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!

Obviously said very tongue in cheek, but still.

And different things will disturb different people, but I really don’t get not being affected by these movies. We’re talking the worst of the worst here.

Quoted from Warren Again, really?

I agree that I'm jaded, but there is a difference between disturbing things in real life and a scene in a movie. You're aware it wasn't real, right?

Quoted from Warren very tongue in cheek

Ah! Human Centipede?  

Quoted from stevie Ah! Human Centipede?

  . Ewwwwww!

Couldn't watch that.

Crooked, they make it look real, that's the point, hence my 'it's just a movie' comment earlier. That's null and void for me at least, cause everything, especially these days, looks very realistic.

The Human Centipede 2. When he spanks it with sandpaper. Had to try it... It doesn't feel as good as it looks

And I once saw a clip of god killing himself from a movie called Begotten. It was defs something I could go the rest of my life without watching again

Quoted from Warren Wow, really? Irreversible has had a few mentions, not sure it even makes my top 5.

Honestly, it's hard to come up with a definitive film (I may have forgotten a few), but I can say that I find Irreversible at least more disturbing than any of the other films mentioned so far, except for the three I haven't seen (A Serbian Film, Man Behind The Sun, Murder Set Pieces), and that, along with Salo, I consciously avoid watching it. I expect I'll revisit both at some point, but I can't imagine watching either too many times in my lifetime.

In the case of A Serbian Film, I don't know how graphic it is, but I think the whole idea of "newborn porn" is so obvious and forced, I have to question the intentions/ability of the director. Supposedly, the film is intended to represent (from a metaphorical standpoint) what it's like to live in Serbia. If that's the case, I think it fails, because nobody who talks about A Serbian Film talks about Serbia, even tangentially. I figure a lot of the content is just so outrageous, it eclipses whatever supposed social commentary is behind it. I can't imagine a competent director wouldn't have considered this, unless of course there is no social commentary, in which case it's all just shock for the sake of shock.

Again, though, I haven't seen the film. I expect I'll watch it at some point when I've got a convenient means to do so. It wasn't available for a while and isn't supposed to be much good, so I'm in no rush.

The Exorcist

Quoted from eldave1 The Exorcist

You and I don't seem to agree on much, but I'm with you here. The Exorcist is an amazing movie on all levels. Scary and intelligent with lots of questions to be answered. Disturbing as hell.

As a horror lover, I've seen most of the films mentioned so far. However, none has stayed with me, so I guess they weren't that disturbing after all. IMHO, if there's no story to pull me in, I just can't get engaged no matter what. None of the "most disturbing" I'd want to watch again, but I'll wath the Exorcist every single time it's on.

A Serbian film was not interesting at all to me. I bailed early mostly because I couldn't give a damned about that I had seen so far. I also have no interest in seeing a baby being raped , so even when knowing it was just a movie, it just made me sad. There was a case in India recently where a 35 year old raped a baby for two hours. Horrible!!!!! Horrible!!!! Not what I want to see as entertainment.

Maybe because I'm getting older, but if the story is not there, I'll bail. I don't seek out movies solely to be disturbed/upset.

And as far what takes the cake in stomach turning stuff 2Girls 1 cup takes the cake. Don't remember who brought it up here first, but, I'd like to slap that person.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Maybe because I'm getting older, but if the story is not there, I'll bail.

I feel you. As someone who watches a lot of films, and has even made a few, I have a hard time being effected by super edgy imagery for the sake of it. I think that's my problem with A Serbian Film, and a lot of other "disturbing" movies -- they just aren't engaging as movies, so it's hard for me to see something like the newborn scene as anything other than a bunch of guys on a film set with a fake baby.

Also, I'm disappointed by how underrepresented Cannibal Holocaust is in here. That's a film that, to me, is the best possible marriage of shock value and great filmmaking.

Totally agree about Cannibal Holocaust, only reason I didn't list it was because it wasn't in my personal top 3 most disturbing.It's definitely on the list though.

I laughed when I first watched the Exorcist. I've never been religious, was actually raised an atheist so I've never been bothered by demonic possession films. It could never actually happen, so what's there to be afraid of?

I also don't watch films that set out to shock. I can be more shocked by straightforward drama than a load of blood and make-up. When executed in the right way, two people having an affair can be shocking... even disturbing. I prefer real story. If it's just a bunch of images because some arty-farty director can't tell a proper story or hire a real screenwriter to do it for them, then I'm out.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I've never been religious, was actually raised an atheist so I've never been bothered by demonic possession films. It could never actually happen, so what's there to be afraid of?

I was raised atheist too in a pretty much atheist country. IMO, that doesn't mean I can't watch things I don't believe in. I don't believe in zombies, but I liked The Walking Dead. I don't believe in vampires, but I loved Coppola's Dracula...and so on.

Now this will sound really weird, especially to religious people. But, since I never went to church growing up or as an adult even, other than weddings and funerals type events churches have a completely different meaning to me than most people. I've always loved horror movies ever since I was a kid and watched the old black and white ones. Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde scared the hell out of me when I was 10! Not that I'm THAT old, but it was the first time I saw it.Later on in the sixties and seventies there were a lot of horror films where religion, especially catholicism, played a big part. Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, The Exorcist and such. These films had a big impact on me and because of them, being around 10 at the time, I actually started to associate churches and religion with scary stuff. I still do. I stay away from churches. I find them really really creepy. When I tell my American friends this, thay usually stare at me like I'm from another planet...or insane.  


Btw Dustin, love that avatar. What a gorgeous little girl. Guess what, I was happy to have a grandson on the way, but then my daughters caught up to their brother and now there are three of them on the way!!!

Quoted Text You and I don't seem to agree on much, but I'm with you here. The Exorcist is an amazing movie on all levels. Scary and intelligent with lots of questions to be answered. Disturbing as hell.

Hey - common ground.

I would also add Tubular Bells is one of the most compelling music/sounds in a movie. To me it ranks right up there with the theme from JAWS. The moment you hear it - well, you're in the moment.

Requiem for a Dream and Fatal Attraction.

Both too close to the bone for comfort.

I watched the Exorcist when I was like 7 or 8. Caught it on TV by accident one night. Scared the shit out of me.

Now, I don't find any movies scary or disturbing. I know I'm watching a movie so I can't get into it enough to feel much emotion.

Quoted from Angry Bear When I tell my American friends this, they usually stare at me like I'm from another planet...or insane.

That's not insane at all. Churches are creepy. The outsides are all foreboding with that Gothic architecture. Then you get inside and it's dark with candles and whispered voices. Not to mention a guy nailed to a cross staring down at you.

Oh and the threat of eternal damnation. That's terrifying.

Quoted from MarkItZero Oh and the threat of eternal damnation. That's terrifying.

And, if you're a young boy, of being arse raped by the priest.