Horror movies and literature reflect people's anxieties by taking them to gory extremes. Body horror taps into the very human fear of how unpredictable, and even uncontrollable, our bodies can be. While this theme has its roots in gothic literature,

The horror genre has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last ten years. From psychological nightmares to nerve-shredding thrillers, each year has delivered something unique—movies that push the boundaries of fear, storytelling, and even artistic expression. And trust me—I’ve been paying attention.

The Substance, starring Demi Moore, is the rarest of all Oscar contenders: not just a horror film, but a bit of gory, gnarly body horror. It's not the first film in the genre to have plenty to say in and around the goopy,

But thanks to Bill Skarsgard’s terrifying turn as the bloodsucker Count Orlok, Eggers’s drama (nominated for four Oscars) more than justifies its existence in horror cinema’s vampire-saturated landscape.

As of today, a staggering 611 films have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. That's a lot of movies. And after nearly one whole century of Oscar ceremonies, only 1.3% of those Best Picture nominees were in the horror genre -- including this year's "The Substance.