tidy sum of moving picture are right , clear - hearted fun . Maybe it ’s a family - friendly animated movie , the newest superhero action extravaganza , or a amorous comedy worthy of a date night with your substantial other . But not these motion picture . Not even close .
These movies all deal with the extremely dark and disturb subject matter . But that does n’t mean they should be ignore completely . Indeed , some of these movies are celebrated pieces of cinematic art , while others are relegate to the status of “ cultus classic ” in their particular literary genre . They do n’t all make this list for the same reason , though . Some are graphically red . Some display the absolute worst of humanity . Some are just twisted revulsion film that make you wonder if the writers and/or directors might secretly be consecutive killers in their gratis time .
Here are 20 moving-picture show that any cinephile should make time to watch out — but credibly only once .
20. “Schindler’s List” (1993)
We ’ll kick things off with " Schindler ’s List , " which is arguably the good film on this intact list . It did win Best Picture ( plus six other Oscars ) at the 66th Academy Awards , after all . Steven Spielberg ’s amazing film featured the real - life Oskar Schindler , a German businessman who relieve the lives of over 1,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by pass them jobs in his factories .
Originally only motivated by greed , Schindler is deep affected after witnessing several Nazi atrocities . Despite being a loaded and influential member of the Nazi Party , Schindler secretly makes plans to save as many lives as he can , blowing his entire fortune in the process . The movie is sinewy and aroused , but also a stark reminder of the ineffable evils that existed not even a century ago . In the remnant , Schindler is still forget feeling incredibly ashamed of his legal action , wishing he could have done more .
19. “The Woman” (2011)
" The Woman " is a profoundly troubling repugnance flick from 2011 , that is a sequel to the little - cognise 2009 movie " Offspring . " It stars Pollyanna McIntosh as a savage womanhood who is the last of her tribe , a group of cannibalistic human who has secretly roamed the North - East seacoast area of the United States for decades . When she is found and captured by Chris , a local attorney , whose intentions to civilize her are ab initio realize as noble , all infernal region break loose .
It turn out that the attorney and his family have rich , dark secret of their own , including a sadistic Logos ( Brian ) and a girl ( Peggy ) who is deathly afraid of her beginner . Oh , and they keep an eyeless girl cage in up in their b . So , there ’s that too . When Chris ’ assay to civilize the woman become more and more violent , including sexually violate her , she begins to agitate back after Peggy takes a chance and free her . The follow view include a crowd of gory cannibalistic murders . The film has been praised for examining the misogynous substance abuse of society , as well as what we all consider to be “ normal . ” Still , we ’re not anxious to watch this one again .
18. “The Human Centipede” (2009)
OK , this picture is n’t really good at all . But somehow , with its pathetic plot of a crazy medico performing flagrant experiment on kidnap tourists , it became a act of a pop culture phenomenon . It was even spoof on " South Park " and became pop enough to spawn two separate ( and as bad ) sequels .
If you ’re not cognisant of the plot of land , buckle up for this weirdness . Dr. Heiter surgically attaches three people , mouth - to - anus , to constitute one single digestive track aka the human centipede . He then tries to train it as his pet , even though all three humans are in dreadful agony and on the brink of dying . It ’s truly despicable , and we only suggest you watch it if you truly want to be a master of all things pop culture , no matter how quirky or strange . If you do plan to watch it , just try not to spue . Maybe have a garbage bucket on hand , just in pillowcase .
17. “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
Mel Gibson ’s religious undertaking became the highest - grossing roentgen give away motion picture of all - time when it was relinquish in 2004 , before finally being sweep over by 2016 ’s " Deadpool . " While you might not mean a movie about Jesus Christ , the central figure in Christianity , could bring in itself such a harsh valuation from the MPAA , anyone determine the moving picture rapidly see why it was adults only .
The picture lie of watching Jesus ( Jim Caviezel ) get excruciate to death for two hours , including a cringe - suitable lashing scene , a blooming crown of thorns , and well , bally everything else . Some critic went as far as calling it a boundary line sniff film . Whether you ’re religious or not , this film is hard to see .
16. “The Last House on the Left” (1972)
The late Wes Craven became know as a master of repulsion , creating both " The Nightmare on Elm Street " and " Scream " repugnance series . Long before that , though , he made his directorial debut in 1972 with " The Last House on the Left " ( which was also open a modern reboot in 2009 , but we ’ll ignore that version for now ) . It was classified as an “ exploitation repugnance film ” and result many viewers feel unbalanced to their stomach .
The chronicle involves four loose convict viciously excruciate , raping , and at last killing a pair of teenage girls . The aggressor then coincidentally end up the house of one of the girl ’s parent , who find out what they did . At this point , the movie turns into a twisted revenge tale , as the balmy - mannered parent use sadistic and violent tactic to mangle the yard bird . The flick was heavily censor by theaters and even banned in the U.K. for many year . Since digital technology was n’t available at the fourth dimension , many different reading of the movie terminate up exist as different cinemas literally curve out ( as in , cut the film swag with scissor hold and tap it back together ) the scene they refuse to show . Some of the most debasing and troubling scenes have been almost lost forever as a effect .
15. “Maniac” (2012)
Elijah Wood will probably forever be best do it for dally hobbit Frodo Baggins in the " Lord of the Rings " trilogy , but he has chosen some dark and disturb function ever since successfully destroying the one ring to rule them all . In 2005 , he had a small part in Frank Miller ’s " Sin City " as a cannibalistic serial killer named Kevin . In 2012 , he read it to a whole other level starring in the slasher pic " Maniac . "
Wood play Frank , a mentally ominous man who is traumatized by year of look out his female parent work as a prostitute . After his female parent dies , his already - broken percept of women , relationships , and sexual desire take a violent turn for the sorry . He begins hit woman by scalping them and attaching their hair to mannikin . If that were n’t surd enough to watch , the entire motion picture is shot in first - person - view through the eye of Wood ’s case . You only see his nerve in mirrors and other reflective surface , making the witness finger like they are part of the violence in a unique ( and unsettling ) way .
14. “Hostel” (2005)
Director Eli Roth rise to renown after releasing " Hostel " in 2005 . It ’s a farinaceous horror film that helped to really popularize the term “ torture porn ” among pic fans . The plot follows a pair of tourists in Europe who are convert ( seduce ) by a pair of women to come to remain in a Slovakian hostel . Once there , they actualise that it ’s actually a front for kidnapping tourist and then selling them off to be torture and wipe out by rich businessman , who practice the violence as an outlet for their stress .
While the total concept is already disturbing enough , Roth endure to great length to ensure viewers watch over gory torment scenes , include one victim having her face disfigured by a blowlamp . It seems the entire purpose of the cinema is just to see how far Roth could push the brutality of these scene . It spawn a twain of sequels , despite being hard knock by the Slovakian government for the elbow room it portrayed their country .
13. “I Spit On Your Grave” (2010)
This moving picture had a braggy wallop on the industry as a whole . The storyline is very basic , as Jennifer , a New York City writer , lease a rural cabin to solve on her debut novel , only to be brutally ring - raped by four local men , who thought they leave her for stagnant . Jennifer survives , though , and embarks on a violent journeying of revenge , sometimes using sexuality as bait before she kills her assaulter in a sort of ugly ways .
It ’s an victimisation film in the bad of shipway , but it start a broader conversation about security review when it was banned in some areas . Others have compare Jennifer ’s story to the ascension of feminism ( it was released in 1978 ) since she ended up being the sinewy grinder of the story after spending the first part of the film being torn down and destroyed . " I Spit on Your Grave " was remade in 2010 , and that reboot spawned several sequels , but none of them are as disturbing at the original .
12. “Audition” (1999)
" Audition " is a Nipponese horror film about a midway - aged widowman who is finally convinced to start dating again . His friend , a movie manufacturer , excogitate a cute whatchamacallit where womanhood can “ audition ” for the part of his new lady friend / wife . The first one-half of the movie is almost a reality show - similar clowning until a character by the name of Asami wins the role .
Asami turns out to be an preoccupied and sadistic serial killer . The movie quickly shift from idle - hearted romantic comedy to a vicious torture film , involve needle and forte-piano conducting wire . Despite the hard - to - watch fit , the movie is in the main well - stag by fans and critics , who praise its beautiful cinematography and well - acted roles . Critics , however , merely tag the 1999 movie as “ torture porn , ” which is fitting since Eli Roth quote " Audition " as one of his influence in making the grim repulsion movie " Hostel . "
11. “The Orphanage” (2007)
" The Orphanage " is a Spanish repugnance film that might more accurately be key as depressing , rather than disturbing . irrespective , it have plenty of jump off scares and an ending so emotionally draining that you ’ll never desire to go through it again .
The patch involve a couple name Laura and Carlos opening a facility for handicapped nipper in an vacate orphanage , along with their dramatize Logos Simon . When a prying social proletarian name Benigna come out dig around , things get unearthly . Simon goes missing , and the tragical history of the building and those inside it slow gets revealed . And then , ghost children . Yes , ghost tyke . Without giving it all away , the termination does n’t go well for anyone , and viewers are left swallowing intemperately render to make sentiency of it all .
10. “Hard Candy” (2005)
Ellen Page bristle into tonic civilization relevance when " Juno " was let go in 2007 . However , the movie she starred in two years in the first place was not a offbeat approaching of age story . In " Hard Candy , " Page plays a 14 - yr - sure-enough girl ( she was just 18 at the time ) who lures a sexual marauder ( played by Patrick Wilson ) back to his star sign to torment him , both physically and psychologically .
After restrain him , she jeopardise to amateurishly castrate him . She stays one step ahead of the furious deviant , finally wedge him to make aSaw - similar decision : place suicide or she will give away all the dingy little secrets to his syndicate , protagonist and girlfriend . In the film ’s sexual climax , the hearing learns that she ’s already done this at least once before .
9. “Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)
" Cannibal Holocaust " is a peculiarly infamous film since its film director Ruggero Deodato was get and charge with obscenity when it was first released in 1980 . The film , a horror film about a radical of cannibalistic natives in the Amazon rainforest , was so realistic that it was rumored to be a legit snuff picture show and Deodato had murder direction total to his name . He was forced to produce the actors who had “ break ” in the motion picture in a court to essay they were still alive .
This was one of the first “ found footage ” films , dart to expect like an American film crew had stumbled across something awful while make a infotainment . The picture show contains graphic Brassica napus scenes and fell violence , which looked shockingly real considering the particular core engineering available at the time . Deodato also shoot the ( genuine - life ) killing of several animals for scenes in the picture , sparking further scandalization . The marketing for the film suggested that the footage was legit ( much like " The Blair Witch Project " would do decade later ) , adding to the controversy .
8. “Teeth” (2007)
This sounds like every homo ’s bad incubus . " Teeth " is a 2007 black comedy / horror film starring Jess Weixler . It features a sheltered and virginal character named Dawn , who discovers that her trunk has a unusual defensive mechanism when she is date - raped . If you had n’t guessed from the name of the picture show , she realizes that she has an extra set of teeth in a very unusual spot .
It ’s a mostly slaphappy picture and is very suspicious in parts . It ’s also very cringe - induce to watch a bunch of guys have their computer software slice up off by a cause of death vajayjay ( even if they deserve it ) . The film premiered at Sundance in 2007 , and Weixler even won an award for her role .
7. “Requiem For a Dream” (2000)
" Requiem For a dreaming " is like a 90 - minute prostate specific antigen against the dangers of drugs and addiction , except that it ’s way more intense than anything you ever saw in high schoolhouse wellness class . This Darren Aronofsky celluloid , establish on the Hubert Selby Jr. novel by the same name , involves four main characters who become more and more heroic as they move around a downward spiral into addiction and chaos .
We wo n’t give away their fates , but answer to say that all four characters finish up in dark , desolate places — both mentally and physically . Aronofsky uniquely bourgeon the film , using extremely short close - ups which help the witness bribe into the panic that the characters start to experience . Particularly hard - to - spotter scenes include Harry ( Jared Leto ) attempt to shoot heroin into his septic arm and Marion ( Jennifer Connelly ) resorting to prostitution to feed her growing dependance .
6. “The Machinist” (2004)
Christian Bale has had many great use over the class and might be best know as play musclebound Bruce Wayne / Batman in Christopher Nolan ’s " The Dark Knight " trilogy . Right before he get into the cape and the cowling of DC Comics ’ most famous hero , he starred in a much smaller and much more disturbing moving picture .
Made for just $ 5 million , " The Machinist " star Bale as Trevor Reznik , a man who suffers from severe insomnia and other psychological problems . Bale starved himself to face the part , and the result is gruesome . He looks like a skeleton get into a Christian Bale peel suit . The game of the movie adds to the ghostliness , as Reznik ’s paranoia and hallucinations continue to work up in uncanny scene that eventually conclude with the Apocalypse of a major tragedy . It ’s a compelling picture , but also depress . One sentry is more than enough .
5. “8mm” (1999)
Unlike a lot of the movies on this list , " 8 millimetre " is not a repulsion movie or a psychological thriller . It ’s a pretty basic crime play , star Nicolas Cage as Tom Welles , a private investigator given an specially gnarled assignment . A affluent widow finds a disturbing porn video in her deceased married man ’s dependable , that appears to depict a material - liveliness murder . Cage ’s character reference is charged with figuring out whether it ’s an elaborated shammer or the tangible thing .
Orson Welles plunge headfirst into the world of unlawful adult video and finally realizes the horrible truth . The TV is real , and the new lady friend was murdered on camera for the meager price tatter of $ 1 million , just for the amusement of some ultrarich sicko . As Welles tag down those responsible ( which include a great performance from the late James Gandolfini as a squalid pornography producer ) , he begins to learn the true depth of evil that even the most average of humankind can succumb to . Even with the perpetrators all ending up stagnant by the end of the pic , it does n’t feel like Justice Department was served . There ’s no glad ending here , just that empty smell in the pit of your abdomen .
4. “Funny Games” (2007)
This quirky psychological thriller is just violence for the sake of violence . Writer and director Michael Haneke have hold as much , sound out he congeal out to make an incredibly violent but otherwise pointless film . Mission carry out !
The plots centers on a pair of men who take a family hostage and torture them with a series of sadistic games . It uniquely feature one of the adult male ( Paul ) routinely break the 4th wall and speak directly to the audience about his action . He winks at the tv camera before charge atrocious acts , and even explicate their brief disappearance from the picture as nothing more than a plot twist to build dramatic play . Unlike most revulsion movies , " Funny Games " does n’t feature a solitary survivor or a lone hoagie . The two Man finally vote down the family of three ( and their dog ) , then it ’s revealed that they had previously done the same at a neighboring star sign , and the picture ends with them knocking on the doorway of yet another family , continuing their murder spree . The audience is left with that skin - crawl flavour of hopelessness as the credits revolve .
3. “Irreversible” (2002)
No less a motion-picture show expert than Roger Ebert had this to say about " Irreversible " : “ [ It ’s ] a movie so violent and savage that most people will find it unwatchable . ” And yet , it get ahead the Best Film award at the 2002 Stockholm International Film Festival . On the other hand , it also shock viewers at the Cannes Film Festival , cause many of them to leave the theater in disgust .
The flick itself consists of 13 prospect , point in rearward chronological parliamentary procedure . That mean that nothing you see make sensation until you watch the next scene , and so on until the movie terminate with the offset of the storey . The movie features a prolonged , intense rapine scene of actress Monica Belluci and some beastly violence toward the death of the story ( which is shown at the rootage of the movie , remember ) . As if that was n’t controversial enough , the plastic film was criticized for its offensive depiction of gay men . It ’s an interesting film , especially the way it ’s gift in rearward guild , but still , one that you wo n’t likely want to watch a second time . Or peradventure a first .
2. “Straw Dogs” (1971)
" Straw Dogs " is a Graeco-Roman 1971 psychological thriller by music director Sam Peckinpah , starring Dustin Hoffman as David Summer , an American mathematician who motivate to a distant town in the U.K. to live with his new wife , Amy . alas , the town locals are n’t very impressed that this “ outsider ” has conjoin one of their own . A chemical group of men , admit Amy ’s ex-wife - boyfriend , harass and restrain the couple until things step up into a in writing rape vista .
The trauma suffered by Amy creates obvious tension in the marriage . It continues to give out down up until the culmination of the picture , where an angry crime syndicate storms the Summer household in an effort to get to Henry Niles , a mentally handicapped man who is believed to have committed a brutal crime . At this point , the formally nerdy and non - confrontational David goes full Rambo , defending his house with a crew of makeshift weapons , resulting in multiple unrelenting deaths . Then he abandon his wife and repulse off with a grin , apparently content with his fierce outburst .
1. “A Serbian Film”
If you could n’t make it through the previously mentioned " 8 mm " without wanting to throw up a little , do n’t even bother with " A Serbian Film . " It ’s another film about the dark-skinned world of clandestine and trigger-happy porn , but on steroids and dialed up to 11 . Here ’s the short version : A retire male porn star is positive to amount back for a big - money last film , only to discover that the director is make a snuff motion-picture show filled with incestuous , pedophilic and necrophilic scenes .
This matter is very punishing to watch , and it includes gory and vivid shots of rape , murder , and child abuse . The film was shun in eight dissimilar commonwealth , and the music director was enquire by the Serbian government for a crime against intimate morals and offence related to the protection of minor league . Despite the controversy , the film has received praise for its acting and writing . American film critic Scott Weinberg maybe said it best in his review :
