The New Weird and Body Horror

For this assignment, I read Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. I typically stay away from traditional horror, but the story of Annihilation drew me in quite quickly. The combination of science fiction and the fear of the unknown was both exhilarating and intriguing enough to keep me reading.

Throughout the novel, Vandermeer toys with the idea of transformation and how it affects those who do so unsuspectingly. From the Earth changing with this unknown area, to the biologist herself, transformation appears as a common theme throughout the novel. In the movie, this idea is pushed in new and terrifying ways, presenting the viewer with guts that move, crossbreeding deemed impossible, and skeletons that climb out of their own bodies. This portrayal of human bodies morphing and changing in unimaginable ways definitely chilled me to the bone.

In this day and age, being able to transform one's body is something discussed almost casually. From losing/gaining weight, to plastic surgery, to transitioning from one gender to another, we have discovered new and exciting ways in which we can make our bodies truly our own. However, it is a double-edged sword: with these new methods comes new fears and phobias. The idea of body transformation out of our control is a terrifying one - and is often used as an element of horror in newer forms of the genre. Additionally, one can only see a heart ripped out of someone's chest so many times; new methods of transformation can lead to new methods of mutilation.

The bizarre ways in which Vandermeer discusses these changes (such as the "brightness" the biologist describes in the novel) brings about vivid imagery of body horror. It was truly an effective way to terrify the reader, while deviating from traditional horror tactics.

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