Editorials
The 10 Best Body Horror Animal Transformations!
Brundlefly eat your hybrid heart out! Here are ten examples of monstrous transformations into horrible creatures!
In honor of David Cronenberg’s body horror transformation masterpiece, The Fly, recently turning 30, it only seemed appropriate to rally up together all of the freaks that have seen some monstrous metamorphosis into some sort of animal. Dr. Seth Brundle’s Brundlefly transformation might truly be one for the Encyclopedia Blechhanica (y’know, a collection of all things gross), but here are a number of other fitting examples where man and beast became one awful eyesore.
The Fly’s Babooncat
So yes, we are going to include The Fly in some way here, but not in the obvious fashion that you might have been expecting. The Brundlefly is great. You know that. I know that. His scarred victims know that. So let’s focus on another gem of a transformation from the film that often goes overlooked (which might have something to do with the fact that it’s been relegated to a deleted scene). During Seth Brundle’s time of need in this film, he fiddles around with some more gene splicing as a means of further unwrapping what’s going on with him. His endeavors lead to him combining a baboon and a cat together, with the results being less than cuddly. The babooncat (and the baboon does have the dominate DNA here, so it’s not a catbaboon, as much as you might want it to be) doesn’t get to grace the world for very long, but it certainly makes the most of its short existence. Let’s also take a second to acknowledge that this in-transition stage of the Brundlefly (which looks great) is also only present in this thrown away scene.
Sssssss’s Snake Transformation
Sssssss is an absolute gem of B-horror that I only found out about recently but have absolutely fallen in love with. Right down to the awkward disclaimer that opens the film informing you that all of the snakes in this movie are real, this film has just as many quirks as it does scales. The film’s mad scientist, Dr. Stoner, is just a triumph of eccentric characters (he’s often giving his favorite snake whiskey to drink) that you would owe it to yourself to watch this film even if he didn’t have a bonkers transformation in it. Stoner’s master plan to create snakes that have the brain of a human isn’t even really one that makes a whole lot of sense. That being said, it doesn’t stop David Blake’s gradual descent into snakedom from being any less interesting. The film’s trailer touts it as “the most unusual horror film ever made” and I might stand by that claim.
Ginger Snaps’ Werewolf Transformation
Werewolves are an inevitability on a list of this nature, but rather than swinging to the obvious fences of lycanthropy fare such as The Howling or An American Werewolf in London, the Ginger Snaps trilogy is a refreshing beacon in the sometimes rote sub-genre. This trilogy of films uses the werewolf mythology as a clever parallel for womanhood, turning these movies into some of the deepest werewolf flicks you’ll encounter. While the second film, Ginger Snaps: Unleashed, might be the better picture and expand on the werewolf material (both in terms of lore and makeup) in beautiful ways, the original picture features the real money shot of a transformation. If you haven’t checked these films out yet, now’s the time, with the trilogy actually having something to say amidst all the gore and howling.
The Guyver’s Cockroach/Zoanoid Transformation
The Guyver is a trip and a half. It’s a live-action anime adaptation, which certainly explains some of the mania stemming from this film, but it’s also a movie that has a director by the name of “Screaming Mad George,” so insanity just feels par for the course here. When a somewhat sentient supersuit of armor that fashions itself to a recipient to become the titular Guyver ends up in the wrong hands, aliens are sent to Earth to retrieve the artifact and do damage control. You’ve kind of just got to roll with this one, and its sequences like this spectacle where Mark Hamill’s Max Reed is turned into a cockroach-esque zoanoid. It’s some stunning practical work only heightened by the fact that it’s Mark freaking Hamill getting the cockroachification (PS: If this selection wasn’t on here, you’d be getting Freddy Krueger’s take on Kafka in Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master).
Slither’s Slug Monstrosity Transformation
Before James Gunn was setting box office milestones and helming mega blockbusters in super franchises, he was turning out some beautifully dark, passionate cult classics like Super, and in this case, Slither. Gunn’s send-up to B-horror sees alien slug-like parasites landing on Earth, with everyman Grant having the honor of becoming the film’s patient zero. The film depicts Grant’s slow transformation into a slug monolith of a beast (which is still underselling it) in a mesmerizing way. Gunn makes watching this man lose control become a fascinating process and the end product is something that could give the alien parasite from The Thing a run for its money (wouldn’t it be cute if these parasites were from neighboring planets?).
The Curse 2: The Bite’s Snakes (Plural) Transformation
The Curse 2 is one of those glorious sequels that bears little to no resemblance to the original film that came before it. This list has already highlighted Sssssss because it’s such a delight of a film with an insane transformation, but The Curse 2 tries to go one step further by having a character turn into not just one snake, but dozens of them. The transformation scene in question here is kind of remarkable for how far it goes. Organs and body parts drip off the body, as they become new snakes in motion. The host’s left arm has become a snake of its own, while meanwhile a steady stream of snakes are emptying out of the husk’s throat. All of this is capped off with a comically done “big” snake that looks more like some sort of Jim Henson creation than anything frightening. This minor misstep is made up for though by the extremely unnerving visual of a body bag of skin being dragged along by the snakes dwelling inside it. Also, learn to climb, am I right?
The Witches’ Rat Transformation
I’m always surprised at how legitimately creepy this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches ends up being. Angelica Huston is pitch perfect casting and the creepy underbelly lurking beneath this children’s film is exactly what Roald Dahl is all about. There is plenty of magic and macabre transformations in this film but the end set piece where everything goes to hell is truly a thing to behold.
Starry Eyes’ Demon Goddess Transformation
Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer are still new to the scene, but if Starry Eyes is any indication, then these two are definitely a team to keep your eyes on. The less you know about Starry Eyes going in, the better in my opinion, with it being the very best sort of slow burn kind of horror. It’s a little more of an atypical choice here, and rather than the film’s star, Sarah, turning into an animal, the work of a cult seems to see her transforming into some sort of alien or demon (whoever Astraeus is affiliated with) goddess. Sarah’s shift is so well done and veiled in such efficient secrecy that it connects even harder in the end. Starry Eyes is a great parable for the slough of Hollywood and how brutal that world can be. May you never find yourself vomiting up maggots after a bad audition.
Willow’s Pig Transformation
Willow might not be the first film that comes to your mind when thinking about a list like this, but two words for you guys: pig army. If turning Val Kilmer into a pained, squealing pig isn’t enough of a reason to get a pass, the film then decides to bullseye its bullseye by turning an entire army of people into oinking abominations. Willow is obviously not the scariest film on the list, but much like The Witches, they both contain pockets of darkness that hint at a much deeper poignancy to these pictures.
The Fly II’s Brundledog Transformation
This list started with The Fly so it seemed only fitting to end off with it too, so to speak. The Fly II get a lot of flak, and sure, Eric Stoltz is no Jeff Goldblum, but goddamn if I don’t love this film and how hard it’s trying. Right from its insane sequel premise (the CIA has taken Brundle’s technology and is experimenting with it for shadow projects) down to the amazing practical effects work in the movie, there’s a lot to love here. The Fly II is beautiful and if you can just drop the baggage of the original, you should have a lot of fun with this terrifying extrapolation on the idea. Perhaps the only selection on this list to actually draw pathos from you, one of the beats of this film sees a golden retriever get tested in a matter pod that still has some Brundlefly DNA left inside. The result is an abomination of a dog that feels more like a sight gag out of South Park or Family Guy. This is a pained creature that is struggling to simply live and the film doesn’t hesitate to show you this. There is arguably some much better work featured in this film, but this might be the only example that actually makes you cry.
Bonus: The Thing’s “The Thing” Transformation
And just because animal transformations can only go so far, here’s one more bonus entry that’s just some good ol’ fashioned body horror. It goes without saying that the work John Carpenter does in The Thing is not only some of the best in the entire genre, but work that became the benchmark for practical effects moving forward. I still can’t believe my eyes when I watch the transformation scene in this movie (and simply how much there is to it! Carpenter could have featured have of the work that he does and people’s jaws would still be on the floor). So just in case you’ve somehow managed to avoid seeing this scene, here’s one more opportunity to lose your mind.
But what about you? What are some of your favorite examples of man and beast mixing into some sort of nightmare fuel? The focus here is certainly on “supernatural” transformations as opposed to the more man-made, forced examples seen in something like Human Centipede or Tusk. Nothing wrong with that approach either. Sound off below, and tread with an empty stomach! Also—just from one friend to another here—you’re looking kind of scaly. And something’s going on with your hair. And your eyes.
Are you feeling all right?
Editorials
‘Bloodstone: Subspecies II’ Revisited: A Bigger, Bolder Follow-Up to Full Moon’s Vampire Cult Classic
Horror sequels are a peculiar thing. In most cases, follow-ups to scary movies tend to retread the same formula with different victims and more over-the-top scares. This is because audiences tend to be more interested in the antagonists of these pictures than anything else, with even main characters becoming disposable when the time comes to produce a sequel.
That’s why some of the most memorable horror sequels are the ones that actually manage to hold onto interesting survivors from previous films while also pushing the story forward instead of having the same thing happen again to a different group of people. From Scream 2 to Dream Warriors (and arguably even The Exorcist III: Legion), there are quite a few of these innovative sequels to go around.
However, if there’s one franchise that deserves more attention when discussing bigger and better continuations that make the most of episodic filmmaking, it has to be Ted Nicolaou’s Subspecies.
The Full Moon classic spawned an indie horror icon, but bizarre sequel Bloodstone: Subspecies II is even more beloved than its predecessor.
Building a Bigger Vampire Saga
While the film itself takes place almost immediately after the events of the first movie, Bloodstone only entered production a couple of years after the release of the original as both Charles Band and Nicolaou weighed the pros and cons of returning to Romania to continue the series. In an effort to maximize efficiency, the team decided to invest in a trilogy where parts II and III, now fully written by Nicolaou, would be filmed simultaneously over the course of a single grueling shoot.
Much like the first Subspecies, Bloodstone’s low budget meant that the filmmakers once again had to cut corners and re-use as many of their resources as possible. Thankfully, the process was much easier this time around as Nicolaou, with the help of Romanian cinematographer Vlad Paunescu and his wife Oana, became more acquainted with local customs and made new friends. Shooting abroad still came with its own unique set of challenges due to a lack of translators and the occasional safety concerns, but the crew managed to make things work by filming things guerrilla-style and setting up shop in abandoned caves and real medieval ruins.
The director’s newfound contacts, coupled with the relative success of the first movie, meant that he was basically given free rein over an assortment of shooting locations usually considered off-limits for indie horror. That’s why Bloodstone features insanely ambitious lighting and effects work even during scenes shot in the middle of a bustling Bucharest. The filmmakers went so far as to project Radu’s Nosferatu-like shadows over local monuments as if he were a Romanian boogeyman, an idea that was actually encouraged by local cinephiles.
In fact, many of the more elaborate scenes here had originally been planned for the first movie before being discarded due to the lack of available resources. It was only with the support of Romanian fans and filmmakers that Bloodstone was able to give Radu a chance to be even more menacing the second time around.
Michelle’s Transformation Takes Center Stage
However, when it came to the American part of the crew, not everyone was able or willing to return for another round of Romanian adventuring. That’s why Radu’s human-loving half-brother Stefan (Michael Watson) is unceremoniously killed off at the beginning of the film while the role of Michelle had to be recast. Denice Duff took over for Laura Mae Tate, with the character now being joined by her sister, Rebecca, played by Melanie Shatner (yes, that Shatner).
In the finished film, we follow Michelle as she awakens to her new life as a vampire and discovers that Radu has murdered her lover. Struggling with grief and her newfound bloodlust, Michelle contacts her sister overseas, with Rebecca soon travelling to Romania on an ill-advised rescue mission. Meanwhile, Radu (Anders Hove) reaches out to his undead Mummy (Pamela Gordon, underneath heavy layers of impressive makeup effects) and promises to deliver her the coveted Bloodstone artifact while also making Michelle his eternal consort.
Revisiting the movie, I was impressed with how introspective this story is when compared to the original. The sequel assumes that you’re already familiar with the previously established characters, so the story wastes no time in exploring the immediate aftermath of the previous film’s events. From Michelle’s reluctant transformation into a creature of the night to Radu’s obvious mommy issues, Nicolaou is way more interested in pushing these characters into new and uncharted territory rather than recycling existing plot points.
Practical Effects and Gothic Atmosphere Still Impress
Yet, much like the first film, it’s Romania itself that makes the movie worth watching. The ruins of Castle Vladislav are even more majestic now, and visiting the moody streets of Bucharest with its surprisingly punk-rock nightlife made for a nice change of pace when compared to the original film’s quiet village setting. Once again, the abundance of interesting locations makes the movie feel much more expensive than it really is, with the filmmakers surrounding our characters with a living, breathing environment that would be impossible to recreate in a studio.
The increased freedom also allowed Nicolaou to flex his filmmaking muscles and tackle more ambitious blocking/composition in the sequel. The low budget and tropey script mean that the visuals don’t always work, but it’s consistently clear that this neo-expressionist style could only come from a passionate team attempting to pay homage to the shadowy horror classics of yesteryear. If the retro atmosphere isn’t enough for you, there’s enough practical gore here to satisfy even the most demanding of horror hounds!
Radu himself is also far more interesting now that Hove is more comfortable working alongside an international crew, with the actor having gone on record explaining that, while he spent more time drinking vodka than working while shooting the first movie, the sequel was a much more creatively satisfying experience for everyone involved. The character’s relationship with his abusive Mummy is also a highlight of the expanded mythology, especially since the practical effects that bring her to life are just as freaky now as they were back in ’93.
My only real gripe with the horror elements of the picture comes from the glaring absence of the diminutive stop-motion minions from the first film, though I guess the surprisingly entertaining addition of Professor Popescu (Michael Denish) and his archeological antics mostly make up for that.
Bloodstone: Subspecies II is obviously the middle chapter of a trilogy, with the ending feeling a lot less definitive than its predecessor as several plot threads are left to dangle in the wind, but I appreciate how the flick explores new ground while remaining faithful to nearly all the ideas that made the original such a good time. While I don’t think it’s as big of an improvement over the first movie as some fans make it out to be, Bloodstone is definitely worth revisiting if you’re a fan of old-fashioned vampire yarns.
Tune in next time for the thrilling conclusion to this initial trilogy, Bloodlust: Subspecies III!
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