The Sci-Fi Horror Wacko Comedy On Tubi That Will Melt Your Brain

Body Melt begins in the fictional suburb of Homesville (quite the name) of the nonfictional Australian city of Melbourne.

In the outwardly tranquil neighborhood of Pebbles Court, unsuspecting residents become guinea pigs in a chilling medical experiment via Vimuville, dietary supplements endorsed as a revolutionary practice intended to improve human health. 

While the pills are delivered free of charge to Pebbles Court’s mailboxes, this medication is anything but beneficial. In fact, the supplements are the brainchild of a pharmaceutical company bent on fashioning the ultimate health supplement.

Sadly for the characters in Body Melt, the meds are in the experimental phase, meaning the supposed health benefits horrifically backfire. 

Of course, at first, the symptoms are encouraging; residents experience heightened senses and feelings of wellness. But this being a horror movie, soon, these effects spiral into grotesque mutations and physical decay. Then come the hallucinations, horribly distorting reality for the unsuspecting victims. 

Then, as any body horror fan will look forward to, the physical symptoms worsen significantly, eventually becoming shocking and deadly. 

In a memorable sequence from Body Melt, the chaos escalates when a former test subject, severely affected by the medicine and in the throes of rapid cellular decay, strives to warn the townsfolk of the imminent danger.

However, his efforts are rudely interrupted when tentacles grotesquely pour from his throat. This is followed by more instances of body-horror nastiness: flesh liquifying, tongues stretching unnaturally, internal organs exploding, etc. 

Meanwhile, a detective, Samuel Phillips—played commendably by Gerard Kennedy—attempts to solve the mystery behind the shocking monstrosities. His search leads him into the dark, horrifying underbelly of corporate greed and unethical big pharma practices. 

Kennedy isn’t the only Australian actor enriching the film. Others, like Ian Smith as the horrifying Dr. Carrera, lend Body Melt added impact. Their acting, above all, infuses the project with a darkly comic flavor, counterbalancing the abject (and abjectly disgusting) horror. 

This is a movie that puts the niche in niche appeal; nonetheless, it accrued a robust cult following—the kind of film seemingly made for subsequent horror directors to credit as an unsung influence in the genre.

More than ever, its satirical take on health fanatism rings true; our era of juice cleanses, carnivore diets, veganism, intermittent fasting, and the like suits the movie’s message perfectly. 

Especially in a culture like Australia’s, where it would appear the average person on the street is as fit as they are tanned, the project’s bloody, brutal mockery of health consciousness resounds enjoyably. 

While not an Oscar winner, Body Melt earned recognition from the AACTA Awards via a nomination for editing, sound, and costume design; its handling of the final category is particularly deserving of praise.

The movie functions as a veritable testament to old-school effects, their excellence partially explaining its underground status. 

Moreover, prior to streaming, the movie’s widespread home media release via Umbrella Entertainment and Vinegar Syndrome facilitated its worldwide reach and audience. 

Fans of ’70s Australian punk rock and the country’s art world in general know both Brophy and Bishop were members of → ↑ →, often pronounced as Tsk Tsk Tsk or Tch Tch Tch, when its actual pronunciation is three “clicks.”

Forming in Melbourne in 1977, the group was led by Brophy and performed music in addition to producing artwork, films, short videos, live theatre, multi-media, and even literature. 

Ultimately, Body Melt defies the paltry category “movie”—the work is an experience, visceral, grotesque, and absurd. It reminds us that humor and horror can and should happily coexist and that their fusion provides something indelible. For those daring enough to risk losing their lunch before a full-on spectacle of peerless body horror, stream Body Melt on Tubi today.