25 Of The Most Disturbing Movies Ever Made (That You Probably Shouldn’t Watch)

Some things are better left unseen. So you should really think things through before watching these highly disturbing films mentioned on Ask Reddit.

Unsplash, Martin Wessely
Unsplash, Martin Wessely

1. The Act Of Killing

“There’s nothing more surreal than watching mass murderers and rapists walk around freely, laugh about their crimes, be interviewed on television, and then act out their crimes. It’s honestly the most disturbing and affecting thing I’ve ever seen.” — bigben42

2. Cannibal Holocaust

“Nothing like raping a woman while she is being pulled apart. This movie was disturbing as shit.” — DetectiveClownMD

3. Irreversible

“Everything about that movie is goddamn disturbing… I mean everybody’s heard about the brutal rape scene — and trust me, it is brutal — but even the opening scene is somebody getting their face smashed in with a fire extinguisher. In a gay S&M club. And not to spoil too much but it gets even sadder on an emotional level by the time the credits roll. Nothing about that movie wasn’t scarring.” — i_can_drumz

4. Funny Games

“Either version. In fact, watch both if you like the first one you check out. The second is a near perfect shot for shot remake of the first only in English. I couldn’t say which I like more. The whole point of the film is that the antagonists aren’t tormenting the protagonists, they’re tormenting you the viewer. Great, great movie.” — Sykotik

5. The Poughkeepsie Tapes

“Watched it with a bunch of friends back in high school. One girl was so disturbed that she cried through most of it. When it ended, we were all silent for a long time. Then we binge watched The Office until we felt better.” — Diet–Coke

6. Antichrist

“This film is beautifully twisted and will stick with you. Without giving it away, there is a mix of grief, sex, misogyny, gore, witchcraft, satanism, brutality, and Mother Nature. Oh… and Lars von Trier.” — KaiserSoze95

7. A Serbian Film

“The guy rapes his damn son. Needless to say, I promptly turned it off. I won’t even go into specifics about the baby scene…” — momstacosrock

8. Dogtooth

“I wasn’t sure that incest could get any weirder than its definition. I was wrong.” — TheVich

9. Deliverance

“When I watched Deliverance I had no idea that scene was coming, I’ve never really ever been affected by a movie like that one.” — BrownMeowMachine

10. A Clockwork Orange

“Watching it wasn’t so bad for me. But after watching, I kept thinking about it and it became more and more disturbing the more I thought about it. Freaky movie.” — Eman9707

11. The Strangers

The Strangers was a very disturbing film to me. Not because it was terrifying or anything, but because the situation was realistic. They picked your house and killed you just because you were home. Now, the situations that the main characters got themselves in over and over, well that was just frustrating.” — Boomshakalaka89

12. Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer

“It’s a very surreal movie made on a very small budget that was absolutely astonishing. It’s got some scenes that make you want to shed your own skin. Watch it, and you will understand.” — sempiturtle

13. Exorcist.

“I know it’s a commonly stated movie, but I hate possession movies, something about the idea of being in your own body but being controlled by something else, just really fucks with me. That and the fact that it was a child, so wrong.

I read the book and it wasn’t bad but the movie just kinda stays with you. I’ve only seen it once, never again.” — lilappleblossom

14. The Holy Mountain

“Jodorowski’s The Holy Mountain left me confused, uneasy, and just the right amount of disturbed.” — SmokingPopes

15. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

“The ending. Holy shit. It will stay with me forever.” — BlackCaaaaat

16. The Hunt

“The fact that could happen to anyone (well any male) and your life is destroyed.” — [deleted]

17. The Philosophy of a Knife

“‘The true history of Japanese Unit 731, from its beginnings in the 1930s to its demise in 1945, and the subsequent trials in Khabarovsk, USSR, of many of the Japanese doctors from Unit 731. The facts are told, and previously unknown evidence is revealed by an eyewitness to these events, former doctor and military translator, Anatoly Protasov.’

It’s basically a long description and re-enactment of all the insane and fucked-up things the Japanese did to POW’s in WW2, and its 4.5 hours long.

Basically un-watchable.” — adamjeff

18. The Mist

“Stephen King’s The Mist. That ending… It was rough.” — RaisedByACupOfCoffee

19. We Need To Talk About Kevin

“Seeing the psychology behind a school shooter and their motivation, sibling abuse, and the parents lack of control.” — Sanctified_

20. Hotel Rwanda

“Watched that in high school. The scene where the road is foggy and he sees all the bodies. Left a room full of dumb 17 year olds totally speechless. Plenty of tears.”  — angrypotato1

21. Jesus Camp

“The magnolia documentary about evangelical christian ministry. I don’t know how anyone can watch that film and not be severely unsettled.” — mysterion_

22. The Girl Next Door

“One of the few movies I had to stop watching, watching it with friends probably didn’t help.” — the_salmon

23. Atonement

“I bawled like a baby. Watched it because it won the Oscar for picture of the year or something. Never felt so depressed.” — IndieGal_60

24. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover

“Sadism and cannibalism, FTW.” — knoks

25. Dear Zachary

“It essentially made me lose faith in life.” — Pastafarianphile Thought Catalog Logo Mark

Holly is the author of Severe(d): A Creepy Poetry Collection.

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