Films About Body Parts
Films that explore body parts often delve into themes of identity, transformation, and the human experience. These narratives can range from horror to comedy, and they frequently tackle complex issues such as body image, autonomy, and the nature of existence. By focusing on specific body parts, filmmakers can create compelling metaphors for emotional and psychological states, making these films both thought-provoking and, at times, unsettling.
List of Films About Body Parts:
“The Elephant Man”, 1980
Director: David Lynch
This biographical drama tells the story of Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man in Victorian England, exploring themes of humanity, dignity, and the perception of physical difference.
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon, Helen Ryan, John Standing, Dexter Fletcher, Lesley Dunlop, Phoebe Nicholls, Pat Gorman, Claire Davenport, Orla Pederson, Patsy Smart, Frederick Treves, Stromboli, Richard Hunter, James Cormack, Robert Lewis Bush, Roy Evans, Joan Rhodes, Nula Conwell, Tony London, Alfie Curtis, Bernadette Milnes, Brenda Kempner, Carol Harrison, Hugh Manning, Dennis Burgess, Fanny Carby, William Morgan Sheppard, Kathleen Byron, Gerald Case, David Ryall, Deirdre Costello, Pauline Quirke, Kenny Baker, Chris Greener, Marcus Powell, Gilda Cohen, Lesley Scoble, Teri Scoble, Eiji Kusuhara, Robert Day, Patricia Hodge, Tommy Wright, Peter Davidson;
Production year: 1980;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “The Elephant Man” on the website imdb.com
“Frankenstein”, 1994
Director: Kenneth Branagh
A classic horror film that showcases the tale of a scientist who assembles a living being from body parts, raising questions about the nature of life, creation, and the ethics of scientific experimentation.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, Richard Briers, John Cleese, Robert Hardy, Cherie Lunghi, Celia Imrie, Trevyn McDowell, Gerard Horan, Mark Hadfield, Joanna Roth, Sasha Hanau, Joseph England, Alfred Bell, Richard Clifford, George Asprey, Hugh Bonneville, Ryan J-W Smith, Charles Wyn-Davies, Rory Jennings, Christina Cuttall, Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Susan Field, Jimmy Yuill, Chris Barnes, Shaun Prendergast, Tommy Wright, David Kennedy, Paul Gregory, Chris Hollis, Robin Lloyd, Alex Lowe, Graham Loughridge, Simon Cox, Robert Hines, Lonnie James, Jenny Galloway, Peter Jonfield, Edward Jewesbury, Siobhan Redmond, Francine Morgan, Sue Long, Angus Wright, Michael Gould, Max Gold, Abigail Reynolds;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: horror, science fiction, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 123 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Frankenstein” on the website imdb.com
“Eraserhead”, 1977
Director: David Lynch
David Lynch's surrealist horror film features disturbing imagery and a bizarre narrative that explores themes of fatherhood, anxiety, and the grotesque nature of the human body.
Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates, Judith Anna Roberts, Laurel Near, V. Phipps-Wilson, Jack Fisk, Jean Lange, Thomas Coulson, John Monez, Darwin Joston, T. Max Graham, Hal Landon Jr., Jennifer Lynch, Brad Keeler, Peggy Reavey, Doddie Keeler, Gill Dennis, Toby Keeler, Jack Walsh;
Production year: 1977;
Genre: horror, science fiction, fantasy, drama;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Eraserhead” on the website imdb.com
“The Fly”, 1986
Director: David Cronenberg
In this body horror film, a scientist transforms into a fly after a teleportation experiment goes wrong, exploring the consequences of tampering with nature and the fragility of the human form.
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel, Leslie Carlson, George Chuvalo, Michael Copeman, David Cronenberg, Carol Lazare, Shawn Hewitt, Ann Green, Typhoon;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: horror, science fiction, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 96 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Fly” on the website imdb.com
“Tusk”, 2014
Director: Kevin Smith
This horror-comedy follows a podcaster who is kidnapped and transformed into a walrus by a strange recluse, addressing themes of identity and the grotesque potential of body modification.
Starring: Michael Parks, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, Haley Joel Osment, Johnny Depp, Harley Morenstein, Ralph Garman, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Harley Quinn Smith, Lily-Rose Depp, Ashley Greene, Douglas Banks, Matthew Shively, Bill Bennett, Mitch Cleaver, Bonnie Cole, Brian Cole, Todd Davis, Randy Grazio, Zak Knutson, Scott Mosier, Josh Roush, Devin Walker;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: horror, comedy, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,3;
“Anatomy”, 2008
Director: Natasha Gadd, Amy Gebhardt, Rhys Graham, Andy Canny
A German horror-thriller set in a medical school, focusing on a secret society that conducts unethical experiments on human bodies, intertwining medical ethics with horror elements.
Starring: -;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: documentary;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
“Teeth”, 2007
Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein
This dark comedy-horror film centers on a teenage girl with a unique condition that gives her teeth in her vagina. It explores themes of sexuality, empowerment, and the fear of bodily autonomy.
Starring: Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Josh Pais, Hale Appleman, Lenny von Dohlen, Vivienne Benesch, Ashley Springer, Julia Garro, Nicole Swahn, Adam Wagner, Hunter Ulvog, Ava Ryen Plumb, Trent Moore, Mike Yager, Nathan Parsons, Paul Galvan, Kasey Kitzmiller, Taylor Sheppard, Denia Ridley, Kiri Weatherby, Michael Swanner, Tom Byrne, Andra Millian, Frank G. Curcio, Lana Dieterich, Doyle Carter, Aspen, Max Alpar, Ricky Cavazos, Colby Crain, Eric Hack, John D. Montoya, Isaac Rodriguez, Trevor Stevenson, Jordan Strassner, Gary Teague, Debbie Tucker, Steve Uzzell;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: horror, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 94 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,4;
More information about the film “Teeth” on the website imdb.com
“Body Parts”, 1991
Director: Eric Red
This horror film follows a man who receives a limb transplant from a serial killer, leading to horrifying consequences as he begins to experience the killer's memories and urges.
Starring: Jeff Fahey, Lindsay Duncan, Kim Delaney, Zakes Mokae, Brad Dourif, John Walsh, Paul Ben-Victor, Peter Murnik, Nathaniel Moreau, Sarah Campbell, Andy Humphrey, Lindsay Merrithew, James Kidnie, Arlene Duncan, Allan Price, Hal Eisen, Taia Red, Lynn Remus, Peter MacNeill, Gene Dinovi, Larry A. McLean, John Stoneham Jr., Gene Mack, Barry C. Kennett;
Production year: 1991;
Genre: horror, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 88 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,7;
More information about the film “Body Parts” on the website imdb.com
“The Human Centipede (First Sequence)”, 2009
Director: Tom Six
A notorious body horror film where a deranged surgeon kidnaps tourists to create a grotesque creature by surgically connecting them mouth-to-anus, challenging viewers' comfort levels.
Starring: Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitamura, Andreas Leupold, Peter Blankenstein, Bernd Kostrau, Rene de Wit, Sylvia Zidek, Rosemary Annabella, Mauricio d'Orey;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: horror;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 4,4;
More information about the film “The Human Centipede (First Sequence)” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a diverse array of perspectives on the human body, using it as a canvas to explore deeper themes and provoke thought.
In the realm of cinema, there exists a captivating selection of films that explore the intricacies of the human body through a variety of thought-provoking narratives. From the hauntingly beautiful “Eyes Wide Shut,” where the eyes become a gateway to desire and secrets, to the visually stunning “Pan's Labyrinth,” where the hands symbolize power and transformation, these films delve deep into the complexities and symbolism of our physical forms. Whether it's the heart in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” or the voice in “The King's Speech,” these films remind us of the profound impact our body parts can have on our experiences and our very identities. Through their exploration of body parts, these films challenge us to reflect on our own relationships with our bodies and the stories they tell.
