10 Movies Like Basket Case (1982)

Description: A early body horror film about a parasitic outbreak that turns people into violent, sexually aggressive monsters, with a claustrophobic setting and grotesque transformations.

Fact: David Cronenberg's first major feature film, which was initially met with controversy due to its graphic content. The parasites were created using pieces of raw meat and latex.

Description: A body horror film about a woman who develops a vampiric appendage after experimental surgery, leading to a grotesque epidemic.

Fact: The film was shot on a tight budget in Montreal, with many scenes filmed in real hospitals. It was Marilyn Chambers' first major role after her career in adult films.

Description: A psychological horror film exploring themes of repressed trauma and monstrous offspring, with visceral body horror and a disturbing atmosphere.

Fact: The film was inspired by director David Cronenberg's own contentious divorce and custody battle. The child actors were kept away from the more gruesome scenes to avoid traumatizing them.

Description: A sci-fi horror film featuring grotesque psychic powers and explosive body horror, with a focus on outcasts and societal rejection.

Fact: The infamous head explosion scene was achieved using a plaster head filled with fake blood and animal parts. The effect was so convincing that it reportedly caused audience members to faint.

Description: A surreal body horror film blending technology and physical transformation, with a nightmarish, hallucinatory tone and grotesque practical effects.

Fact: The film's 'living TV' effects were created using a combination of prosthetics and stop-motion animation. It was initially banned in several countries due to its extreme content.

Description: A satirical horror film about a mysterious, addictive substance that turns people into monsters, blending body horror with social commentary.

Fact: The titular 'Stuff' was made from a mixture of yogurt, cottage cheese, and marshmallow cream. The film was marketed with the tagline 'Are you eating it... or is it eating you?'

Description: A low-budget horror-comedy with grotesque body horror elements and a darkly humorous tone, featuring an outcast protagonist who undergoes a monstrous transformation.

Fact: Originally intended as a serious horror film, it became a cult classic due to its over-the-top violence and absurd humor. The film spawned a franchise, including sequels, a musical, and an animated series.

Description: A tragic body horror film about a scientist's gradual and grotesque transformation into a hybrid creature, blending horror with emotional depth.

Fact: The film's iconic 'Brundlefly' makeup took over five hours to apply each day. The famous 'arm wrestling' scene was achieved using a combination of prosthetics and puppetry.

Description: A splatter-filled, low-budget horror-comedy with absurd violence and a DIY aesthetic, featuring bizarre creatures and over-the-top gore.

Fact: Peter Jackson's debut feature film, which he made over four years using homemade special effects. Jackson played multiple roles, including the lead and one of the aliens.

Description: A grimy, exploitation-style horror film with extreme gore and dark comedy, focusing on societal outcasts and grotesque transformations.

Fact: The film's infamous 'meltdown' scenes were achieved using a combination of melted plastic and food coloring. It was shot on a shoestring budget in New York City.