10 Great Horror Movies That Are Ugly On Purpose

10. Eraserhead 

Well, if you're going to talk about ugly horror movies, then surely it makes sense to start with an absolute classic. It's hard to think of any better options than David Lynch's iconic and sickening debut feature, Eraserhead, as this film's ugly visuals and surrealist qualities are its key selling point. It's no surprise it's still so disturbing even today.

As a big passion project for David Lynch, you can see his unique mind at work in this movie. The essence of Eraserhead is that it explores concepts rather than narrative, with the prevailing theme being the fear of fatherhood. But, it's the expressionistic aesthetic that has maintained the movie's legacy.

In typical David Lynch fashion, there's a whole host of gross, disturbing imagery in the movie, with bleeding cooked chickens, the lead's head being turned into an eraser and a strange woman with puffy cheeks living inside a radiator. That's not even mentioning the deformed child the protagonist cares for, which is the height of this movie's ugliness.

This gross and, unfortunately, hideous little creature is brought to life with some stunning practical effects. Even by today's standards, it looks shockingly real, making the movie look and feel like a legitimate nightmare.