Indiepix Films’ “BODY ODYSSEY” (2023) Intersects Bodybuilding With Body Horror (TRAILER)
It would be unfair to say that Body Horror is having a renaissance because that would presume it went away, but nothing could be further from the truth. Body Horror is one of the most pervasive sub-genres in horror, in large part due to our societal recognition of how expectations of beauty, social media, and our mental health converge to cause great harm to how we view ourselves. Not since “Body Melt” (1993) has the sub-genre dabbled in the realm of Body Horror and bodybuilding, but perhaps now is the perfect time for a film like “Body Odyssey.” From Director Grazia Tricarico and featuring Julian Sands in one of his last roles before his untimely passing, “Body Odyssey” explores the relationship between a woman bodybuilder and the various societal and industrial influences that can adversely impact our self-image.
After a great showing at last year’s Sitges and Fantastic Fest, “Body Odyssey” is finally seeing a wid-release through Indiepix Films on their streaming service Indiepix Unlimted on February 28, 2025. Check out the trailer and synopsis below, along with praise the film has already received from its festival run. We will be bringing you a review in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more!
Synopsis
A contender to become Miss Body Universe, Mona (Jacqueline "Jay" Fuchs) is a 45-year-old champion bodybuilder whose entire existence is a spasmodic quest for perfection and beauty. Her daily schedule is carefully followed by her obsessive coach, Kurt (Julian Sands in one of his final performances), who rigorously monitors her every action like a demiurge: her sleep, her nutrition, her training, her doping, her psychology, and even her sexual life. This unyielding regimen, however, becomes disrupted when a brief romantic encounter with a young man impacts both her discipline and her will.
Combining elements of Cronenberg-esque body horror with psychological drama, BODY ODYSSEY is the genre-bending and surreal debut feature from award-winning director Grazia Tricarico, who captured Best Director at Sitges in 2024.
“A highly stylized psychological drama oscillating between satire and horror.”
–Martin Kudlac, Screen Anarchy
“Visually lush and interesting... a unique and memorable film experience.”
–Justin Norris, Hyperreal Film Club
“A surreal and haunting portrait of a woman in bodybuilding caught between the conflicting desires of society, of men, and of her own body/mind.”
–C.H. Newell, Father Son Holy Gore
“In what may be his last film role... Body Odyssey gives Sands
the opportunity to showcase his dramatic abilities at full strength.”
–Eoghan Lyng, DMovies
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