So I went through a phase a few years ago where I felt I had watched every good horror available and decided to turn my attention to disturbing films. I think I’ve watched all the worst ones imaginable and wish I could un-watch some of them. I’m interested to know what people have watched and deemed the most disturbing films ever.

My top three would be: Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom (1975), A Serbian Film (2010), and Aftermath (1994, it’s a short). That shit will stick with you forever!

A Serbian Film would certainly be up there in my list, personally, I'd include Men Behind the Sun and Murder Set Pieces to name a couple that stand out, oh and Pretty Woman - terrifying to suggest to young girls that prostitution is a great career choice

I find the memory of Irreversible pretty irreversible.

I accidently came across a site the other day: movies that made audiences sick and I was looking at Salo - thought this was interesting and sad:

John Waters is a big fan. "Salò is a beautiful film," he has said. "It uses obscenity in an intelligent way...and it's about the pornography of power." Tragically, director Pier Paolo Pasolini was murdered shortly after the film's release.

Pornography of power? Puhlease... Murdered?

Hmm, think I'll choose my subject matter carefully.

P.S. How were you to live with during this phase of yours?  

Quoted from AnthonyCawood ... oh and Pretty Woman - terrifying to suggest to young girls that prostitution is a great career choice

Now that's funny.

A Serbian Film was a bit of a let down for me honestly. Everything looks just so...fake. It's hard to take a movie seriously when dildos are being passed off as penises. Even worse, the political metaphors surrounding the film are laughably forced.

Salo, on the other hand, might be the most disturbing film I've ever seen. And I think that has something to do with time. There's something about that film that feels intrinsically evil (even though I don't believe in any of that nonsense) and the fact that it was made in the 70's makes it even worse. Truly indescribable.

I would argue that one of the most disturbing scenes of all time can be found in Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer. Stellar film with a scene that makes the viewer feel dirty.

Also, you can't leave Martyrs (the original, not the remake) out of the discussion. Super fucked up and one of the best horror films ever made.

Quoted Text P.S. How were you to live with during this phase of yours?

An absolute delight I imagine haha. They’re just the worst 3, there were many, many more.

Salo was the hardest to find in a subtitled, original language film. Found a dubbed copy but it was so bad. I think I still dream about it.

Some titles that I haven’t actually seen... hmmm.

Quoted Text Salo, on the other hand, might be the most disturbing film I've ever seen. And I think that has something to do with time. There's something about that film that feels intrinsically evil (even though I don't believe in any of that nonsense) and the fact that it was made in the 70's makes it even worse. Truly indescribable. I would argue that one of the most disturbing scenes of all time can be found in Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer. Stellar film with a scene that makes the viewer feel dirty. Also, you can't leave Martyrs (the original, not the remake) out of the discussion. Super fucked up and one of the best horror films ever made.

Agreed on all three counts.

Not so much with A Serbian film, still so wrong.

I liked Martyrs until they make THE discovery and then I thought it descended into psuedo arthouse crap, it is french though so maybe that's to be expected

I think Irreversible takes the cake. Salo, second. No need to revisit either for years.

Sorry to say I haven't seen any of these films mentioned. I gotta look some of these up.

Though I will say, non horror, Kids was one of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. That one stuck with me and is still there.

Any nude footage of Jeff that leaked onto the Net would be up there in the top 5...

Quoted Text I think Irreversible takes the cake. Salo, second.

Wow, really?

Irreversible has had a few mentions, not sure it even makes my top 5.

Quoted from albinopenguin A Serbian Film was a bit of a let down for me honestly. Everything looks just so...fake. It's hard to take a movie seriously when dildos are being passed off as penises. Even worse, the political metaphors surrounding the film are laughably forced.

Agreed 100% on A Serbian Film. Funnily, it had the production value of an actual porno (and not in a good way.) I had mostly the same qualms I have with Tom Six's work and stuff like Philosophy of a Knife -- is it not enough to just make fucked up movies for the joy of it? Why do all these filmmakers try to pretend they're making some super-challenging, important art? It's a weird paradox where people make their bread and butter on super-gory movies but also think they're above that kinda shit.

Honestly, while I loved Salo and Irreversible (which earn the classification of "challenging and important masterpieces"), I never found them, or anything on those "most disturbing movies" lists to be that disturbing. Maybe I'm just too jaded.

I was also disappointed in Martyrs, although I can understand where the hype comes from.

Quoted Text Agreed 100% on A Serbian Film.

Again, really?

This is a movie that has a guy raping a newborn that is still attached to its mother.

1) How is that not disturbing and,

2) How real do you want it to look? It’s not satisfying your realistic looking newborn rape scenes criteria?

And yes if none of those disturbed you, you are clearly jaded.

Quoted from Warren Again, really? ... 2) How real do you want it to look? It’s not satisfying your realistic looking newborn rape scenes criteria?

Made me laugh. Desensitization occurs you watch enough of this stuff.
But, 'It's just a movie' never works for me. For that reason I'll give this one a wide berth!