Akhilesh C.
Movies are generally considered to be for entertainment. But what if a filmmaker is not intending to entertain you but rather shock you? We think a film’s ultimate goal beyond entertainment should be to reach inside the audience’s mind and change people’s thoughts. If it manages to do that, by our books, it is a successful film. Some filmmakers take a different approach to reach that goal: they make disturbing movies with the hope that they will help you confront the brutal realities of life. That said, here is the list of the best disturbing movies ever made.
27. Teeth (2007)
Grossly weird and unimaginable, ‘Teeth’ revolves around a teenage girl named Dawn, who has a rare (and fictional) medical condition called “vagina dentata.” She initially doesn’t realize it when it bites off the organ of a man having intercourse with her. However, she later understands that the condition makes her less vulnerable in a world of perverse male friends. Her next few sexual encounters end up bloodied, for all of them were forced upon her. When she visits a gynecologist, he, too, tries to take advantage of her. As a result, she bites off his fingers with the vaginal teeth. Soon, she starts using her condition for favors. With a rather funny and gory overtone, ‘Teeth,’ directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, boasts an original story. You can watch the film on Prime.
26. Hostel (2005)
A classic example of a disturbing movie, ‘Hostel’ follows three American backpackers, Paxton, Josh, and Oli, who are on their much-awaited European trip. As the trio enjoys their sex, drugs, and booze spree, they reach Amsterdam and meet up with a stranger who shows them pictures of a hostel in Slovakia with hot, sultry women of promiscuous nature and promises them the fun of their lives if they visit the place. The trio arrives at the hostel in Bratislava, Slovakia, only to find out that they were sold to a murder-for-profit organization called Elite Hunting, which hunts people of different nationalities and subjects them to bloody torture. Though there’s no story or logical thought surrounding the movie per se, if you’re a fan of gory movies with absurd levels of violence, then this is THE movie for you. You can rent ‘Hostel’ on Prime.
25. Mother! (2017)
The story of ‘Mother!’ begins in a simple, straightforward manner but turns into a nightmare after an inexplicable series of events. It begins with a couple – Him (Javier Bardem) and Mother (Jennifer Lawrence) – who have moved into a burnt-down but remodeled mansion. The man is a poet who aspires to be a big shot someday. The woman soon starts experiencing supernatural phenomena in the house.
When strangers start pouring in, much to her resentment and surprise, she discovers she is pregnant. As Him’s poem earns him accolades and acclaim, she becomes increasingly disturbed by the influx of people into her house. ‘Mother!’ ends on a weird, disturbing, inexplicable note. To find out for yourself, you can rent the film on Prime.
24. The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael (2005)
Thomas Clay’s ‘The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael’ revolves around the titular Robert Carmichael, a teenager who smokes weed and indulges in alcohol and sex the whole day with his friends in a confined dilapidated house in Newhaven. The session of ecstasy and drug overdose continues to the extent when drowsy teenagers forget what is right and what isn’t. That is followed by the rape of a teenage girl and an elderly woman, both of which are extremely disturbing in nature, executed by a bunch of semi-unconscious men. A movie without any moralistic boundaries, ‘The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael’ is not for the faint-hearted.
23. Hereditary (2018)
A recent addition to the list of all-time disturbing movies, ‘Hereditary’ is a horror film at the very outset and a pretty bone-chilling one at that. The movie revolves around a miniature artist, Annie Graham (Toni Collette), who lives with her family – husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), son Peter (Alex Wolff), and daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro). As Annie’s mother, Ellen, passes away, it is revealed that many members of Annie’s family suffered mental illnesses. Shortly after, Ellen’s grave is found dug up, and Annie starts to see Ellen’s spirit. Charlie dies in a car accident following an allergy, and Peter starts seeing Charlie’s apparition after. ‘Hereditary’ has a lot of jumps and scares and mind-boggling, unsettling, disturbing sequences that will keep you at the edge of your seat. You can rent the film on Prime.
Read More: Best Mind Bending Movies on Amazon Prime
22. Meet the Feebles (1989)
The weirdest and goriest movie directed by Peter Jackson, ‘Meet the Feebles’ is a dark comedy surrounding anthropomorphic puppets who are part of a performing troupe along with a bunch of actors with costumes. Heidi, the hippo, is the leading star of a show called “Meet the Feebles Variety Hour.” She soon finds that Bletch, her walrus lover, is cheating on her with Samantha, a cat. A series of insults, guilt, attempted rapes, adultery, and the so-called “struggle” for survival follow in this weirdly irritable cult movie which needs a cult audience for it to be likable.
21. The Woman (2011)
Lucky McKee’s ‘The Woman’ begins with a happy family, with Chris, a lawyer, as its head. During one of his hunting outings, he captures a feral woman who has had no contact with mankind as we know it. Chris confines her in the basement below their house and asks the family members to bring her to “normalcy.” Turns out, his family is a dysfunctional family wherein each member enjoys a particular method of torment or torture. While Chris’ son torments the woman by raping her, others have their own ways. The conclusion is equally bloody and nearly expected as it is. ‘The Woman’ got critical acclaim for its unique script and execution. You can watch the film on Prime.
20. Bite (2016)
A biological horror flick, Chad Archibald’s ‘Bite’ features Casey, a bride-to-be, who is returning from her bachelorette party. As it turns out, she has an insect bite on her waist, which she ignores for quite a while. However, she slowly begins showing the traits of insects. Soon, she starts laying eggs and transforms her house into a hive. Soon, there are preys who would give her their flesh in the form of food. Gore and ample bloodshed form part and parcel of this body horror, which is not for the faint-hearted. Although the movie was a failure, both critically and commercially, ‘Bite’ is still remembered for some of the most disturbing sequences ever filmed. You can watch it on Tubi.
19. The House that Jack Built (2018)
The Lars von Trier venture tells the story of a serial killer named Jack (Matt Dillon) and his “evolution” as a serial killer. The movie spans 12 years and depicts five really gruesome murders that showcase his rise as a vile, lecherous, and ”artistic” killer. ‘The House that Jack Built’ might not be Trier’s finest work, but it’s definitely one of the boldest films to have come out in recent times. You can rent it on Prime.
18. The Bunny Game (2011)
Adam Rehmeier’s ‘The Bunny Game’ is the story of a prostitute named Bunny who is doomed to the streets and is living a low-lying life. She is subjected to sexual abuse while begging her customers for money to satiate her desires of alcoholism and drug addiction. Enter Hog, a truck driver who is apparently an ex-serial killer, who kidnaps Bunny and restrains her in his truck. There begins a chain of events, including extreme mental, physical, and sexual torture that Bunny has to endure, something that will make you flinch multiple times. There comes a point when death is a cleaner way to go, and ‘The Bunny Game’ leaves no stone unturned to explore and exploit that limit. Watch this film if you want to be subjected to a viscerally intensifying yet captivating experience.
17. Sweet Movie (1974)
‘Sweet Movie’ is directed by Dušan Makavejev. It tells the story of two women: one is a nearly mute beauty queen, and another is a captain of a ship laden with candy and sugar. Both lure men and boys aboard for sex and death. The movie is way ahead of its time and, as expected, was trashed by critics. ‘Sweet Movie’ is not as disturbing as the others on the list, but it still is a tough watch. It is replete with visceral sex scenes, including rare sexual phenomena, killings, lust, and pedophilia.
16. The Skin I Live In (2011)
In honor of his late wife, who died in a flaming car accident, a scientist tries to synthesize the perfect skin that can withstand burns, cuts, or any other kind of damage. As he gets closer to perfecting this skin on his flawless patient, the scientific community starts growing skeptical, and his past is revealed, which shows how his patient is closely linked to tragic events he would like to forget. It is not a difficult film to watch but it certainly leaves you feeling disturbed. Featuring Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya in leading roles, ‘The Skin I Live In’ received numerous accolades due to the performances, editing, and cinematography. The film is directed by the iconic Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. You can watch it on Prime.
15. Midsommar (2019)
Starring Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor, Ari Aster’s ‘Midsommar’ follows Christian (Reynor) and Dani (Pugh), who are invited to a nine-day midsummer festival in Hälsingland, Sweden. Upon their arrival, the commune appears soothing and offers a much-needed break, but soon, it takes a bizarre shape as Christian and Dani are subjected to twisted rituals. Disturbing in a way that will earn it a place in your cinephile brain, ‘Midsommar’ is regarded as one of the best folk horror movies out there. You can watch the film on Max.
14. The Eyes of My Mother (2016)
Nicolas Pesce’s ‘The Eyes of My Mother’ follows Francisca (Kika Magalhães), a young lady whose complex relationship with her now-dead unstable surgeon mom has taken the shape of an isolation underscored by a taste for mutilation and death. As the film proceeds, we see how she copes with her trauma that is slowly turning her into a psychopath and her behavior more grim, much to our horror. The film is shot in black-and-white, adding to the feeling of macabre. A no-holds-barred portrayal of the darkness that the human mind can venture into due to childhood trauma, ‘The Eyes of My Mother’ is a must-watch. It can be rented on Prime.
13. Antichrist (2009)
A grieving couple retreats to a cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts that have resulted from the death of their infant son. Once in the cabin, the wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) becomes unhinged and starts to sexually violence the husband (Willem Dafoe) and herself. The Lars von Trier directorial is simply one of the most graphically disturbing movies ever made. With ample gore and visually uneasy sequences, ‘Antichrist’ is capable of turning your guts inside out. You can rent the film on Prime.
12. Oldboy (2003)
Park Chan-wook’s ‘Oldboy’ has brutal, gut-wrenching violence and gore, an uneasy protagonist, a shady antagonist, and incest. The story revolves around Oh Dae-Su, a businessman who had been wrongfully imprisoned for a period of 15 years without having any whereabouts of his captors. Once he’s released, he must seek his family while going through a whirlwind of things he couldn’t understand. Some bizarre, unwatchable scenes have been thrown in, including his live octopus-eating scene, which has a high chance of making you squirm. You can watch the film on Netflix.
11. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
A stunning cinematic masterpiece by Darren Aronofsky, ‘Requiem for a Dream’ depicts the dark and disturbing lives of four drug junkies and addicts – Harry, Tyrone, Harry’s mother, Sara, and his girlfriend, Marion. The film focuses on their individual desires and dreams that are ruined due to their dependency on drugs and the deplorable paths they take to overcome their problems. With scenes depicting oral sex and drug addiction, ‘Requiem for a Dream’ explores all possible avenues of addictive pleasure and pain, portrays them in a forlorn way, and rouses deep, empathetic emotions in between, all within a span of 90 minutes. The film can be streamed on Prime.
Read More: Best Mind-Fuck Movies on Netflix
10. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
‘A Clockwork Orange’ is a true masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick. It follows serial sex offender/pugnacious murderer Alex, who traverses from one place to another with his cohorts, raping women and hatching new plans for his delusional ventures. Caught by police and imprisoned thereafter, he is supposedly treated in prison by a Ludovico Technique involving an eye clamper that forces him to watch a couple of vicious movies a day. Post his treatment, Alex gives in when he pays for the crimes he committed. His own cohorts torture him after landing up at the same places where he committed those crimes. ‘A Clockwork Orange’ is a mix of hysteria, pain, sadness, and a potentially frightening future. You can rent the film on Prime.
9. I Spit On Your Grave (1978)
‘I Spit On Your Grave’ is a rare exploitation movie directed by Meir Zarchi. It follows young writer Jennifer Hills (Camille Keaton), who is raped brutally and left for dead by four men. She somehow survives and starts hunting them down one by one to exact vengeance. The sheer graphic brutality shown provides the film a stature of its own, one not praiseworthy but definitely worth remembering even if you don’t want to. You can watch ‘I Spit On Your Grave’ on Tubi.
8. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
The fact that Ruggero Deodato’s ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ remains banned even after 37 years of its release in some countries and is only available in a heavily cut version tells a lot about the film’s nature. Apart from being a landmark in torture porn, the film also revolutionized the found footage style, as it follows a documentary crew that goes to the Amazon rainforests to film cannibal tribes. Their unorthodox and brutal filming methods aren’t liked by the tribesmen, who then apply their own rules of revenge. You can watch it on Peacock.
7. Inside (2007)
Directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, ‘Inside’ is a story of motherhood gone gore. Four months after the death of her husband, a woman on the brink of motherhood is tormented in her home by a strange woman who wants her unborn baby. The film falls into the horror genre, and what makes it disturbing is the idea that a woman can go so far in her quest for revenge. ‘Inside’ showcases sequences that involve blood and gore surrounding the troubled life of a pregnant woman. The concluding delivery scene is especially unsettling to its core. You can watch ‘Inside’ on Tubi.
6. Funny Games (2007)
In the Michael Haneke directorial, two psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin. A sadistic game of cruelty follows with the bet that the captives will not be able to sustain themselves by the next morning. You keep watching the movie with the hope that, eventually, someone will escape the duo’s murderous intentions. Don’t be surprised if you feel very angry after watching this film. You can rent ‘Funny Games’ on Prime.
5. Martyrs (2008)
A young woman’s quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child sends her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity. There’s no question that ‘Martyrs’ is a brutally disturbing film to watch. However, it can also be looked at as a study of a psychologically damaged girl. It can be streamed on Tubi.
4. Irreversible (2002)
Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in Gaspar Noé’s ‘Irreversible’ in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex (Monica Bellucci) is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in the underpass. Her boyfriend and ex-lover take matters into their own hands by hiring two criminals to help them find the rapist so that they can exact revenge. The film is a simultaneously beautiful and shocking examination of the destructive nature of the human mind. It is also infamous for one of the most intense, gruesome sexual assault sequences ever filmed in the history of cinema.
3. The Human Centipede (2009)
In Tom Six’s ‘The Human Centipede,’ a mad scientist kidnaps and mutilates a trio of tourists in order to reassemble them into a human centipede, created by stitching their mouths to each others’ rectums. Possibly one of the most disturbing movies ever made and will ever be made, ‘The Human Centipede’ is unwatchable and deeply horrifying. You can rent the film on Prime.
2. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
There can rarely, if at all, be a more sickening and disturbing movie on misanthropy than ‘Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom’, which surpasses the greatest extreme pornographic acts of sodomy, coprophagia, and orgies. While flaying, leashing, anal intercourse, fondling, victimization, and objectification of men and women are ubiquitous in the Pier Paolo Pasolini directorial, what is extremely disturbing is the questionable sanity of the makers. Watching a group of 18 young men and women getting sodomized, mutilated, forced-fed with feces, humiliated, tortured, and killed by a group of corrupt Italian libertines is, in all probability, a horrifying experience that nightmares are made up of. The film is loosely adapted from Marquis de Sade’s 1785 novel (first published in 1904) ‘The 120 Days of Sodom.’
1. A Serbian Film (2010)
Srdjan Spasojevic’s ‘A Serbian Film’ follows an aging porn star who agrees to participate in an “art film” in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia-themed snuff film. Notwithstanding the idea of going back to what he did before, he tries escaping but all in vain. Showcasing newborn rape scenes, fellatio, bloodied genitals, and much more, ‘A Serbian Film’ stoops so low that it will make you question your morals while you watch it on Vudu.
Read More: Best Disturbing Movies on Netflix
