Brütal Legend (a computer game by Double Fine) allows the player to perform a move called Facemelter that melts any opponent's units near the player. almost every use of the move triggers a short cutscene focusing on a unit being melted. Facemelter isn't the main attack, but it is instrumental in winning stage battles.
One of my all-time favourite 'some times a cigar is just a cigar' moments in popular fiction is found in Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Morpheus, the literal personification of Dream, has taken a woman into the dreamworld and is flying her around showing her the sights. She mentions that Sigmund Freud says that when you dream about flying, it actually means you're dreaming about having sex. "Indeed," responds Morpheus "then what does it mean when you're dreaming about having sex?" I got the distinct impression that the Lord of Dreams isn't a Freudian. Which is perhaps ironic, since I believe 'some times a cigar is just a cigar' is actually a Freud quote. The man had his lucid moments in between his cocaine binges, it seems.
much0J, precisely. And yet the man's outrageous claims live on among laypeople. Modern psychology evidently has a problem communicating with people outside the Ivory Tower.
I agree wholeheartedly with your breakdown of what makes "Body Horror" and "Melt" horror or anything else different. While it is possible for any of these sub-genres to convey any type of message, each sub-genre tends to do what it does best: BH conveys exploration and subtext/messages, MH shows off impressive effects and shock value, but in the end its all "Horror" a genre whose sole purpose is to scare by inducing frightening feelings, thoughts, and ideas not yet explored or explored in a different way. This is why some remakes like "The Fly" are able to tell the same story and message, but through different means and still accomplish what they intended to do. This is why I have always loved Horror and Sci-Fi because they have the potential to tell a story using the "What if" capability and they use the same elements.
The Stuff is a really good movie in my opinion. And I do think it is about how its bad for anyone to constantly eat, and how people don't really know exactly what they're eating sometimes. Anything can have a meaning, you just have to think about it or wait for an explanation if you can't figure it out yourself. And anyone who hasn't seen Eraserhead should watch it! It's really weird but really good.
I grew up on horror but never got the chance to see any melt movies. You opened me up to a world of amazing films that has sent me on an 8 year long rabbit-hole/deep dive of movies (that will continue to grow daily)... all stemming from this video and your mention of Street Trash. It now is one of my favorite films and the path of amazing movies it has sent me down is a blessing. Thank you! P.S. If you have a letterboxd account please do share!
There's a clear difference between a film's implied message ("the concept of flesh and desire, and the costs of liberation through said concept" in Hellraiser) and what the viewers impose on a film (the Vietnam parallel with Night of the Living Dead that you brought up). In the end, it's about delivery and intention, and there's usually a great harmonic dissonance (yes, I said harmonic dissonance) that works in a film's favor when it comes to some form of lasting power with a viewer. Side note: body horror film you could have mentioned due to timeliness? "The Ebola Syndrome", a Category III Chinese horror film about a serial killer/rapist contracting Ebola (who, as it turns out, is completely immune to it), and spreading it to other people willingly. Technically a melt movie, really.
Body horror is the beeeesssst... though ironically I never actually looked at the deeper meanings in it a lot of the time. I just appreciated all the amazing effects because that's my thing
this is what i love about horror B-movies or B-movies in general, its shitty, its low-budget, its stupid but then there's this one scene, one scene you see something so grossly unexpected, something you never expect or want to see your entire life... it just redeem itself, there's no other way putting it
In the 80's, there was a trend in visual media to show the horrifying effects of slimy green toxic waste as a response to Three Mile Island and later the Chernobyl disaster: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Toxic Avenger, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (super weird), that one scene in Robo Cop. It seems like melt movies might be related to this toxic fear. It is also interesting to note that children's media picked up on a toned down version of this years later and made anything green and slimy a staple of 90's childhood: Nickelodeon's Slime Time, Snot, Slimer in Real Ghostbusters, Goosebumps, and again Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
anyone wants an excellent example of melt/body horror in anime, check out the ending of "Genocyber". The part that really scared me about Genocyber is how the inhuman transformation is incredibly gratifying, ecstatic rapture (sort of like how Chronenberg's fly was gratifying, at first). Turns the idea back on it's head.
+The fantastical mr sloth yeah the later scene where tetsuo transforms into a giant horrible monster and crushes his girlfriend. a lot of this kind of horror seems to be sexual.
Mystery Science Theatre! I loved watching that show when I was in middle school... heck, I still love it. My dad was a huge fan of it back when it first aired, and he had tons of the VHS tapes (VHS tapes!) of episodes. I learned lots of filthy jokes and horror tropes along the way, along with a deeper appreciation of _kaiju_ movies (Gamera, he's really sweet, he is full of turtle meat!). Anyways, MatPat got me coming here in the first place, and I'm just loving the show so much. The first time I found and subscribed, I watched every single episode back-to-back in one night, and loved every minute. Keep doing what you're doing!
This was the RU-vid video that nudged me into finally getting into horror. It's become my favorite genre and one of my biggest interests. Thought I'd come back and check it out again. Thanks bud
Melt movies could be a modern form of the grotesquery or of freak shows, simply there to disgust and horrify us, but also conforming too the times and being less offensive to those who partook in the performance in or around the shows. They could also be there because someone somewhere gets a kick out of watching people melt. Too each their own.
Big props on bringing up The Stuff, a film which is far more fun, entertaining, and even well-made than any move about killer ice-cream should be. Anyway, the great part about art is that it means something different to everyone who partakes of it. Why does a movie need to have a definite underlying meaning? Why can't it just be a piece of entertainment? If you find deeper meaning to it, that's great. If not, that's just as great. Personally, I like Scott McCloud's description of art in his Understanding Comics series in which he describes art as essentially anything which humans do that doesn't satisfy our most primal needs. A rose can just be a rose, and why not? It's still pretty.
Lmao... your flashing pumpkin at the first of this vid just made a room full of people collectively laugh so hard that we had to pause the vid for a few... hahaha... thought I would share.... happy Halloween! :)
There were a few kids in high school who made the mosquito sound their ringtone for a little while. It was funny because it annoyed the hell out of students and the teachers were never able to hear it.
You are the first person I have seen who knows about melt movies, you get all my props. also Cronenberg is also my boy, you should do a episode on him.
Merry Halloween. I wish nothing but joyful memories on this Halloween. If you're Halloween isn't bestowed in thrills and satisfaction. Then it's November 1st. Happy Halloween.
Happy Halloween! Great episode! Horror is my absolute favorite genre because of it's unpredictably, but I cannot stomach the goriest of movies (I lost my dinner after watching the "love" scene in 'Cabin Fever: Patient Zero') sooooo.....I couldn't actually watch this episode, but I listened, got queasy when I thought "it can't be THAT bad, I'll just peek", then went back to just listening. Still a great episode though! :o)
When it comes to looking back on the horror genre I think its easier to attach/find a deeper meaning behind it. Be it as far back as the classic Universal monster movies or as more recent indie films. Thinking about a lot of newer mainstream horror movies they feel pretty empty. They're more rehashes of older ideas in a slightly different packaging, example Annabelle is just Insidious but with a doll. As for melt movies I think they are what they are, which people melting.
In my opnion the best episode so far was the black MIDI one. It's insane that you guys havent reached 100,000 subs yet. You've been shouted out on social media.
Not all body horror films are clever with their metaphors...Society is a great body horror film that slips under most people's radars that is really blunt with its message. But it does go balls to the wall with its depravity and insanity so it's all worth it.
Sometimes things are meant to be analyzed... but only sometimes. Most literature, be it a movie (I consider certain films to be literature, but definitely not all) or book, are exactly what you see on the surface... seemingly like Melt Movies.
i am not a fan of melt movies, but Tetsuo: The Iron Man is something close. you going to touch on transformation type movies? recomended horror movie to watch would have to be Tetsuo: The Iron Man, i guess, lol
Well, the director of Tetsuo did a lot more than just that [and it's sequels, Body Hammer (which is better than the first, and just a scosch more homoerotic, and by scosch I mean liquid napalm levels) and Bullet Man)]. 100,000 Volt Dragon's a fun one, and far from a horror film, really.
At least there's someone out there with a decently popular RU-vid channel that knows good body horror and it's obvious that The Stuff is about addiction and the producers lack of care for the consumers safety
Just like any genre or subgenre there will be rifts between pieces that are truly devoted to the art and the ones that are in question. For example, the experimental horror film "Begotten" (1990, Merhige) has many mixed reviews from those that don't see it as art and those that wouldn't want to watch anything else. I have personally never been into melt horror, but I can see where people can get into it as a true art form! (I suppose in the end it's just a perspective issue!?!)
The incredible melting man? Just makes me think of Action League Now. One of the main characters was Meltman, he had the amazing power to... Melt. Also, I shared the Numbers station video on Reddit when it was posted. Got you guys a couple dozen viewers. Not much, but yeah I tried.
hermionebubble Or Eye Scream, with the ability to melt into a pool of...ice cream. So he can ooze under doors. Really? Really, guy? THAT'S your superpower?
I'm totally into body horror. Mostly for aesthetic, but there is the whole morbid curiosity thing. how screwed up can a human body get before you cant call it a human body anymore? I draw a lot of body horror stuff too. This episode got me back into body horror and I am working on a melty gorey drawing right now. Also I like that you used that tune from that movie with the silver shamrock... I'll message the drawin to ya on the facebook thisexists page when i finish.
Are you into it for real? As in, reality. Do you watch Rotten and Faces of Death? I stay as far away from it as possible. There's already things on RU-vid in related videos sometimes that I don't really wanted to see.
I listened to the warning and still carried on. My reaction to almost every clip of those movies: "Oh. Oh oh that's disgusting. Oh, Oh dear god. Oh that's disgusting. " Yeah, blech. Cool vid though.
Melt horror is really the least brow raising subgenre. We have vomit gore, with the likes of "Slaughtered Vomit Dolls" (2006), house appliance and furniture horror/gore with killer beds ("Death Bed: The Bed That Eats" 1977), killer refrigerators ("The Refrigerator" 1991, "Attack of The Killer Refrigerator" 1990) and I am willing to bet there probably is a killer shower movie somewhere, shot on shitteo. Tag line for all of these should be "They say most deaths occur in your own home. You'll know why after watching this". Genius horror movie idea: poop that refuses to get flushed makes its way back to the pooper's (poopee's?) rectum and carves with a knife its way back into his/her colon. Tagline is "Long live the old flesh!". You're welcome Hollywood, you can have this one for free. *Halloween music tip*: *Zombie Zombie*'s album "Zombie Zombie Plays John Carpenter" and their other albums as well with original music.
And condom horror..., a very interesting subgenre with the intellectual question everyone asks "aids or castration?" Reverse poop revenge is really great "shit" btw. lol
***** Clearly these movies are not afraid to step up and ask fundamental ontological questions about existence itself and the fabric of reality. No wonder they get censured and banned. Those questions are just too much for the common folk.
This Exists Äsch, those ideas are bottom of the barrel of my imagination, that's why they're free; they're meant for networking etc. The stuff from the top costs top treasury bonds (due to inflation I've learned to make my deals in treasury bonds). I'm glad you liked the recommendation. Then there are the obligatory Goblin soundtracks for Dario Argento's movies and Fabio Frizzi's soundtracks for Lucio Fulci's movies as well.
Melt movies aren't any more intellectually void than Halloween or Child's Play. I feel like melt movies exist to show off the impressive effects, kind of like those universal monster shows, where as slasher flicks, like Nightmare on Elm Street, have no real niche in the film world aside from making easy money. Also it would've been cool if you talked about hammer horror movies.
I think with horror, to get things to work out, you either have to have a really good/intense theme, or just no theme at all. Movies that go halfway tend to be pretty whatever in my opinion, and since this is a genre that's pretty much defined by how extreme it gets, whether it be with effects, acting, whatever, it makes sense that the theme (or lack thereof) has to be all or nothing.
But why exactly was melting such a highlight of horror films from very different background? I recently watched Lucio Fulci's "The Beyond", and there were like 5 scenes where someone melted or something similar. And these were LONG scenes! Just watching a chemical spill onto a girl's parents and melt them veeeery slowly. Why did all these directors and special effects people separately consider this type of scene such a big thing? Was it super popular with audiences? Did one special effects master spread his trade of making melting people props?
A batshit crazy body horror film to watch is Tetsuo the Iron Man. I don't know exactly what the message behind it is, but its an experience that has to be seen to be understood.
Really enjoy your videos! Melt movies are nothing but gross out. Watched many as a young teenager. Like braindead the Peter Jackson zombie flick... Just great no deep meaning :) man with lawn mower mashes up zombies! Although you could attach suppression of being overly parented etc. also watch meet the feebles... Another early jackson classic. The muppets were never the same after that!
I guess in a way this could be viewed in the same context of a 'slasher' kind of film - where the main point isn't to watch for character development, underlying themes, or anything really deep or meaningful; it's purely to watch people die in gruesome ways. Just like slashers and their surreal ways of character death, who has ever heard of a human being melting? it's a fascinating aspect of death to look at and morbid curiosity gives birth to a niche little sub-genre like this.
Robert Rodriguez Planet Terror. Its a melting zombie movie. Quentin Tarantino melts and his balls drop off from his body. While he is dying, he makes a reference to 'women in prison' movie genre.
I'm glad you brought up "The Fly", in my first semester of college I took "Intro into literature" and during October our required reading was "Genres of the fantastic" which included a two week section on horror/body-horror, including watching "The Fly" in class which freaked many people out (In class we also discussed the possible AIDS connection). As there was quite a bit of literature that has a discussion behind it and has some form of body horror in it, I wouldn't doubt if Melt Movies had some form of deeper meaning, whether it be that over-consumption is bad or about human fragility. I dunno dude people do things for odd reasons. Also no "I'm Melting" Wicked Witch joke? For Shame!
You have to tackle 'possession' movies, basically people dealing with ghostly or demonic possession and getting possessed themselves. As well as transformation movies (people being turned into monsters via various means).
Cube zero (awful movie, check it out if you're into that) has an awesome melt in the first 3 minutes... it's crazy how those cheesy scenes can still make you so aware and fearful of what's actually inside you.
Can anyone help me identify a particular melt movie/tvshow/whatever? I remember watching this briefly on TV, a man is in something that looks like a booth and a woman and a little girl are standing outside. He appears to be either pleading with them or talking to them nicely. For whatever reason they flip a switch or push a button and then the guy inside the booth either melts or disintegrates into a skeleton. Ring any bells with anyone?
Putting meaning any deeper than skin deep on any horror movie is a means to justify the watching of something so terrible and gross that it HAS to have some deep metaphorical right?
I don't see melt movies having much of a message. I just see melting as being very discomforting way of dying and thus causes an audience to be drawn to these movies for pure shock factor.
A valid point. However, they melt on the inside and become hollow shells. That's another aspect of melt movies that has been discussed elsewhere on the internet. Their insides are eaten up by the stuff, sort of like how the Blob eats people up and uses their body mass to grow. The melt micro-genre is much disputed and technically isn't a genre at all.
