Best Body Horror Movies & TV Shows to Celebrate 40 Years of 'The Fly'
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
By Jack Ransom - August 16, 2026
Few films have left quite as lasting an impression on body horror as David Cronenberg’s The Fly. Released in 1986, the sci-fi horror classic turns a simple teleportation experiment into a grotesque and tragic transformation, with Jeff Goldblum’s Seth Brundle gradually losing his humanity as his body mutates into something truly horrifying. Forty years later, its practical effects, gruesome make-up work and visceral depiction of physical decay remain just as effective.
To celebrate 40 years of The Fly, we’re looking back at some of the best body horror movies and TV shows that embrace everything from grotesque transformations and mutated flesh to parasitic creatures, bodily decay and downright disgusting practical effects. From The Thing to The Substance and some unexpected animated picks, these are the essential body horror movies and TV shows to watch if you’re looking for something gloriously grotesque.
1 Batman: The Animated Series - Feat of Clay (Part 1 & 2) (1992), Dir. Dick Seabast
When an impostor posing as Bruce Wayne attacks Lucius Fox, Batman's investigation leads to a desperate actor whose dependence on an experimental face-altering compound leaves him at a ruthless criminal's mercy. Starting off with a recommendation that isn’t a film, but is easily one of the best examples of a classic villain origin within the genre. Ron Perlman’s voice performance, the iconic animation style and hulking Clayface design, coupled with the dark and tragic themes make this a highlight of a series packed with brilliant moments. Very interested to see the influence this has on Clayface later this year.
Watch now on Prime Video.
2 From Beyond (1986), Dir. Stuart Gordon
One of the many H.P. Lovecraft adaptations to get the celluloid treatment. From Beyond sees a group of scientists develop the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms. Everything is just so disgustingly seedy and dripping with goo and ooze. Pretorious’ final form is hulking, fleshy limbed seething monstrosity that really has to be seen to be fully described. Everything from eyeball ripping, face munching and flesh dissolving is on display here in all its grisly glory. A twisted, schlocky, slimy and cackle worthy boil of ooze filled Lovecraftian horror. It slithers by at an engaging pace, unleashes some truly disturbing and otherworld imagery and practical effects and features fittingly hammy performances. It does tread familiar ground at points and the script can feel a little dodgy, but this is one to seek out for cult horror fanatics.
Watch now on Tubi.
3 Hellraiser (1987), Dir. Clive Barker
Clive Barker’s debut feature film. Hellraiser sees a woman (Clare Higgins) discover the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law (Sean Chapman). She starts killing for him to revitalize his body so he can escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their sadistic underworld. Barker unleashes sadistic, chain ridden practical effect nastiness. Chunks of flesh, sloppy organs, snapped bones, ripped ligaments and stretched skin are in abundance. The prosthetics, costumes and makeup work for the Cenobites are phenomenal: from the iconic Pinhead to the snappy Chatterer, the drooling Butterball and the husky whisper of Deep Throat. Hellraiser still stands tall as a cult horror classic. Gloriously twisted, reeking with fleshy chills, boasting stellar effects and fitting performances. It may suffer from a sprinkling of slower moments and a simplistic premise, but the film’s seedy atmosphere, grotesque nature and Barker’s wild imagination absolutely rule.
Watch now on Shudder. Also available on Tubi and Arrow Video.
4 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Dir. Don Siegel
The somewhat lesser mentioned original 50’s sci-fi cult favourite. Invasion of the Body Snatchers sees a small-town doctor (Kevin McCarthy) learn that the population of his community in Santa Mira is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates. The condensed aspect ratio, inky shadows (the night-time sequences are pure noir suspense) and the artificial suburban suspicion of the town’s houses, its inhabitants and the genuinely unnerving presentation of the alien birthing/cloning pods (suitably squirm inducing, foaming and out of this world, yet also eye-wideningly feasible), all combine to make a thoroughly effective grounded sci-fi tone. The cinematography, dynamic camera angles (some great close-ups, blocking and framing in this) and dramatic score blend superbly. Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a fast paced and paranoid sci-fi injected thriller that is undoubtedly influential. The practical props and dynamic direction, coupled with the growing background influence of the alien inhabitants make for a pod filled with prime 50’s entertainment.
5 The Substance (2024), Dir. Coralie Fargeat
The Substance sees a fading celebrity (Demi Moore) decide to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley). A unique, grotesque, shocking, bold force of nature that is absolutely one of the highlights of cinema that was released in 2024. If you have not seen this yet, you will not be fully prepared for the gloriously twisted, jaw-dropping, schlocky and rip-roaringly vile and tragic finale sequence that pays homage to a Golden era of splatter and works at pushing heaps of well deserved praise onto special effects artists, the costume designers and well, basically everyone behind the creative process. The performances are fierce, the film oozes with style, the sound design rips through and Fargeat frankly is already on another level already with what is only just her second feature.
Watch now on Paramount+ and Mubi.
6 The Thing (1982), Dir. John Carpenter
The Thing sees a research team in Antarctica hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims. The practical effects are absolutely phenomenal, and are still incredibly effective and disturbing. From sticky, slimy pulsating flesh, to distorted limbs, various eyes, tentacles and teeth. All of which deliver pure nightmare fuel and will be forever burned into the minds of those who have seen the film. The death and transformation scenes revel in blood splattered brutality and chaos, accompanied by a truly haunting screaming sound effect whenever the creature is burned or exposed.
Available to rent on digital platforms.
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