The grounded nature of the science of psychology has long been an enthralling inspiration for horror and thriller stories, as it can serve as a gripping, fatalistic cautionary tale.
The new genre film, Suitable Flesh, stunningly does just that with its unique perspective. The drama thrives on its infusion of erotica into the journey of a female psychiatrist who’s trying to save her younger male patient from a deadly entity that’s determined to unleash an unspeakable evil on them both.
Suitable Flesh was directed by genre veteran Joe Lynch. He previously garnered attention for helming the 2017 horror comedy Mayhem, as well as making his feature film directorial debut on the 2007 horror sequel, Wrong Turn 2: Dead End.
Lynch’s latest genre movie was penned by Dennis Paoli. The screenwriter based the script on H.P. Lovecraft’s 1922 serial novelette, Herbert West-Reanimator, which also served as the basis of director Stuart Gordon’s 1985 horror film, Re-Animator.
Suitable Flesh follows the sudden turmoil that disrupts the life of psychiatrist Elizabeth Derby (Heather Graham), who had a seemingly happy life until just a few days ago. She had a successful practice and a loving husband, Edward (Johnathon Schaech), and close friendship with her mentor, Dr. Daniella Upton (Barbara Crampton).
But Elizabeth’s career and personal relationships are thrown into turmoil when she’s arrested and committed into a psychiatric hospital by the police.
The authorities force her to seek treatment after she has an illicit affair with, and latter attacks, her new young male patient, Asa Waite (Judah Lewis).
The college student seems to be afflicted with multiple-personality disorder, and passes between a passive and aggressive demeanor. Intrigued by her new patient’s case, Elizabeth becomes more personally involved in his treatment than she should, and her investigation into the root of his condition leads her to confront his ailing father, Ephraim (Bruce Davison). Asa claims that something evil has possessed his father, and it’s now targeting him in order to claim its new titular suitable flesh.
After becoming more entrenched in Asa’s case than she initially anticipated and hoped for, Elizabeth becomes increasingly determined to clear her name of any wrongdoing. During her journey to prove her innocence, the doctor confides in Daniella and recounts what happened.
During her plea for help, Elizabeth shares an unbelievably bizarre and disturbing tale of sexual madness, supernatural horror and terrifying rage with her friend. The deeper the story goes, the more unhinged and carnage-driven life becomes, not just for Elizabeth ,but also for everyone in her life.
The thriller thrives in its ability to both pay tribute to, and avoid being a complete retread of, Gordon’s acclaimed screen adaptation of Lovecraft’s story. Lynch’s new film uniquely blends horror character and story developments that are set in the current practices of psychology with provocative, twisted black humor that’s anchored in mythical, sci-fi body horror.
Suitable Flesh most notably creates a unique spin on familiar Lovecraftian – and even body swap – tropes that are regularly featured in sci-fi-driven genre stories. By making the drama’s two protagonists – both Elizabeth and Daniella – women, especially in a leading medical field as psychiatry, Lynch allowed them to have the same kinds of emotional and physical crises that male characters have long had more throughout cinematic history.
Graham and Crampton infused their characters with bold energy as they harnessed the tone their respective characters needed. The former infused Elizabeth with a gripping sense of terror as she cautiously investigated Asa’s mental and physical conditions and claims that his father was being possessed. The latter effortlessly showed her character was determined to remain grounded as she pondered what led to her friend’s new warped sense of reality.
The two actresses also intriguingly infused provocative humor into their performances, which also helped ground the story and characters in reality. Elizabeth and Daniella take their oath to treat their patients with the utmost care and respect. However, their disbelief over Asa’s claims that his father is being possessed by an evil entity leads way to their dark banter and wit in order to serve as an intriguing coping mechanisms to their ordeal.
The natural banter and humor between the two protagonists proves to be one of the most integral elements of Suitable Flesh. Graham and Crampton developed a close relationship between Elizabeth and Daniella that feels extremely authentic. As a result, it’s believable that the latter character is willing to contend with the complications of her friend’s problematic situation that she would put her own life and career at risk.
Not only does the movie thrive on the connection between the cast and the dark humor their characters rely on to contend with the dangerous situation Elizabeth has found herself in, but also the ominous locations the story unfolds in. Working with production designer Lily Bolles and her team, Lynch crafted a brooding medical and institutional facility that perfectly captures the entity’s menacing intentions for Elizabeth and Asa.
The director and the feature’s producers decided to set Suitable Flesh‘s story in the same world as other stories based on Lovecraft’s works, known as the MiskatonicVerse. So the office and hospital where Elizabeth works and is admitted to are both set in the fictional Miskatonic University in the fictitious town of Arkham, Massachusetts, much like Re-Animator was.
With the new feature being set in the modern day, 38 years after Re-Animator‘s release, Suitable Flesh is a perfect visual addition to the MiskatonicVerse. From using the same color palates on the walls, signage and light fixtures, Lynch’s film sets the same tone as Gordon’s feature for his entity to unleash ancient curses in order to control the bodies it wishes to possess.
Lynch’s emotionally tense, visually stunning tribute to Lovecraft’s work and Re-Animator, as well as the infusion of erotica into Elizabeth’s unique journey of trying to save Asa, makes Suitable Flesh a standout in the horror thriller movie genre. Graham once again proves her diverse acting range by infusing her character with a gripping sense of terror as she investigates Asa’s seemingly deteriorating condition. Combined with the stellar medical and institutional facility at Miskatonic University that Bolles crafted, which proves the new film is part of the MiskatonicVerse, Suitable Flesh proves its worth as a gripping, fatalistic cautionary tale.
Grade: A-
Suitable Flesh had its World Premiere on June 11 in the Midnight section at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.