Body Horror Gets Under My Skin
Summary
Eric Molinsky explores the disturbing subgenre of body horror, discussing its psychology and cultural commentary with authors David Huckvale and Xavier Aldana Reyes. The episode examines themes of mortality, social anxieties, and the objectification of bodies. It also features a conversation with listener Lillie Andrick, who shares how body horror resonates with transgender fans, particularly in relation to puberty and transition.Episode description
We all have that one thing we just can’t watch. For me, it’s body horror -- the kind of horror where grotesque and disturbing things happen to someone’s body, like in The Thing, The Fly, or The Substance. There is a long history of body horror as a form of social commentary and special effects showmanship. I respect the artform, but I can’t stomach the art. So I decided to figure out why. I talk with Chioke l’Anson (horror fan and voice of NPR underwriting), author David Huckvale (“Terrors of The Flesh: The Philosophy of Body Horror in Film”) and author Xavier Aldana Reyes (“Contemporary Body Horror”) about how this subgenre taps into fundamental aspects of being human that we often try to put out of our minds. Plus, I speak with listener Lillie Andrick about why some transgender fans, like her, feel a special connection to body horror.
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