10 Hidden Gem Body Horror Movies

Adapted from the short film of the same name, Excision serves as Richard Bates Jr.'s feature-length directorial debut. 

The mega-dark comedy follows a delusional teen called Pauline (AnnaLyne McCord), who can't stop having sexual fantasies involving blood and dissection. After learning her sister needs a lung transplant, Pauline vows to take control of her life, which leads to disaster.

McCord is astounding as Pauline, playing the dysfunctional lead so awkwardly, you permanently feel uncomfortable watching her. And yet, McCord conveys teen angst effortlessly, making the deeply disturbed character easy to connect to.

Interestingly, 95% of the body-horror occurs in Pauline's unhinged mind. As such, the plot could function without these WTF images.

However, these moments never come across as superfluous, since they help us understand why Pauline is the way she is. She's not lashing out for attention - she's literally broken. After gaining tremendous insight into Pauline's warped psyche, it's easier to empathise with her, even when she performs lewd and sickening acts.

With that said, the body-horror is nasty, so Excision should only be recommended to purists. This splatterfest is an absolute gem, but the way it revels in its own unpleasantness is difficult to stomach.