2025 is almost upon us. With each new year, we like to tell ourselves we’ll become better versions of ourselves. We have this wild idea that the beginning of the year is the best time to become a new person. Many of us make the traditional New Year resolutions to help us transform for the better. I considered all of this before deciding on this fucked up streaming guide all about body horror and celebrating people who changed a little too much.
These five body horror films follow characters whose circumstances worsened when they became someone else. So, think of them when setting your goals for next year. Otherwise, you might become someone, or something, that you don’t recognize.
An American Werewolf In London (dir. John Landis)
Where You Can Watch: Plex, Pluto TV, and Tubi
Two college students backpacking around Britain get attacked by a werewolf. I’m also one of the people who vow to travel more every year. However, watching our protagonist lose his friend in a werewolf attack that leaves him infected does give me pause. Mostly because the iconically gnarly werewolf transformation looks painful. London is my favorite city, but I think about An American Werewolf In London whenever I think of venturing outside the city limits. Perhaps the New Year’s resolution to travel more should include a few stipulations to avoid an equally hairy outcome. For example, travel with a group and make sure we take advantage of the technology they didn’t have in 1981. Keep the GPS on and the cell batteries fully charged. Also, let’s utilize the Eurostar instead of walking from town to town. Make 2025 the year of putting your safety first!
Bite (dir. Chad Archibald)
Where You Can Watch: Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, and Tubi
A bride-to-be gets bitten by an insect during her bachelorette party getaway. She soon discovers what she thought was an infected bug bite is the beginning of a nauseating transformation. I am super late to this party and believe the fiancé, his mother, and Casey’s friends are the real danger in this piece of body horror. However, the creature that Casey (Elma Begovic) becomes in all of its gross and gooey glory is the main reason to hit play.
Whenever you think this situation can’t get worse, it finds a new way to disrupt your peace. Just the sounds of her juicy hands touching things sent me to hell. This transformation was so icky that I kept forgetting the creature was attempting to lay eggs. Let Casey’s misfortune be a very strong reminder to go after the life you deserve because settling for less might put you on track to become your own worst nightmare.
Content Warning: Sexual Assault.
The Fly (dir. David Cronenberg)
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
A scientist accidentally transforms himself into a giant fly. No one understands body horror like David Cronenberg, and The Fly is a disgusting masterpiece. Watching actor (and zaddy) Jeff Goldblum morph from an eccentric man to a gross man-sized fly does not get easier upon rewatches. Knowing his character (Seth) did this to himself out of a moment of jealousy makes it even worse. What we can learn from this upsetting transformation is to talk to our loved ones. Forcing ourselves to communicate sounds way better than becoming a huge bug monster. We can also learn to ask for help. Had Seth not been experimenting on himself alone in the lab he set up in his apartment, things might have turned out differently. Maybe the New Year resolution should be to get help early and often.
Malignant (dir. James Wan)
Where You Can Watch: Max
A woman suffering from paralyzing visions of horrific murders discovers her nightmares are coming true. One of the most painful transformations on this list is very complicated. Madison (Annabelle Wallis) was not to blame for Gabriel’s misdeeds. However, that does not mean most people on Gabe’s hitlist were innocent. More importantly, I support quests for revenge and think feminine rage should be celebrated more often. While I understand Madison wanting to put the past behind her and be a better person, I respect her brain brother for flipping and reversing it in self-defense. Sure he went rogue afterward, but he also took out an entire police precinct along the way, so we can’t be too mad. Vowing to be the bigger person and take that high road might be what Hallmark wants you to do. Yet, tapping into all your emotions in the new year and allowing yourself to feed your rage monster is probably healthier. It will also prevent your inner moppet from ripping its way out of the back of your wig in public.
The Substance (dir. Coralie Fargeat)
Where You Can Watch: Mubi
A celebrity takes a black-market cell-replicating drug, which creates a younger and better version of herself. The Substance was not just the best body horror of the year, but it’s also the strongest reminder that chasing after an idealized best version of ourselves can be very dangerous. If we aren’t careful, we could all end up on the Elisabeth (Demi Moore), Sue (Margaret Qualley), and Monstro Elisasue pipeline. I implore you to remember them if your 2025 transformations are coming from a place of insecurity or trying to appease patriarchal standards. After all, this character started her journey looking like Moore (who is gorgeous) but mistakenly thought she could be better. Maybe instead of using our New Year resolutions to punish ourselves and resent our bodies, we work towards loving what we see in the mirror. Even if that is various versions of our former selves conjoined in one giant blob.
Did any of these body horror films and their gnarly transformations influence your New Year resolutions? Let me know if you are turning over a new leaf or becoming someone else’s problem at @misssharai.
Categorized:Streaming Guides
