body horror
Disturbing physical transformation
Body horror is a genre of horror fiction focused on graphic, disturbing transformations or violations of the human body—mutations, parasites, decay, or grotesque physical changes.
The term also describes the visceral unease such imagery provokes: The film's body horror made me physically uncomfortable.
David Cronenberg's films exemplify the genre.
Intense physical disgust
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
squeamishness · sickening · visceral · bile · retching · gag reflex · stomach-turning · putrid
Permanent DNA alteration
- disfigurementMarred physical appearance
- deformityAbnormal body structure
- monstrosityHideously malformed creature
- distortionTwisting from original state
misshapen · aberration · freakish · ghoulish · gruesome · hideous · macabre · uncanny
Profound biological restructuring
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- morphingSeamless visual transformation process
- shapeshiftingTransforming into other beings
- transmogrificationFantastical change in form
corruption · infection · infestation · parasitic · gestation · emergence · splitting · merging
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
trepidation · apprehension · distress · anguish · trauma · phobia · suspense · creeping dread
revulsion
Intense physical disgust
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
repugnance · squeamishness · sickening · visceral · bile · retching · gag reflex · stomach-turning · putrid · festering
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
- disfigurementMarred physical appearance
- deformityAbnormal body structure
- monstrosityHideously malformed creature
distortion · misshapen · aberration · freakish · ghoulish · gruesome · hideous · macabre · uncanny · surreal
metamorphosis
Profound biological restructuring
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
- morphingSeamless visual transformation process
- shapeshiftingTransforming into other beings
transmogrification · corruption · infection · infestation · parasitic · gestation · emergence · splitting · merging · absorption
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
- uneaseMild persistent worry
anxiety · trepidation · apprehension · distress · anguish · trauma · phobia · suspense · creeping dread · skin-crawling
- genresaction, comedy, detective fiction, fantasy, documentary
- film genrescomedy, drama, action, romance, animation
- horrorterror, fear, dread, haunted, bloody
- Horror FilmsThe Exorcist, Halloween, The Shining, Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead
- Gothic horrorghost story, haunted houses, Dracula, vampires, Frankenstein
- horror tropesjump scare, final girl, haunted house, masked killer, slasher
body horrorsupernatural horror
Fear of inhuman entities
ghost story · haunted house · psychological horror · cosmic horror · psychological thriller
body, horror, bodily, horrid, horrific, embody, horrify, bodies, horrifying