Best Body Horror Movies

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott in 1979. The film follows the crew of the commercial space towing vessel, the Nostromo, who investigate a distress call from an alien planet. After discovering an alien spacecraft, the crew unknowingly brings a deadly creature aboard their vessel. As the creature kills off the crew one by one, the remaining survivors must find a way to survive and stop the alien before it reaches Earth. With a classic blend of horror, science fiction, and suspense, Alien is regarded as one of the best films of all time.

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action horror film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. It is the sequel to the 1979 film Alien and the second installment of the Alien franchise. The film follows Ripley as she returns to the moon where her crew encountered the hostile Alien creature, this time accompanied by a unit of space marines. After arriving, they find the planet inhabited by an Alien queen and her offspring. The team must eliminate the aliens before they are able to make their way back to Earth. Aliens features an ensemble cast, featuring actors such as Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, William Hope, Carrie Henn, and Bill Paxton. It received critical acclaim and became one of the most successful sequels in film history.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a 1982 science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. It stars Kurt Russell as the lead character, R.J. MacReady, a helicopter pilot and scientist who is part of a group of American researchers in Antarctica that discover a parasitic extraterrestrial organism that has the ability to imitate and assimilate other organisms. The organism can quickly spread throughout the camp, gradually consuming and replacing each person it assimilates. MacReady and the other researchers must attempt to survive and figure out a way to destroy the organism before it overwhelms them all. As the terror mounts, paranoia and mistrust among the remaining survivors ensue, as it is unclear who is still human and who has been taken over by the Thing.

From Roman Polanski, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Rated Approved

Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 horror film directed by Roman Polanski and based on the novel of the same name by Ira Levin. The film follows Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband, Guy, as they move into the Bramford, an old apartment building in New York City. Rosemary soon becomes pregnant and begins to suspect that the strange events that seem to follow her and her husband may be connected to a Satanic cult. As Rosemary's pregnancy progresses, she finds herself in a battle for her unborn baby's soul and her own sanity. Rosemary's Baby is a classic horror tale that contains elements of psychological horror, suspense, and the supernatural, and remains one of Polanski's most acclaimed films.

From Katsuhiro Ôtomo, starring Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tesshô Genda
Rated R

Akira is a 1988 science-fiction anime film directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo and based on his manga of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo, the story follows two friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, who get caught up in a clash between a secret government project and a group of delinquents with psychic powers. Tetsuo, a member of the delinquents, is exposed to a mysterious energy source known as Akira and develops powerful psychic abilities. When he uses these powers to wreak havoc on the city, Kaneda and his allies must battle against Tetsuo and the government forces. Along the way, they uncover a shocking truth about the origins of Akira and the government's secret agenda. The film is noted for its groundbreaking visuals, complex narrative, and ambitious scale—it is widely considered to be one of the most influential anime films of all time. It received numerous awards and accolades, and its success has spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs.

From Neill Blomkamp, starring Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Rated R

District 9 is a science fiction action film set in Johannesburg, South Africa, written, produced and directed by Neill Blomkamp. The film follows the story of an extraterrestrial race, referred to as "prawns," who are forced to live in a government-controlled shantytown after they are discovered on Earth. The main character, Wikus Van De Merwe, is a bureaucrat assigned to relocate the aliens to a new camp. After a freak accident, Wikus begins to exhibit alien traits, and is hunted by the military. With the help of the aliens, Wikus is able to uncover a sinister plan to exterminate their entire race. The film follows Wikus as he discovers a way to reverse the process, and ultimately save the alien race.

From John Landis, starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Joe Belcher, Griffin Dunne
Rated R

An American Werewolf in London is a horror-comedy film from 1981 directed by John Landis. It stars David Naughton and Griffin Dunne as two American college students who are attacked by a werewolf while backpacking through England. Naughton's character survives the attack, but is cursed to become a werewolf himself. The film follows his struggle to control the beast within him and find a cure for his lycanthropy. Along the way, he is visited by the ghost of his dead companion and warned of dire consequences if he fails to contain the werewolf. The film is known for its groundbreaking special effects, which earned it an Academy Award, and its dark comedic elements.

From Adrian Lyne, starring Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven
Rated R

From David Lynch, starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates
Rated Not Rated

From Andrzej Zulawski, starring Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Margit Carstensen, Heinz Bennent
Rated R

From Stuart Gordon, starring Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, David Gale
Rated Unrated

From David Cronenberg, starring Jeremy Irons, Geneviève Bujold, Heidi von Palleske, Barbara Gordon
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring James Woods, Debbie Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky
Rated R

From Kurt Neumann, starring David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall
Rated Not Rated

From Ridley Scott, starring Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
Rated R

From Ken Russell, starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid
Rated R

From Clive Barker, starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman
Rated R

From György Pálfi, starring Csaba Czene, Gergely Trócsányi, Marc Bischoff, Gina Moreno
Rated Not Rated

From David Cronenberg, starring Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Art Hindle, Henry Beckman
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Holm, Willem Dafoe
Rated R

From Lucio Fulci, starring Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson, Al Cliver
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring Jennifer O'Neill, Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan, Lawrence Dane
Rated R

From Stuart Gordon, starring Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ted Sorel, Ken Foree
Rated R

From Lucky McKee, starring Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris, James Duval
Rated R

From Lamberto Bava, starring Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Fiore Argento
Rated Not Rated