Saccharine
The brief
Natalie Erika James follows up Relic with another deeply unsettling body horror that crawls under your skin and stays there. Midori Francis delivers a genuinely unnerving performance as a woman whose desperation leads her down an absolutely grotesque rabbit hole, and James knows exactly how to let the dread simmer before things get properly stomach-turning. The film moves at a deliberate pace that mirrors its protagonist's slow psychological unraveling, building to moments that will have you covering your eyes. Perfect for fans of The Love Witch or Raw who want their horror served with a side of pitch-black feminist commentary.
The verdict
If you crave slow-burn psychological horror with genuinely disturbing body horror and dark feminist themes, this is a deeply unsettling triumph that will stick with you long after the credits roll. If you prefer fast-paced scares or have a weak stomach for grotesque imagery, skip this deliberately paced nightmare that prioritizes dread over traditional horror thrills.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate slow psychological builds
- ⚠️ Those sensitive to eating disorders or body dysmorphia
Heads up
- Graphic depictions of cannibalism and ash consumption (frequent)
- Body horror and grotesque imagery (moderate)
- Themes of eating disorders and body dysmorphia (moderate)
- Psychological deterioration and mental breakdown (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Natalie Erika James
- Cast
- Midori Francis, Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden, Joseph Baldwin, Robert Taylor, Emily Milledge, Lisa Crittenden
Official synopsis
After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she's eating.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Perfect Blue (1998)
Both explore psychological horror through body obsession and identity dissolution.
Total runtime: 1h 52m + 1h 22m = 3h 14m
