empathetic. We feel each other’s fears, hopes and worries. Body horror profits off of this emotional capacity. It relies on our genuine care for each other. So much so, that when we see a character get beaten horribly, we feel it in the theater seats.
Safe Down Below
While they may be frightening, body horror films remind us why we are human. Watching one can make you feel happy to live and breathe in your body (especially one without an alien growing inside it).
These films might make us squeal and push ourselves down into our seats, but hey, that’s what they’re for. In the theater, audiences are safe from the horrors they view above.
So, if you don’t want to feel disturbed or have weird dreams for a few days after, don’t see a body horror film. There are plenty of us horror-lovers that will watch it for you.
What are your thoughts on body horror? Let us know @VALLEYmag on X!
