Most Disturbing Movies Ever Made

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Just what ARE the MOST DISTURBING MOVIES ever made?

November 18th 2009 23:59

I was at a private “grindhouse” double-feature screening last night (I’ll review the two movies in the very near future), and during the discussion and online research following the screenings we discovered a smart little movie site called Green Cine (Better Living Through Cinema) and a definitive, and obviously opinionated list of The 25 Most Disturbing Movies which had been compiled and commented on by Simon Augustine.

It’s a pretty impressive list, I must say. I've seen three-quarters of it, and the ones I haven't seen I’m well aware of their notoriety. Nearly all of the titles are available on DVD, although some would be hard to find, and a few are still banned in several countries (including Australia). I’ve only reviewed a clutch of them; I'll endeavour to review the others in the coming months.

It takes a lot for a movie to truly disturb me. Some movies have provided genuine shocks, whilst others have upset me emotionally. So what exactly is the criteria that makes a movie disturbing? I have already tackled this topic in an earlier post. According to Simon Augustine the canon of disturbing cinema are the most disgusting, terrifying, upsetting, gory, profane, irreverent movies ever made; basically movies that indulge in extreme violence and/or depravity, and/or thematic elements and tone that are overwhelmingly heinous; movies potentially ruinous to our well-being. Or as Simon so eloquently puts it: “Does this movie make me want to throw up? Do I feel like a worse person having watched this drivel? Do I feel significantly less optimistic about human nature after having been subjected to it? Also counted: level of feigned or sincere ignorance of good taste.”

As I said earlier it’s a potent nightmarish and transgressive selection of movies from the past forty-odd years likely to ruffle the most jaded sensibilities, however there were a few curious inclusions on the list that had me musing. Were there any glaring absences? Perhaps. After viewing the extensive collection of titles which belonged to the host of last night’s Argentinean double-whammy screening I was privy to numerous underground movies I’d never heard of that looked like perfect fodder for consideration.

Here is Simon Augustine’s list, which rather frustratingly (and oddly) is missing #18 (I’ve left Green Cine a comment, so that they’ll rectify the error; does it mean Simon Augustine has to re-jig his entire list? Hopefully I’ll get an answer soon.)

The 25 Most Disturbing Movies (currently in existence):

1. Irreversible (2002)
2. Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
3. Last House on the Left (1972)
4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
5. The August Underground trilogy:
August Underground (2002)/Mordum (2003)/Penance (2007)
6. Requiem for a Dream (2002)
7. TIE: Aftermath (short) (1994)/Flowers of Flesh and Blood (1985)
8. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
9. Forced Entry (1974)
10. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
11. The Devils (1971)
12. Pink Flamingos (1972)
13. I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
14. Emanuelle in America (1976)
15. Kichiku: Banquet of the Beasts (1997)
16. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
17. Bad Lieutenant (1994)
18. ???
19. Funny Games (1997)
20. Blue Velvet (1986)
21. Entrails Come Out at Night (1980)
22. Maniac (1980)
23. Possession (1981)
24. Men Behind the Sun (1987)
25. Cutting Moments (short) (1997)

To read Simon Augustine’s introductory article, complete commentary on all the movies listed and his (dis)honourable mentions click here

The burning question now is; what movies would I include in my own Horrorphile list? The quick answer is: I need more time to debase my mind.

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: lists

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Comments

26 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Quin Goot

November 19th 2009 03:27

Cinema Banana

Haha. Cool topic Bryn. I'll look out for a couple of these, but I don't think I will delve too deeply, for sanity's sake.

Comment by Bryn

November 19th 2009 05:33

Horrorphile

Quin, your sanity would be most certainly tested by several or more of these nasties

Feel free to delve deep into the Darkness whenever you feel ready ...

Comment by David O'Connell

November 19th 2009 06:28

Screen Fanatic

I've only seen 10 of these Bryn, but I wouldn't begrudge Irreversible the top spot. The rape scene and the guy getting his head caved in at the club are pretty extreme stuff.

Noe's I Stand Alone isn't far behind - the guy beating his pregnant wife and then the plans he has for his daughter in the end.

The extra yards Cristian Bale covered for The Machinist were pretty disturbing too.

What about Gummo: disturbing or disgusting? Still can't formulate an appropriate response to that one.

Perhaps the best one though: the final moments of The Wicker Man - very disturbing! Such a vivid, horrific scene when you see it for the first time. Resonates like few others.

Comment by Bryn

November 19th 2009 11:55

Horrorphile

David, yeah, what Christian Bale did for The Machinist was disturbing ... I suppose the other extreme to what Robert De Niro did for Raging Bull ...

I hated Gummo. It didn't disturb me, it just annoyed the crap out of me.

Comment by Anonymous

November 19th 2009 18:07

I have a most disturbing films list as well, as well as most disturbing 'moments' in film. I will have to post them on my blog soon

Comment by Cinema is Truth

November 19th 2009 18:09

oops, that anonymous comment was me.

Comment by Bryn

November 19th 2009 20:49

Horrorphile

Sarah, I look forward to seeing your lists ... Did you check out my earlier post, which dealt with scenes/moments?

Comment by Anonymous

November 23rd 2009 17:28

You've got to check out, "Martyrs". The first half of the movie I thought I could even share it with my wife... that thought quickly went away the further I got into the movie.

Comment by Bryn

November 24th 2009 01:45

Horrorphile

Anon ... I reviewed Martyrs here. It gets a (dis)honourable mention at the end of the list made by Sean Augustine, along with several other French flicks including Inside and Frontiere(s) ... I wasn't as disturbed by Martyrs as I anticipated I would ... But it might possibly make my own complete list.

Comment by Anonymous

November 24th 2009 05:37

u forgot the movie 'hard candy' ! that was disturbing

Comment by Bryn

November 24th 2009 06:36

Horrorphile

Anon, I didn't forget anything ... The post is focusing on a list compiled by Sean Augustine, I haven't offered my own list as of yet ... I agree Hard Candy is a disturbing movie, and may very well make my own list. I actually have yet to review it ...

Comment by ZombiFreak

November 24th 2009 17:13

I think the only thing that really tends to disturb me are intense rape scene's in movies alot of which are on this list. Blood,guts and gore don't disturb or bother me but i'm (sic) like that. I think I Spit On Your Grave was the most disturbing in my opinion just for that fact alone ALTOUGH the ending where she just tears the guys apart was truly satisfying.

Comment by Anonymous

November 24th 2009 17:45

What do you guys think of "Audition"? Piano wire gives me the shivers...

Comment by Bryn

November 24th 2009 21:35

Horrorphile

Anon, Takashi Miike rocks. I'ved reviewed Audition (my fave), Ichi the Killer, Imprint, Gozu, Crows: Episode 0, and Sukiyaki Western Django.

Comment by Anonymous

November 24th 2009 21:46

Thanks for sharing Bryn! I need to write some of those down and check them out!

Comment by Bryn

November 24th 2009 22:04

Horrorphile

Tis the pleasure of my nightmares

Comment by Geomon

November 24th 2009 22:25

Bryn, I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of "Antichrist".

Comment by Bryn

November 25th 2009 00:03

Horrorphile

Geomon, I'm seeing Antichrist tonight, so will aim to review it for tomorrow's post

Comment by Anonymous

November 29th 2009 01:19

You should add 'Martyrs', 'Frontiers', 'Grotesque', and 'Inside' to this list. They are much more disturbing than a few of the films listed, they were difficult films to finish watching to be honest. If you haven't seen them, you should check them out because they belong on this list.

Comment by Bryn

November 30th 2009 00:42

Horrorphile

Anon, I've seen, reviewed, and own all of them on DVD, but haven't heard of Grotesque. You can enter any movie title into the search window on the upper left hand side of my blog and you'll find I've reviewed most movies ...
Also if you re-read the post you'll notice that it's not my personal list of most disturbing movies, but a list compiled by a writer called Sean Augustine.

I provided a link to an earlier post of mine where I discussed disturbing scenes in movies.

Comment by Anonymous

December 15th 2009 09:59

Umm, Begotten?

Comment by Bryn

December 15th 2009 20:50

Horrorphile

Anon, yes Begotten is awesome ... probably a little too abstract and arthouse to seriously disturb me, but powerful film nevertheless.

Comment by The Blue Yonder

December 18th 2009 22:08

Bryn,

The missing number #18 should go up in the next couple of days on GreenCine. thanks for bringing it to my attention! There was a comment I left for you over there about the reasons for the omission. Check it out if you get a chance!

-Simon Augustine

Comment by Bryn

December 19th 2009 01:52

Horrorphile

Hi Simon, cheers for stopping by, and thanks for letting me know of the re-instated #18 (I own the Criterion Collection DVD of Sweet Movie also, but have yet to watch it!)
I couldn't find your comment re: reason for omission, are you able to provide me with a direct link?
As you can see there are numerous reviews I still need to do! I'll get there eventually, there's only so much time one can spend in the Darkness before the skin starts to turn an unsightly hue ...
Hope to see you around this neck of the woods again some time.

Comment by Anonymous

January 23rd 2010 06:51

I think Begotten's abstract quality is what made it so horrendously disturbing. I won't be able to remove those images from my head. It had that quality of non-pinpoint accuracy in what one is seeing sometimes that really mimics the feeling of a nightmare. The jumps from non-concrete images to starkly more vivid ones is certainly notable.

Comment by Bryn

January 23rd 2010 07:19

Horrorphile

Anon, yes, Begotten is a unique film indeed. cheers!

[ Previous - THE MOST BLOOD-CURDLING, SHADOW-FEARING VAMPIRE FLICKS EVER! ]

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