Body horror is having a moment, and we can thank French auteur Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance for that. The Best Picture nominee (and winner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling) hit theaters in September 2024, and we’re still talking about its themes, acting performances, practical effects, music, cinematography, and more.
From The Thing and The Fly to Hellraiser and Videodrome, plenty of classics exist in the body horror subgenre, along with new buzzy titles like Together. There’s new indie favorite Slanted, directed by Amy Wang that won the Narrative Jury Award out of SXSW. If you’re looking for something that shares the essence of The Substance, check out these female-centric body horror films with similar commentary on society’s obsession with youth and beauty and the ageism in the entertainment industry (and everywhere else).
Starry Eyes (2014)
In The Substance, 50-year-old actress and fitness show host Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is being aged out by producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid). Starry Eyes’ young starlet Sarah Walker (Alexandra Essoe) has youth on her side but still struggles to find work, auditioning for dismissive casting directors and competing for parts with frenemies.
After a disheartening audition, Sarah compulsively rips her hair out, showing a dark, vulnerable side that catches the eye of one creepy casting director. Even with increasingly weird demands and tests, she does whatever it takes to land a role, even at the cost of her own body.
Where to watch: Peacock
The Neon Demon (2016)
Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon follows Jesse (Elle Fanning), a small-town teen who moves to Los Angeles to fulfill her dream of becoming a model. It doesn’t take long for her to start booking work and making an impression. Veteran models Sarah (Abbey Lee) and Gigi (Bella Heathcote) are only in their 20s but still envy the new “it girl” and her youthful beauty. Amidst the glitter and glam of the fashion industry is fierce female competition. They’re willing to do anything to stay relevant, and it becomes a blood bath.
The Neon Demon explores the idea of youth as a threat but also as a goal, one that many try to reach with cosmetic surgery and extreme dieting. The film is visually stunning, sharing some of the sunny, dreamlike quality employed by Coralie Fargeat, but also Refn’s signature neon-drenched style and synth soundscapes.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Black Swan (2010)
Like The Substance, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan was a festival hit that made it to the Oscars, with Natalie Portman taking home Best Actress for her performance as the increasingly paranoid ballerina Nina Sayers. After New York City Ballet’s prima ballerina Beth (Winona Ryder) retires (or more like is aged out), every dancer wants the lead role in the production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Perfection-obsessed Nina is determined to prove she can embody both the innocent White Swan and seductive Black Swan, but the arrival of Lily (Mila Kunis), an alluring and carefree dancer, puts her on edge. With pressure from her overprotective mother Erica (Barbara Hershey), a retired dancer living vicariously through her daughter, and the predatory artistic director Thomas (Vincent Cassel), Nina’s transformation is a violent one.
Although it’s often labeled a psychological thriller, the film is undeniably an effective body horror. The physical demands of ballet, along with her OCD and spiraling mind, cause Nina constant pain. And much like The Substance, its sound design allows us to hear every bone crack, skin tear, and nail break.
Where to watch: Max
The Perfection (2018)
Acting, modeling, and dancing are super competitive, all-consuming industries, and The Perfection shows us the world of classical music is just as cutthroat. After the death of her ailing mother, cellist Charlotte Willmore (Allison Williams) reconnects with Anton (Steven Weber), her former teacher at Bachoff Academy. He invites her to join him in Shanghai to judge a competition for young cellists seeking a scholarship. Charlotte meets Lizzie Wells (Logan Browning), Anton’s other protégé, who is five years younger and has everything Charlotte dreamed of for herself.
Co-written and directed by Richard Shepard (The Handmaid’s Tale), The Perfection is filled with twists and turns, attraction and jealousy. The body horror comes in the form of skin-crawling bug hallucinations, self-harm, and limb amputations. Trigger warning for sexual assault.
Where to watch: Netflix
Smile 2 (2024)
If you’ve seen Smile, then you’re familiar with the premise of Parker Finn’s 2024 follow-up. Smile 2 centers on a new victim of the Smile entity, successful singer-songwriter Skye Riley (Naomi Scott). She’s rebuilding her image after a public scandal, trying to repair relationships and overcome her substance abuse, all while gearing up for a world tour. Like Elizabeth Sparkle, Skye is alone a lot of the time, even when she’s surrounded by her momager, backup dancers, and adoring fans.
While the overall film (and franchise) is considered a psychological horror with supernatural elements, the entity creates and manipulates situations in which Skye harms herself and others. The music and cinematography are top tier, as are the costumes, hair and makeup, and sets. Skye Riley is a demanding role, and the multi-talented Naomi Scott delivers a phenomenal performance.
Where to watch: Paramount+ and Prime Video
Grafted (2024)
Unlike the other protagonists on this list, Wei (Joyena Sun) doesn’t work in fashion, film, or performing arts. She’s a student who moves from her home in China to attend college in New Zealand on a scholarship. Like her late father, she was born with a large birthmark on her face, motivating her to continue his research on a skin grafting procedure that could cover it up. Shy and self-conscious, Wei feels even worse about herself around her pretty, popular cousin Angela (Jess Hong) and her friends. Desperate for acceptance, Wei’s experiments become more dangerous and grotesque, and anyone who gets in her way will suffer the consequences.
Grafted gets campier as Wei becomes more unhinged, and while it isn’t exactly Oscar-worthy, it’s a cool concept and a gory good time.
Where to watch: Prime Video (AMC+ subscription)
Honorable Mentions
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
While not a film, the fourth episode of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities anthology series, based on comic book author Emily Carroll’s short story “Some Other Animal’s Meat,” has a similar setup as The Substance. Written by Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night), “The Outside” tells the story of bank teller and amateur taxidermist Stacey (Kate Micucci). By societal beauty standards, she’s not attractive, making her feel inferior to her glamorous colleagues. Stacey tries a new miracle skincare product called Alo Glo, and soon, an infomercial salesman played by Dan Stevens starts talking to her through the TV, highlighting her flaws and encouraging her to let retinol and peptides fix it all.
“The Outside” is a goopy, gory tale with an emphasis on skin and its imperfections. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say post-Alo Glo Stacey has a “feeling herself” moment like Sue (Margaret Qualley).
Where to watch: Netflix
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
This year, Emilie Blichfeldt made her feature directorial debut at Sundance with The Ugly Stepsister, a gruesome reimagining of Cinderella. Elvira (Lea Myren) is just one of the many maidens after the prince’s hand, prompting her to undergo brutal, historically accurate cosmetic surgeries to become beautiful. The body horror is grotesque, stomach-churning, not unlike the visceral transformation of Elisabeth Sparkle. Watch at your own risk; this isn’t for the squeamish.
Where to watch: In theaters on April 18, 2025
