This Free-To-Watch Body Horror Is Stylish and Depraved All at Once

The term body horror usually conjures up gruesome images that are guaranteed to heave your stomach and activate your gag reflex. It is not necessarily known for being subtle. In fact, it is generally considered to be the polar opposite: graphic, bold and demanding. However, in 2022's Swallowed, director Carter Smith somehow crafts the viscera of body horror while approaching the subject evasively. By doing so, he reveals a universal fear we didn't even know we had. While the queer themes in Swallowed's narrative are provocative and powerful, Smith has already proved his deft handle on sociopolitical ideas before, boasting an impressive directorial debut of the eco-horror The Ruins. As such, it is his innovative approach to body horror that steals our breath in Swallowed, demonstrating his mastery over turning a concept that is usually considered perverse into something more... tasteful.