There are always the best films that are labeled as films that we must watch because they are good. As die-hard film connoisseurs, some of us always watch classic and latest movies as a worldly achievement.
Some end up as your favorite films of all time, which will always make you come back to watch without getting bored. But there are also some of the best disturbing films for which we are grateful; at least we’ve watched it once in a lifetime.
Here are a series of disturbing films that may traumatize the audience and feel uncomfortable, but it’s a shame to miss them. Accompanied by warnings and reasons why it is worth considering watching.
Warning: for mature audiences only!
1. Raw (2016)
“Raw” is a French thriller drama film that was quite trending when it was first released. Tells the story of a vegetarian teenager who goes to veterinary school. After trying meat for the first time, He found another desire in him that He should not have felt.
“Raw” is a cannibalism-themed film. If you could choose three words to describe this film; gore, sensual, and artistic. Not a cannibalism film that overexploits gore content, the plot of “Raw” is very high quality with good story development. Actually, this film can be classified as a coming-of-age drama, only the protagonist in this story has a ‘special’ puberty story.
Content Warning: cannibalism, gore, violence sex.
2. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
“Requiem for a Dream” is one of the films that is classified as a cult classic in its own scene. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Ellen Burstyn, and Marlon Wayans.
Tells the story of a group of young people who have a dream of a better life. Unfortunately, life just pulled him into the worst possible scenario they could experience.
“Requiem for a Dream” is a disturbing film that will traumatize the audience. The plot in this life drama film will only get worse until the end of the story. The worst scenario in life with the best narrative. Maybe after watching this film, we can think more wisely before ruining our own lives.
Content Warning: drugs, mental illness, paranoia, self-destruction, disturbing sex.
3. The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Quite similar to “Requiem for a Dream”, “The Basketball Diaries” is a disturbing film with a self-destructive plot. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a basketball star with the potential to have a bright future. But after falling into the abyss of drug addiction, he begins to lose everything. DiCaprio’s youthful acting is one of the reasons why this film is worth watching.
Just like “Raw”, this film raises a gloomy coming-of-age story, but what makes it more uncomfortable is the scenario is more realistic. Films like this are quite persuasive by showing bad consequences when someone uses illegal drugs.
Content Warning: drugs, self-destruction, disturbing sex.
4. The Platform (2019)
“The Platform” is a Spanish film that we can watch on Netflix. Tells the story of a young man who voluntarily wants to be imprisoned in a ‘platform’. A special prison with an unusual design. Where the shape is like a multi-story building with many levels, with a food delivery platform every day from top to bottom.
Do not watch this disturbing film while eating because it contains disgusting scenes. More than just a prison with a crazy concept, “The Platform” is a perfect example of how the world works. If we talk about social inequality, the social level in society, and how all these misfortunes should be minimized.
Content Warning: gore, gross, cannibalism.
5. Mother! (2017)
“Mother!” is classified as an arthouse film, one with content that makes the audience uncomfortable. This disturbing film is also directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem.
A woman lives with a man who is always busy writing his story. Their calm began to be disturbed when a group of uninvited guests continued to arrive, plus the woman was pregnant.
There are many religious symbols to be conveyed by Aronofsky in “Mother!”. Represented as a raw and explicit arthouse work that can actually be understood, but with a brutal metaphor.
Content Warning: gore, gross, paranoia.
6. Audition (1999)
“Audition” is an iconic thriller that is an international cult classic. Tells the story of a widower who is looking for a new wife candidate through a special ‘audition’. He also fell in love with a beautiful woman, Asami. However, it turns out that Asami is not the same woman he assumed from the audition.
“Audition” is included in the subgenre of the film torture gore. The film directed by Takashi Miike is indeed a Japanese film but meets the characteristics of a French extremity film. Because it contains a sequence of sadistic scenes, combined with violence and sexual content that is not natural.
Content Warning: gore, violence, body mutilation, sex harrasment, sadomasochistic.
7. Teeth (2007)
“Teeth” is a film that at first glance sounds strange and shallow, but surprisingly presents a unique concept. Adapted from the legend of the ‘vagina dentate, a myth that warns men to be careful with unknown women, let alone think about raping them.
The “Teeth” scenario could be one that provides another perspective on the issue of promiscuity and sexual harassment. The majority of the media always says that women must take care of themselves. “Teeth” becomes a warning dark comedy scenario; maybe sometimes men have to be careful too. This disturbing film may be more terrifying for male audiences.
Content Warning: gore, torture, sexual assault, disturbing sex.
8. The Schindler’s List (1993)
“The Schindler’s List” is the best World War II drama film by Steven Spielberg. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a businessman from the Nazi party who employed many Jews to avoid being sent to concentration camps to be tortured. Watching moments like this, war films like “Schindler’s List” can be a spectacle that makes us feel uncomfortable.
This film perfectly (and painfully) shows the brutality inflicted when war breaks out. Weak people are discriminated against, and children are neglected and killed. Even with black-and-white visuals, this film still feels very explicit.
Content Warning: war violence, child abuse, graphic violence.
9. Downfall (2004)
“Downfall” is a war film about Adolf Hitler’s final moments in the bunker, where he hides when he is on the verge of defeat. This film shows the chronology of Hitler ending his life and the end of World War II. Hitler and his followers had an unusual way of accepting defeat. Actions they consider a form of patriotism and devotion to the end. Although they must be willing to commit suicide to poison their own children.
“Downfall” is a very dark and gloomy disturbing film. But who is not curious about the final moments of the worst tyranny in history?
Content Warning: war violence, suicide, child abuse, graphic violence.
10. Buried (2010)
“Buried” is a suspense thriller film starring Ryan Reynold. A Hollywood actor who has been seen more often in comedies these days, but “Buried” could be the most gruesome film in his filmography.
A truck driver wakes up in a dark, cramped crate. He also realized that he was being buried alive. Race against oxygen, cell phone batteries, and other threats, he must be able to save himself.
This film can be traumatic, making those of us who were previously not afraid of tight spaces become paranoid. We may also not watch the film a second time because the plot is quite simple but captivating the first time we watch it.
Content Warning: claustrophobia
