Oh, the late-night horror of waking up in the middle of the night, sick as a dog! All of us have experienced brief illnesses, but if we recover in a day or two, the awful memories soon fade. In movies, however, any illness is usually much more serious, and doubly so in horror movies. After all, is anything more frightening than when our own bodies turn against us?
We've covered some of the deadliest experiments in horror movies, but body horror can also come from vengeful humans and alien creatures, as in the following fright flicks.
The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) (2015)
A fiendish duo collaborates with an evil prison warden so they can expand their experiments, with the aim of linking up hundreds of hapless victims. The series has consistently toyed with the outer limits of body horror, in which flesh and bones become instruments of terror.
(Note: trailer is NSFW.)
American Mary (2013)
Overwhelmed by financial stress, medical student Katharine Isabelle begins performing operations "off the books," quickly becoming a specialist in body modifications. From there her story spirals into madness.
The Thing (2011)
The most unsettling type of body horror may be the kind where it's not clear if someone is human or alien, as explored in this new variation of a bone-chilling thriller. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars.
Slither (2006)
James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) made his directorial debut with this icky body-horror movie, revolving around a relationship between Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rooker that becomes very, er, strained. Just take Nathan Fillion's advice and keep your mouth shut.
Cabin Fever (2003)
A relaxing retreat with friends turns into a nightmarish fight for survival when a flesh-eating virus threatens everyone. Eli Roth made his first big horror splash with this gritty, grotty thriller.
eXistenZ (1999)
David Cronenberg's twisted and terrifying tale is as much about the future of video games as it is about body horror: Imagine if virtual reality gaming consoles could plug directly into humans via their spines, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The bio-ports connect with umbilical cords, redefining the meaning of teaming up with friends. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jude Law star.
