Spooktober Week 4: Body Horror
Our body is integral to our existence and our identity. What happens when we lose control of it? What happens when it becomes unrecognizable?
Day 22: Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Sometimes you discover something about yourself and it hits you like a freight train and nothing in your life will ever be the same again. It's confusing, uncomfortable, frightening, even painful, but it's also beautiful and can make you feel seen and understood in ways you never thought possible.
Day 23: Teeth (2008)
I was hoping this was going to be more of a body horror movie, but it's really a revenge movie with an element of body horror. I had a great time watching this, but the more I think about it, the more issues I have. It's very obviously a movie about women's experiences that was written by a man. There was a lot of really good stuff in it though. Very mixed feelings on this one.
Day 24: Thanatomorphose (2012)
I really wish this had a better script, because aside from the incredibly stilted dialogue this movie is amazing. The externalization of depression making you feel dead inside as your body decomposing while you're still alive. Phenomenal concept, and the effects are absolutely disgusting.
Day 25: Raw (2016)
Another entry in the "don't hide things from your kids, it will literally come back to bite you" catalogue. Coming of age and body horror mix so well I'm surprised I haven't seen more movies like this. Between this and Titane, Julia Ducournau is rapidly becoming one of my favourite filmmakers.
Day 26: Videodrome (1983)
I couldn't do a body horror week without watching a Cronenberg film, and this is one of the few I hadn't seen. In classic Cronenberg fashion, he starts with a simple but compelling concept and then takes it somewhere completely insane. Over four decades later, the theme of unhealthy media consumption is more relevant than ever. Long live the new flesh I guess.
Day 27: Possessor (2020)
Picked this to watch without realizing it was made by Brandon Cronenberg, but after watching this I can confidently say he's a worthy successor to his father. In the machine of capitalism, your mind and body are nothing more than cogs to those at the top. Whether the boss has a blatant disregard for you, or they pretend to care about you, at the end of the day you're just a means to their end.
Day 28: Body Melt (1993)
Incredibly stupid movie, but a decent amount of fun. The opening was the strongest part, but it felt like it was setting up a different story than what actually happens. For some reason it reminded me of the live action Cat in the Hat movie, do with that what you will.
