One of the reasons why we love horror films is the dangerous sex appeal – especially in slasher films from the 80s. Although most teenagers in these slasher films suffer brutal deaths after they engage in such sexy behaviors, there is something still strangely and erotically appealing about sex in these horror films. But what about the monster sex scenes? Do they have the same effect on spectators? Are monster scenes sexy? Maybe we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves - what qualifies as a monster sex scene? For the purposes of this list, I am only examining non-human sex – although one human might be involved in the act, at least one monster must be present: whether it be a re-animated head without a body, a creature with several legs, an alien, a ghoulie; basically anything that isn’t human and has undergone some process of “evil-i-zation” qualifies as a monster for the purpose of this article. Let’s have a look at some of the best monster-sex scenes in horror film history in order to really explore this question, deeper and deeper… and deeper!
[Friendly reminder: Some of these clips are not entirely work-safe.]
5. Megan gets “head” in Re-Animator
Directed by Stuart Gordon in 1985, Re-Animator stars horror favorite Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a researcher who has found the secret to life after death in the form of a glowing liquid dubbed "the reagent." West teams with a medical student named Dan (Bruce Abbott) to dabble with the dead, starting with one unfortunate pet kitty cat. Their research is threatened by both a smarmy doctor (David Gale) eager to swipe their findings and the father of Dan's fiancée, Megan (Barbara Crampton). Stripped naked on a table top in the lab, the lovely Megan lays beside the severed head of Dr. Hill, and Dr. Hill can’t resist! He picks up his own reanimated severed head and sticks it between Megan’s legs. To be fair, he tries to warm her up a bit, kissing her breasts, and slowly licking his way down further to her stomach. Megan begs him to stop, and she tries to force the head off of her. Nothing works – this head is simply determined to give Megan some oral pleasures. We could argue that Dr. Hill isn’t a monster, but after undergoing the re-animation process, I beg to differ. And – how could this list exist without mention of this scene? Luckily for us spectators, Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) stops the charade before Dr. Hill gets the chance to really get in there. This scene defines the term “giving head” but if the sight of a disembodied head performing cunnilingus doesn’t mess with your psyche, then you’re much braver than I!
4. Chucky and Tiff forget the condoms in Bride of Chucky
I know, I know. It seems like an obvious choice, but this sex scene is hilarious – but it’s also oddly genuine. 1998 saw the release of Bride of Chucky, directed by Hong Kong cult favorite Ronny Yu. This newest installment in the Chucky chronicles has a campy and self-aware edge that the Chucky films essentially need in order to stay alive – Chucky has definitely become more camp than scare in the last several years. Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) has been searching for the plastic remains of her man for 10 years, and locates them in a police-evidence repository in some corner of hell, alongside the Michael Myers and Jason masks. She patches up the battered Chucky (Brad Dourif) doll and performs a voodoo rite that summons up Charles Lee Ray's nasty spirit. But Tiffany and Chucky have a lover's spat when he murders her and imprisons her soul in a tatty bride doll. Both in doll form, Chucky tells Tiff that he loves her after she brutally kills a couple with a champagne bottle as they are making love. After this macabre scene, Chucky realizes that Tiffany is the one. Chucky asks Tiff to marry him, and she responds with a simple and breathless, “Chucky…. Yes!” She weeps as they embrace by the fire. That’s when the really romantic talk starts. Tiff asks, “I’m actually crying! I wonder if all the plumbing works…”, to which Chucky responds, “I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to feel like Pinocchio down here!” Chucky strips Tiff naked and we see their puppet-tongues dancing playfully with each other. Cue the hardcore humping and moaning.
When asking about a condom, no woman (or puppet) can resist the line, “Look at me! I’m all rubber!” What is interesting about this monster sex scene is… it’s almost romantic. It actually makes you feel closer to them as a couple. Dare I say it – but – after this scene, I find myself rooting for Chucky and Tiff in a way I didn’t think was possible. And there is much more Chucky where that comes from – another Chucky movie, Curse of Chucky, is slated to come out this year.
3. Anna and the thrusting tentacle monster in Possession
It’s hard to explain the plot of Possession in just a few sentences – there truly are few words for this film, and you’ll need to see it to know exactly what I’m talking about. Directed by Andrzej Zulawski, Possession is a true example of psychological horror. Anna (the incredible and impeccable Isabelle Adjani) leaves both her husband (Sam Neill) and her lover (Heinz Bennent) for a bizarre, tentacled creature that she keeps in a run-down Berlin apartment. In the beginning, her husband knows nothing about the monster and sincerely believes that his wife is insane. In fact, he may be insane as well. He has her tailed by private detectives, whom she kills and feeds to the creature. Even after he becomes aware of the creature, he is still passionately in love with his wife and he stays by her side and helps her conceal her crimes.
Possession is such an overall mind-fuck that when the fucking between Anna (Isabelle Adjani) and her tentacle monster actually happens, you’re not that surprised. That being said, when the camera keeps rolling and you’re forced to watch the pelvic-thrusting movements of the monster, total and utter fascination ensues. The fact that Anna is cheating on her husband (Sam Neill) with this monster is also quite sexy. He hears her yelling in pleasure before he witnesses the scene, and when he does, he sees Anna completely wrapped up in the monster, his octopus-like tentacles all over her body. Adjani is just so stunningly beautiful and her performance in this film is so great – that you can’t help but get a little turned on just because she’s in such pleasure – regardless of the monster that is giving it to her. All Anna can do is yell out in ecstasy and moan, “Almost…. Almost!” Of course, this scene does have a major gross out factor: the sounds that the slippery, slimy monster makes as he’s fucking Anna are disgusting. Squishy thrusting sounds. Eww. Her husband looks away at first – but then he turns to Anna again, his eyes widened and luring. He can’t look away, and neither can we!
2. Belial and Eve rock the cradle in Basket Case 2
Basket Case 2 made me an even bigger fan of the first Basket Case. I had an even greater appreciation for the monsters and the makeup effects by Gabe Bartolis, but if we’re being honest here, the sex scene between Belial and Eve had me at “Hello”! Starting from where the original Basket Case left off, we’re left to assume that Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and his monster-brother, Belial, had fallen out of a window and were presumed dead. As Frank Henenlotter’s Basket Case 2 opens, we learn that they survived and are in the hospital. They are rescued by freak-sympathizer and activist Granny Ruth (Annie Ross), who brings the brothers back to her home for unloved and unwanted freaks. Once there, she attempts to shield her charges from the interest of reporters, police, and those who would exploit the unfortunate. Meanwhile, Duane has to come to terms with his life now that he and Belial have had their revenge. It is in this house that all the sexy magic between Belial and his new freak girlfriend, Eve, takes place! It is worth mentioning that Belial isn’t a virgin – he actually rapes Sharon, Duane’s new girlfriend, in the original Basket Case. By raping her, he also ends up killing her. Belial is a tad perverted as well – he steals Casey’s (Beverly Bonner) red panties to hoard in his basket for safe & sexy keeping.
Belial is at first very tender with Eve, as they caress each other’s dirty bits (which is literally every part of their body). Belial moans in pleasure, a soft piano track plays in the background, and this scene is intercut with a love scene between Belial’s brother, Duane and his new freak girlfriend. That’s a whole lotta lovin’! Then Belial and Eve really get going in a full-blown bump and grind scene and if this doesn’t make you feel really dirty – the fact that they’re having sex in what looks like a baby-crib is sure to send you over the edge – and I’m not talking sexually! In fact, you may never be able to get turned on again. You’re welcome.
1. The fat orgy in Society
I thought I had seen it all – the most disturbing and lurid of subject matter in horror films. That is, until I saw Society (1989), directed by Brian Yuzna. What starts out as a harmless John Hugheses-que teen comedy ends in a disgusting, bodyfat-orgy of slime, sexual connotation, screaming and moaning. Bill Whitney doesn’t belong in Beverly Hills, he feels isolated and even his own parents don’t understand him. Fair enough, because Bill belongs to another species – a species that enjoys “shunting”, a word for body parts melting into other body parts, complete with slime and moaning and orgasms. It’s so gross. And that’s why we love it. A metaphor for class division in our society, this film is definitely more gross-out than turn-on.
The general consensus? The sex in horror films is better when it’s human-on-human before the blood bath! Also be sure to check out The Incubus (John Hough, 1982, starring John Cassavetes) for some hair metal demon-raping; the famous worm rape in Galaxy of Terror (Bruce D. Clark, 1981); and the swamp creature rape in Humanoids from the Deep (Barbara Peters, 1980).