THE following is a list of the most disturbing films I have seen.
These are films that challenge not just the emotions and senses but the mind as well.
Contrary to what you might expect, only a third are pure horror films.
Yes, films like Hostel, Frontier(s), High Tension, Audition, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I Saw The Devil are disturbing to watch, but they don’t shake you to the core like many of these. They are first and foremost desiigned to scare and entertain.
There are others that I have not seen, such as Salo and Cannibal Apocalypse, and probably will never see for one reason or another.
Many other films scare you in the moment and might be full of gore, but in the end they’re just created out of plastic, rubber, dye or visual effects.
I’m talking about the films that have you still thinking about them weeks, months, sometimes years later. Films that you think long and hard whether to even watch again.
There are two Australian films on this list of 18 – Snowtown from 2010 and The Nightingale from last year, 2019 – and four on the list were directed by women.
There is one film – A Serbian Fim – that I do not recommend watching under any circumstances.
Be warned, while all bar a couple are very well made and have solid artistic merit, they are tough to watch for many and varied but legitimate reasons.
A Clockwork Orange (1971, British, Stanley Kubrick). Examining the value of punishment and incarceration on crime, this film is now mainly disturbing in its themes but includes a sexual assault scene that still shocks. Viewer warning level: 6/10
Act of Killing (2012, British/Danish, Joshua Oppenheimer). This documentary shocks in its verbal descriptions of violence during Indonesia’s dark past, but its conclusion does offer some hope for humanity (I think). Viewer warning level: 6/10
Crash (1996, Canadian, David Cronenberg). A drama about people getting sexual gratification from vehicle accidents and death that wobbles along the very fine line between social commentary and pure shocks. There were walk-outs when I saw this for the first time at the cinema. Viewer warning level: 8/10
Exorcist, The (1973, American, William Friedkin). Still one of the most disturbing and frightening horror films ever made. A film that has caused people to question their faith…or lack of. Viewer warning level: 7/10
Funny Games (1997, German, Michael Haneke). Few film-makers explore the nature of evil better than those from Germany and Denmark. There were also walk-outs during this fil at my first watch. Viewer warning level: 7/10
Happiness (1998, American, Todd Solondz). Paedophilia is just one of the subjects explored, but the key scene is disturbing and heart-breaking. Viewer warning level: 7/10
Holiday (2018, Danish, Isabella Eklof). Rarely seen and a slow burn, apart from one notorious sexual assault scene that defies belief. Several walk-outs occurred at my cinema screening following this scene. Viewer warning level: 9/10
House That Jack Built, The (2019, Danish, Lars von Trier). If he wasn’t such a brilliant film-maker, von Trier would struggle to get funding for his intense, disturbing and nightmarish work. Viewer warning level: 9/10
Irreversible (2002, French, Gaspar Noe). A story told in reverse that I recall made the notorious rape and death scenes even more disturbing…if that’s possible. Viewer warning level: 9/10
Human Centipede II, The (2011, Dutch, Tom Six). Whatever Dutch director Tom Six says his motive is, the reality is pure intention to shock and revile. Viewer warning level: 9/10
Martyrs (2008, French, Pascal Laugier). Martyrs asks the ultimate question: ‘What happens when I die?’ You will have to get through a lot of trauma to see if it’s answered. Viewer warning level: 9/10
The Nightingale (2019, Australian, Jennifer Kent). This story of our nation’s dark past is compelling, violent, frightful and sad…as it should be. Viewer warning level: 8/10
Raw (2017, French, Julia Ducournau). I saw this cannibal horror film at a Toronto Film Festival midnight screening and a young student in my row fainted and had to be stretchered out. Viewer warning level: 8/10
Requiem for a Dream (2000, American, Darren Aronofsky). The horrors of addiction are laid bare in this astounding film. Viewer warning level: 7/10
Serbian Film, A (2010, Serbian, Srdjan Spasojevic). DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM. Viewer warning level: 10/10
Snowtown (2012, Australian, Justin Kurzel). The most disturbing Australian film ever made, mainly because the events it depicts could have happened next door to you. Viewer warning level: 8/10.
Straw Dogs (1971, British/American, Sam Peckinpah). In its time this was one of the most controversial films ever widely released and still includes some very troubling scenes. Viewer warning level: 7/10
We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011, British/American, Lynne Ramsay).Perhaps more than any other on this list, an important film that deserves to be seen. Viewer warning level: 7/10