Quick Facts
| Title | Appendage |
| Genre | Horror, Comedy, Drama (Body Horror) |
| Director / Writer | Anna Zlokovic |
| Composer | Nick Chuba |
| Starring | Hadley Robinson, Emily Hampshire, Kausar Mohammed, Brandon Mychal Smith |
| Premiere | March 11, 2023 (SXSW) |
| Release Date | October 2, 2023 (Hulu) |
| Runtime | 95 minutes |
| Where to Watch | Hulu |
Appendage is a 2023 body-horror comedy written and directed by Anna Zlokovic, in her feature directorial debut. Based on Zlokovic’s 2022 Sundance short film of the same name, the movie premiered at SXSW on March 11, 2023, before streaming on Hulu starting October 2, 2023.
About Appendage
The film follows Hannah (Hadley Robinson), a young fashion designer whose buried self-doubt and anxiety manifest as a monstrous growth on her body — “the Appendage.” As the creature feeds on her insecurities about work, her boyfriend, and her friendships, Hannah’s life begins to spiral, and she eventually discovers she isn’t the only one dealing with a condition like this.
Cast
- Hadley Robinson as Hannah
- Emily Hampshire as Claudia
- Kausar Mohammed as Esther
- Brandon Mychal Smith as Kaelin
- Desmin Borges as Cristean
- Deborah Rennard as Stacy
- Pat Dortch as Steven
- Craig Kolkebeck as Fred
Who Composed the Appendage Score?
Nick Chuba composed the score for Appendage. Chuba is a Los Angeles-based composer who began his career as an assistant to Atticus Ross in 2014 and has since collaborated with him on numerous scores, including Blackhat, Triple 9, Death Note, Mank, and the HBO series Watchmen. Most recently, Chuba worked alongside Atticus Ross and Leopold Ross on the Emmy- and SCL Award-winning score for FX’s Shōgun.
Appendage Soundtrack: Featured Songs
Alongside Chuba’s score, Appendage features three licensed needle-drop songs, all performed by singer-songwriter Lou Roy, confirmed via scene-by-scene soundtrack listings:
Uppercut – Plays early in the film during a kitchen scene as Kaelin makes breakfast for himself and Hannah. The song was produced by Illuminati Hotties and Lou Roy, with an official music video available on YouTube.
Down Since ’07 – Plays as Hannah texts Kaelin to apologize for leaving suddenly the night before. The song is from Lou Roy’s 2022 album Pure Chaos and is available on Amazon Music, YouTube, and Spotify.
Valkyrie – Plays as Esther and Hannah take shots at a bar. Also from Lou Roy’s 2022 album Pure Chaos, in the alternative/indie style.
Reception
Appendage holds a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 24 reviews. RogerEbert.com’s Nick Allen gave the film three out of four stars, comparing its blend of sincere emotional beats and horror-comedy to 1980s directors like John Carpenter and Larry Cohen, and the site later named it one of the best horror films of 2023. Variety’s Dennis Harvey was less enthusiastic, calling the film “middling” despite its inventive premise.
Official Trailer
You can watch the official Appendage trailer on YouTube for a glimpse of the story and characters.
Related reading: Hulu Soundtracks | Movie Soundtracks
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for Appendage?
Nick Chuba composed the score. He is a longtime collaborator of Atticus Ross, and has worked on Blackhat, Triple 9, Death Note, Watchmen, and the Emmy-winning Shōgun score.
Are the Lou Roy songs actually used in Appendage?
Yes. “Uppercut,” “Down Since ’07,” and “Valkyrie” all appear in specific scenes of the film, confirmed by scene-by-scene soundtrack listings, rather than simply being part of Lou Roy’s general discography.
Who directed Appendage, and when was it released?
Anna Zlokovic wrote and directed Appendage, her feature directorial debut. It premiered at SXSW on March 11, 2023, and began streaming on Hulu on October 2, 2023.
What is Appendage about?
A young fashion designer’s suppressed anxieties manifest as a monstrous physical growth that threatens to take over her life, forcing her to confront both the creature and her own self-doubt.
How was Appendage reviewed by critics?
Appendage holds a 50% score on Rotten Tomatoes. RogerEbert.com gave it 3/4 stars and named it one of 2023’s best horror films, while Variety’s review was more critical, calling it “middling.”