The definition of body horror: a subgenre of horror fiction that focuses on the physical and psychological terror caused by bodily invasion, pain, and death. Body horror tends to be disturbing, as it often involves bloody and disgusting scenes that can make even the bravest reader run for cover.
Body horror focuses on the physical destruction or transformation of the human body. It’s all about attacking the source of our very existence – our flesh and bones.
My story “A Meeting of Like-Minded Souls” is an example of body horror. It begins with the narrator waking up on a train. It opens, “I didn’t remember my dream upon waking, just that in it I was whole once more. I awakened in my actual body, with its new awkward arrangement and constant, hovering pain.” The dread builds from there.
Embracing the Dread
Dread is a feeling of intense fear or terror, often accompanied by a sense of impending doom. In the context of body horror, dread is the overwhelming fear of invasion, pain, and mutilation. It’s a feeling of being a victim to an attack on one’s own body. It comes down to lack of control. Body horror is an effective way to evoke this feeling of dread in audiences, as it taps into a natural fear of pain and mutilation.
For instance, parasites and diseases that attack the human body are often used as metaphors for real-world fears and anxieties. Body horror stories and films delve deep into exploring these themes, offering audiences a unique perspective on what it means to be human.
Despite its disturbing nature, body horror has gained a dedicated fanbase over the years. This speaks to the power of the genre and its ability to tap into our deepest fears and emotions. Ultimately, body horror serves as a reminder of the fragility and vulnerability of our natural bodies, and how easily they can be turned against us by outside forces.
Body Horror in Pop Culture
It’s a popular genre in horror films and has been proven to have truly terrifying results. A good director creates an atmosphere of terror that is both disturbing and unforgettable.
David Cronenberg is sort of the king of this genre. The man brought us “The Fly,” “Crimes of the Future,” and “Videodrome,” a late-night cable mainstay that scarred this particular blogger.
“Tusk,” which Kevin Smith basically made on a dare, involves a mad scientist turning his victim into a walrus.
And then there’s “Teeth,” about vagina dentata, and the famous baby in “Eraserhead.”
In books, we have the classic “Island of Dr Moreau” and Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher. Here is a list for further reading: https://rtbookreviews.com/best-body-horror-books/
A Taste for the Horrific
Body horror truly tests the limits of our fear and disgust. It’s defined by its focus on physical invasion, pain, and lack of control over one’s own body. This attack on the natural state of the body is what sets body horror apart from other horror genres. It uses science to create a horrifying situation that feels all too real.
And reading it requires a strong stomach! It can be truly disgusting and disturbing. It’s an invasion of our body space, and we’re left feeling like helpless victims. It taps into our natural state of vulnerability and lack of control over our bodies. And yet, as readers, we can’t look away.
In conclusion, body horror is a subgenre of horror that plays on our fears of physical invasion, pain, and loss of control over our own bodies. As long as there are sick fucks dedicated creators willing to push the limits of this genre, body horror will continue to terrify audiences and prove its worth as a truly unique form of horror.
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