# Body Melt

Body Melt is a 1993 Australian independent science fiction black comedy body horror film directed by Philip Brophy and written by Brophy and Rod Bishop. Brophy and Bishop are ex-members of the art punk group → ↑ →. The pair also composed the film's soundtrack. The movie satirizes suburban lifestyles and fitness fads.

## Plot

The residents of Pebbles Court in the suburb of Homesville in Melbourne are the unknowing test subjects for a new variety of dietary supplement pills that arrive for free in their mailboxes. The pills are designed to produce the ultimate healthy human, but have unexpected side effects, including hallucinations and mutations.
Despite the attempts made to warn the townsfolk from a previous test subject, who is now undergoing rapid cellular decay, he arrives too late, and crashes his car and is killed by tentacles growing out of his throat. The pills are consumed by the residents, and produce liquefying flesh, elongated tongues, exploding stomachs, exploding penises, imploding heads, monstrous births, tentacles growing out of the face, living mucus, sentient placentas, and other gruesome transmutations. Ultimately more and more of the residents of Pebbles Court mutate or die horrific deaths, until almost every character has been dispatched.

## Cast

* Gerard Kennedy as Det. Samuel Phillips
* Andrew Daddo as Johnno
* Ian Smith as Dr. Carrera
* Regina Gaigalas as Shaan
* Vincent Gil as Pud
* Neil Foley as Bab
* Anthea Davis as Slab
* Matthew Newton as Bronto
* Lesley Baker as Mack
* Amy Grove-Rogers as Old Woman
* Adrian Wright as Thompson Noble
* Jillian Murray as Angelica Noble
* Ben Geurens as Brandon Noble
* Amanda Douge as Elloise Noble
* Brett Climo as Brian Rand
* Lisa McCune as Cheryl Rand
* Nick Polites as Sal Ciccone
* Maurie Annese as Gino Argento
* William McInnes as Paul Matthews
* Suzi Dougherty as Kate
* Bill Young as Willie
* Tommy Dysart as Sergeant
* Tiffany Lamb as Secretary

## Production

The film was shot in October and November 1992.

## Critical reception

* Video review wrote "With over 150 ways to melt your body, it's one of the most innovative and versatile horror films ever. Guaranteed to make you squirm."
* Samhain wrote "Unique and individual. A wicked and gruesome satire on the clean-living lifestyle of modern Australia as seen across the globe in various TV soaps."
* Screen International described the film "As satirical as it is sick-making. A cult hit."
* Star Burst wrote "Packs more mucous, phlegm, puke, snot, slime & spit than you'd ever think possible."
* Time Out wrote "Despite its emetic preoccupation with exploding stomachs & bodily fluids there is also a liberal injection of black humour."
* Fangoria wrote "A slime-soaked all-out shocker!"
* Face described the film as "A dumb/smart satire on health fascism. The kind of movie they just don't make anymore."
* According to Bloody Disgusting Magazine: «The film is a satire of extremely healthy living»
* PopHorror: "Residents of peaceful Pebbles Court, Homesville, are being used unknowingly as test experiments for a new Body Drug that causes rapid body decomposition (melting skin etc.) and painful death."
* SBS Movies: "A yucky, shlocky, gory, tongue-in-cheek horror film".

### Accolades

| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
| AACTA Award (1993 AFI Awards) | Best Editing | Bill Murphy | Nominated |
| AACTA Award (1993 AFI Awards) | Best Sound | Philip Brophy | Nominated |
| AACTA Award (1993 AFI Awards) | Best Sound | Craig Carter | Nominated |
| AACTA Award (1993 AFI Awards) | Best Costume Design | Anna Borghesi | Nominated |
| Saturn Award | Best Genre Video Release | Best Genre Video Release | Nominated |
| Sitges Film Festival | Best Film | Philip Brophy | Nominated |

## Home media

Body Melt was released on DVD with a new print by Umbrella Entertainment in August 2006. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the original theatrical trailer, Umbrella Entertainment trailers, a behind the scenes featurette with cast and crew and a storyboard gallery.
On 25 September 2018, the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome.