Movies
The Best Male Full Frontal In Horror Movies
While horror has long been considered to be a haven of exploitation of the human body, it has its limitations. For as much blood and nudity as the genre contains, one major frontier has yet to be fully explored. That would be male full frontal nudity. American cinema in particular has long been skittish about male full frontal, across all genres. The reasons for that are too wide-ranging to explore in a brief introduction. (Spoiler alert: misogyny might have a thing or two to do with it.) Whatever the circumstances, it’s still a refreshing break from the norm to behold a naked man in a horror movie. With that in mind, I’d like to break down some of the genre’s finest examples to date.
The Best Male Full Frontal in Horror
Before we dive in, I have a few housekeeping notes: First, while not all men have penises, this article will focus entirely on that particular appendage. Horror still has a long way to go with representation of characters on a broader gender spectrum, clothed or otherwise. Second, this article is ranked, but not by a standard as subjective as “hotness.” I’ve instead ranked these by their effectiveness in using nudity to provoke the audience, in a variety of ways. Third, I’m not differentiating between prosthetics and true nudity. Everything you see in a movie is fiction, in one way or another. Fourth, while I’ve obscured the penises in any screenshots I’ve used, you should probably still consider them NSFW. Just to be safe.
#10 Nail Gun Massacre (1985)
One of the unique components of the chaotic mess that is Nail Gun Massacre is its verisimilitude. Its low budget gives the sense that every building, article of clothing, etc., belonged to the filmmakers or their friends. Because of this, it achieves a kind of accidental realism. That’s what makes its copious sex and murder scenes feel genuinely dangerous and transgressive. Sex and murder are combined (naturally) in a nail gun kill involving a couple copulating against a tree. Both partners fall to the ground afterwards, completely naked. It’s grimy and raw, in a charmingly equal opportunity fashion.
#9 Pieces (1982)
Pieces is nothing if not unpredictable. Every scene provides a fresh gust of wind to keep the whirligig of the bizarro slasher spinning. One such moment is the part where the male lead is shown gratuitously and gloriously naked after a hookup. There is no reason for this scene to be placed where it is. It comes mere seconds before the movie’s infamous kung fu attack, in fact. And that approach to storytelling is exactly why the movie feels so thoroughly bonkers from beginning to end.
#8 Don’t Look Now (1973)
Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie’s sex scene in Don’t Look Now is the stuff of legend. But their nudity is used both erotically and platonically (in a later scene where they’re getting ready). This is why the movie truly shines. It shows both sides of the couple’s interactions with one another and their naked bodies. It’s a more or less complete picture of their marriage, depicted in a very short time. All the better for tearing them apart over the course of the rest of the movie.
#7 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
AWiN’s nudity is more than just an excuse for a kid to say, “A naked American man stole my balloons.” It’s another way for the movie to comedically explore the line between British society and outsiders. David’s Americanness is what imperils him in the first place, because he fails to heed warnings about the moors. But his new wolfishness also places him outside the norm. Waking naked after a lycanthropic night on the town, he’s plunged unexpectedly back into polite society, at a severe disadvantage.
#6 Midsommar (2019)
Christian’s nudity in Midsommar is accomplishing a lot. The reason he’s naked is that he has been coerced (somewhat) into cheating on his girlfriend. So this scene is quite literally stripping him bare, exposing how unreliable he is as a partner. However, it also taps into the inherent vulnerability of nudity. There are no more layers of protection between him and the terrible thing that’s about to happen to him. Well, I suppose it’s only terrible depending on who you ask. But you get my point.
#5 Nosferatu (2024)
The sudden appearance of the titular monster’s penis in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is more than just a shock gag. It’s a reminder that this shambling, rotting, towering vampire was once a human being. His decadence, disease, and desire aren’t born from some unknowable, external evil. They are merely human impulses and weaknesses gone majorly awry.
#4 Ma (2019)
Ma is riddled with outrageous moments designed to make you go, “This happened in an Octavia Spencer movie?” Ma grabbing Luke Evans’ dick and threatening to cut off is certainly one of those moments.
#3 28 Days Later (2002)
The opening scene of 28 Days Later finds Cillian Murphy’s Jim waking up naked from a coma. Vulnerability is an element of this scene, but there’s an even more potent metaphor of rebirth at play. As naked as a baby, Jim is being born into a world gone mad. And he’s going to have to grow up real quick if he hopes to survive.
#2 28 Years Later (2025)
Danny Boyle sure does love putting dongs onscreen, doesn’t he? The nudity of the Infected Alpha Samson in 28 Years Later is accomplishing something entirely different, though. He’s quite literally swinging his dick around, displaying his power. While the human characters (and the audience) might be shocked by his nudity, he isn’t. This gives him a huge, if unintentional, advantage, because his opponents start off on the back foot.
#1 Night of the Demon (1980)
I mean, what do you want from me here? Of course this video nasty is No. 1. I can say with some certainty that it’s the only movie where Bigfoot rips a dude’s dingdong off. Not everything has to be a metaphor.
Honorable Mentions: 2014’s Creep (one of my biggest blindspots for contemporary horror), 1983’s 10 to Midnight (which doesn’t actually have full frontal, but features a killer who gets naked to do his dirty work, and that counts for a whole lot), 2017’s Revenge (which includes intentionally objectifying a villainous man among its many worthwhile vengeful acts).
Shudder knows summer is the perfect time to watch scary things in air-conditioned places. Which is why the beloved streamer is giving us newer movies like Heresy, Whistle, This is Not a Test, and Smothered. While it’s always fun to see recent titles arrive alongside classics and deep cuts, my eye isn’t on the films this month. Most of my picks this May are television series and documentaries. Maybe that means I want longer comments with my media and an open library. Or perhaps I’m just reminding myself that I’m a cool nerd and making it your problem too. Whatever the case may be, I have curated another list of titles that I believe deserve our attention. Check out my top five priorities while surfing our favorite streamer below.
Tales From the Crypt (1989 – 1996)
Our beloved 90s anthology is finally making its way to our most cherished streamer. As someone who hasn’t seen Tales From the Crypt since I was a tyke, I’m so giddy that I get to watch it as an adult. More importantly, I get to binge it as John Kassir (the voice of our favorite ghoul) intended. I have been floating since this news was announced at the Overlook Film Festival in April. My insomnia and my Crypt Keeper are about to be reunited, and all is going to be alright in my little world. Come for the celebrities and stay for the puns and wicked deaths. I sincerely hope you call out of work each Friday as a new season gets added to Shudder.
You can watch Tales From the Crypt: Season 1 on May 1st. Subsequent seasons will premiere on Fridays, concluding with Season 7 on June 12
Horror Noire: History of Black Horror (2019)
Based on Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman’s book of the same name, Horror Noire: History of Black Horror is simply that girl. It unpacks the complicated history of Black people in the genre with humor, honesty, and heart. It even gets into the conversations no one seems to want to have and makes room for Black horror icons to actually be heard for once. You could hear the record scratch on Bluesky when this Shudder Original disappeared a few months ago. So, we can all rest easy knowing that it’s coming back home and we can continue to have it in our regular rotation. Horror Noire made many of us feel seen and made us better cinephiles and critics. It’s worth the Shudder subscription on its own if we’re being completely honest.
You can watch Horror Noire: History of Black Horror on May 4th.
The Terror: Devil in Silver (2026)
Your favorite unsettlingly stoic anthology has returned for a new season, and this time, Dan Stevens is in the mix. Stevens plays Pepper, a man with bad luck and a bad temper who gets himself committed to a psychiatric hospital. Any horror fan knows that’s the recipe for many horror bangers, and that’s why I will be sat. The cast also includes CCH Pounder, Judith Light, and Marin Ireland. However, my heart belongs to Karyn Kusama, who is in the director’s chair and the queen of tension. As a Momma Kusma stan account, I am so ready for her to raise my blood pressure and send me to the ER. The demonic duo of AMC+ and Shudder is cooking with this one.
You can watch episode one of The Terror: Devil in Silver on May 7th. Subsequent episodes will premiere weekly, concluding with the season finale on June 11th.
In Search of Darkness 1990-1994 (2024)
We all love to see our faves get together and discuss the horror eras we have romanticized. Which is why watching genre royalty unpack the “lost” decade of horror is something we all probably want to see. As a 90s kid, I feel like we ate pretty well in my day. So, I want to collect all of these stories like infinity stones. Some of the faces we can expect to see are Heather Langenkamp, John Carpenter, Frank Henenlotter, Tim Balme, and Michael Gross. My little nerd heart could bust, and I am happy Shudder is opening the library this May.
You can watch episode one of In Search of Darkness 1990-1994 on May 11th.
Something Is About to Happen (2023)
Things take a turn for a woman who loses her job as a computer programmer. The only movie in my roundup this month goes to the one I perhaps know the least about. Truthfully, I am just here for horror movies about women going through it. Excuse me as I gesture to the world and my bank account. More importantly, Spanish-language horror rarely fails me. So, I am willing to look past the two-hour and two-minute runtime. I am ignoring that it is listed as a romantic horror. I’m doing this because I expect my kind of chaos, and I hope I am right. From one down girl to another, I am rooting for this character on sight.
You can watch episode one of Something Is About to Happen on May 15th.
That is what I plan to use my Shudder Saturdays for this month. Let us know what you’re plotting to hit play on in the comments because we’re nosy.
Is anyone else remembering we have movies at home and logging in a lot of Netflix hours this spring? I know I am, and I keep finding more hidden treasures on this app. They collect so much international media and never tell us they have it. I find this frustrating as I pull up late to things I’m probably going to love. Quite a few foreign films make it into my lineup this month. Two of them I have never heard of before and are newer titles that should be getting some attention, in case they’re some of the best of their respective years. One is French, and we all need to revisit it for reasons that I’ll explain later.
Another thing worth noting about Netflix’s recent additions is an American show called Man on Fire. This serialized adaptation of A. J. Quinnell’s novel of the same name stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. He’ll be playing the character my generation associates with Denzel Washington because of the 2004 film adaptation. As a nerd who has been wondering why Yahya hasn’t been on my screen for a minute, I will probably have finished binging this before you even make it to the end of this article. I digress! Here are the five movies I plan to watch this month on Netflix!
180 (2026)
An act of road rage leaves a young boy in critical condition and his father seeking revenge. As usual, Netflix has not really advertised this South African thriller. However, I love revenge and am always game for a new release. So, I’m happy the powers that be put this in the recent lineup. It looks good, which gives me hope that this is going to be a gritty and bloody adventure. Fingers crossed, a few of you also hit play on this one because I’d like more quality South African thrillers that are easily accessible in America. I’m tired of hunting them down years after the fact.
Benedetta (2021)
A nun has religious visions that threaten the core of the Church while she is also having a secret affair in the 17th century. You are probably confused as to why Paul Verhoeven’s French psychological romantic drama is in my Netflix round-up. Especially if you clocked the long run time, and now I love a 90-minute or less movie. Listen! If you give me a nun having visions and having a lesbian affair in a period piece, it is my sworn duty to tell everybody. It is also my job to rewatch it for reasons. Don’t say I never did anything for you!
Him (2025)
A young athlete discovers why you should never meet your heroes when he is invited to train with a football legend. People were way too mean to this movie. It’s giving Neon Demon and Black Swan for Black male athletes. It’s not perfect, but the aesthetics and vibes are on 10. More importantly, Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers deliver some pretty fantastic performances that keep you locked in. I’m excited to revisit it and see if I like it more (or less) than when I caught it in theaters. Hopefully, more people will do the same now that the more biased discourse has died down.
Mudborn (2025)
A spirit terrorizes a video-game designer and his pregnant wife. I have no idea what to expect from Meng-Ju Shieh’s Mandarin supernatural horror film. However, I’m excited to see what this spirit is about. Again, Netflix continues to drop the ball on advertising international films. So, it’s up to us to find it in the streets and raise the alarm. In a perfect world, this movie will be the nightmare fuel I’m always seeking out. However, at the end of the day, I’m just happy to show up and support international films helmed by people of color. It’s a win-win situation, however I look at it.
Scream (2022)
A new Ghostface is terrorizing Woodsboro 25 years after the original killing spree rocked the town. As a Wes Craven stan account and fan of Radio Silence, I was so happy this movie turned out awesome. I can still say this is one of my favorite horror wins of this decade because it showed this franchise still had some life in it. It also introduced us to our Core Four, led by my new favorite final girl, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera). As someone who enjoyed these first six movies, I will always clear my schedule for a marathon and am happy to see Scream (2022) on Netflix this month. I plan to rewatch it and continue being salty that I will never know how this new trilogy was supposed to end.
That’s what I have this month. Happy Netflixing to each and every one of you!
