Suitable Flesh is a 2023 American horror film — not a short film — written by Dennis Paoli and directed by Joe Lynch. It’s based on H. P. Lovecraft’s 1937 short story “The Thing on the Doorstep,” and plays as a spiritual successor to Stuart Gordon’s Lovecraftian horror films Re-Animator and From Beyond. The film stars Heather Graham, Judah Lewis, Bruce Davison, Jonathan Schaech, and Barbara Crampton, with a synth-driven score from Zombi’s Steve Moore.
Quick Facts
| Title | Suitable Flesh (2023) |
| Genre | Horror |
| Director | Joe Lynch |
| Writer | Dennis Paoli |
| Based On | “The Thing on the Doorstep” by H. P. Lovecraft (1937) |
| Composer | Steve Moore |
| Starring | Heather Graham, Judah Lewis, Bruce Davison, Jonathan Schaech, Barbara Crampton |
| World Premiere | Tribeca Festival, June 11, 2023 |
| Theatrical/VOD Release | October 27, 2023 |
| Streaming | Shudder (from January 26, 2024) |
| Running Time | 99 minutes |
Composer of Suitable Flesh
Steve Moore is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and film composer best known as one half of the synth duo Zombi, alongside drummer Anthony Paterra. Zombi’s analog-synth sound draws heavily on classic horror scores by Goblin and John Carpenter — a style Moore carries into his solo film work. He has scored several horror features for director Joe Lynch, and for Suitable Flesh he leaned into that retro synth palette to match the film’s deliberately ’80s/’90s erotic-thriller tone.
Where to Stream the Suitable Flesh Soundtrack
As of this writing, Steve Moore’s Suitable Flesh score has not been released as a standalone soundtrack album on Spotify or Apple Music, though Moore has said in interviews that a vinyl release has been discussed. You can hear the score in the film itself, which is streaming on Shudder and available for digital rental or purchase.
Cast of Suitable Flesh
- Heather Graham as Dr. Elizabeth Derby
- Judah Lewis as Asa Waite
- Bruce Davison as Ephraim Waite
- Jonathan Schaech as Edward Derby
- Barbara Crampton (who also produced the film) as Dr. Daniella Upton
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suitable Flesh a short film?
No. Suitable Flesh is a feature-length horror film running 99 minutes, not a short film. It premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival before a limited theatrical and VOD release on October 27, 2023.
What is Suitable Flesh based on?
The film is based on H. P. Lovecraft’s 1937 short story “The Thing on the Doorstep,” adapted for the screen by Dennis Paoli.
Who composed the Suitable Flesh score?
The score was composed by Steve Moore, best known as one half of the synth duo Zombi.
Where did Suitable Flesh premiere?
Suitable Flesh had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 11, 2023, and later screened at Fantastic Fest on September 24, 2023, ahead of its October 27, 2023 theatrical and VOD release.
Where can I watch Suitable Flesh?
Suitable Flesh is available to stream on Shudder, where it debuted on January 26, 2024, as well as for digital rental or purchase.
Related reading: browse more horror and thriller scores on our Movie Soundtrack hub, or see our Streaming guide for more on where to watch new releases.
(External Link: Suitable Flesh on Wikipedia)