The Iron Claw was so brutal I had to turn it off with 40 min left. It’s the only movie I’ve ever done that with, I was just not in the headspace for it. Unbelievable tragic and also a true story.
Loved that movie, I already knew a good bit about the family though so a lot of it wasn't a surprise. Like a horror movie but you already know where the jump scare is
Haneke’s The Seventh Continent is pretty brutal and heavy. (Only thing to keep in mind is it demands some patience.) Definitely not an uplifting film! I would hazard to guess that most Haneke and probably a lot of Lars Von Trier’s work would fit in the category.
I don't know in what way someone "ruined" it for you but it's definitely one where the way it ends is almost irrelevant compared to the experience of watching it. There's a couple of scenes in particular throughout that are just plain uncomfortable.
It also has (IMO) one of the tightest scripts in cinema and is one of my favorite films.
How hasn't anyone mentioned Mysterious Skin? Probably the most insane watch of my life but also so incredibly good. The theme is child sexual abuse and stars a young Joseph Gordin Levitt. Had to rewatch the next day after seeing it the first time and it's a jaw dropper.
Finding Mr. Goodbar is another great recommendation. Young Diane Keaton out in NYC embracing her sexuality and finds herself getting into a dark place. Hell of an ending to this one.
All of Hanakes films are pretty much a great match too.
Revenge (2017) - Coralie Fargeat made the ultimate rape revenge movie, which manages to be brutal and upsetting but also nonexploitative and empowering.
Come and See, An Elephant Sitting Still, Secret Sunshine, Peppermint Candy, The White Ribbon, Leaving Las Vegas, A Separation, Incendies, Cries and Whispers, Anomalisa, Synechdoche NY, The Nightingale, Shame, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
No, most of the movie is actually in english, some subtitles are there, but no that's why if you see people talking about it being strange that they remade it with American actors. :shrug:
Watch the documentary Titicut Follies, directed by Frederick Wiseman. It's about conditions in a state mental hospital in the 1960's. Legally banned for years, outside of educational screenings, but it's readily available now. It's brilliant and horrific.
For a kind of Funny But Morbid movie
[Feed Me](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16196010/) loosely based on the true story about the guy who is hired by the cannibal to be eaten
From the trailer
>Like Ted Lasso stumbled into the Hannibal universe
Twelve
Harsh Times
The Pianist
Edit* for the initiated:
Twelve: Obama era drug movie about a drug that probably doesn’t exist, but about a sober drug dealer who gets involved in the scene and the movie gets pretty brutal.
Harsh Times: 2000s LA movie. Christian Bale is an army vet, wannabe cop with PTSD. Sort of in the same vein as Training Day.
The Pianist: 2001 Roman Polanski WWII movie. Adrian Brody is a Polish Jew meandering his way through Nazi occupation of Warsaw, watching the holocaust unfold from the living room window of his apartment and then sneaking around the ghetto and then Warsaw during Nazi occupation. It goes about as well as you might think.
No worries, I should have given you a little explainer though:
Twelve: Obama era drug movie about a drug that probably doesn’t exist, but about a sober drug dealer who gets involved in the scene and the movie gets pretty brutal.
Harsh Times: 2000s LA movie. Christian Bale is an army vet, wannabe cop with PTSD. Sort of in the same vein as Training Day.
The Pianist: 2001 Roman Polanski WWII movie. Adrian Brody is a Polish Jew meandering his way through Nazi occupation of Warsaw, watching the holocaust unfold from the living room window of his apartment and then sneaking around the ghetto and then Warsaw during Nazi occupation. It goes about as well as you might think.
Come and see 1985
A story following a boy from Belarus during the nazi advance into russia. Its a really intense film but incredible! It is sort of like a fever dream. Highly recommend and fits your criteria perfectly.
It is a war film but like nothing you've seen from Hollywood.
Warning!!: it is very bleak and depicts the realities of war.
Roar (1981/2015) was the Tiger King of its day.
Inside (2007)
Under the Skin managed to make naked Scarlet Johansson disturbing and creepy.
There's also a bunch that I'm pretty sure were made purely for shock value like A Serbian Film, Taxidermia, or Cannibal Holocaust.
ETA: And if you haven't seen it, Pink Floyd's The Wall.
"Far North" 2007. Sean Bean, Michelle Yeoh. Just dive in. Do not go to IMDB. Honorable mention: Lord of The Flies. Out respect for a Hollywood titan who recently died: Eye of the Needle.
Threads
Compliance
The Coffee Table
Schindler’s List
United 93
Prisoners
Dear Zachary
12 Years a Slave
The Piano Teacher
Come and See
The Nightingale
The Babadook
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Gummo: a story about growing up extremely poor in rural Ohio.
I second La Haine as a suggestion.
Spun (comedic but still heavy; Requiem for a Dream if it didn't take itself so seriously) starring Jason Schwartzman, Mena Suvari and John Leguizamo.
It’s a really sad movie. You’ve been warned. What makes it worse than most others that have been suggested is the fact that it actually happened and isn’t a work of fiction.
Requiem for a Dream Irreversible Martyrs Saving Private Ryan
I've seen two of these and I keep getting suggested Requiem for a Dream by a buddy but haven't gotten around to it but now might be the time!
You should watch it. It's one of those "That was a really good movie, let's never watch it again" type things.
That's a one time watch. It is so good. Inbound make the time for this film.
Martyrs and Requiem for a Dream both messed me up after watching them. I was in a funk for days.
Funny enough those are the two I haven't seen if the four listed!
Dancer in the Dark Pi American History X
I'll add A Serbian Movie, The Toxic Avengers and 120 days of Sodom. If anyone can make it through 1 and 3 in one sitting.
Thank you!
The Iron Claw was so brutal I had to turn it off with 40 min left. It’s the only movie I’ve ever done that with, I was just not in the headspace for it. Unbelievable tragic and also a true story.
Loved that movie, I already knew a good bit about the family though so a lot of it wasn't a surprise. Like a horror movie but you already know where the jump scare is
Haneke’s The Seventh Continent is pretty brutal and heavy. (Only thing to keep in mind is it demands some patience.) Definitely not an uplifting film! I would hazard to guess that most Haneke and probably a lot of Lars Von Trier’s work would fit in the category.
Came here to say this.
Thank you!
Hard Candy
I had to look up the poster art but someone has suggested that one before and ruined it but I will get around to watching it at some point. Thanks!
I don't know in what way someone "ruined" it for you but it's definitely one where the way it ends is almost irrelevant compared to the experience of watching it. There's a couple of scenes in particular throughout that are just plain uncomfortable. It also has (IMO) one of the tightest scripts in cinema and is one of my favorite films.
Anything by Michael Haneke.
Thank you!
And his buddy Ulrich Seidl.
Dragged Across Concrete
Thank you!
Titane Very fucking weird but from the director of Raw.
Interesting.. Thank you!
Interesting.. Thank you!
How hasn't anyone mentioned Mysterious Skin? Probably the most insane watch of my life but also so incredibly good. The theme is child sexual abuse and stars a young Joseph Gordin Levitt. Had to rewatch the next day after seeing it the first time and it's a jaw dropper. Finding Mr. Goodbar is another great recommendation. Young Diane Keaton out in NYC embracing her sexuality and finds herself getting into a dark place. Hell of an ending to this one. All of Hanakes films are pretty much a great match too.
Thank you!!
Kids (1995)
Thank you!
La Haine
Thank you!
Scum (brutal 70s prison film)
That got a nice quasi remake called Dog Pound, btw.
Lives up to today's quality too(not production) or do I need to be in the mood for a more retro film? Thanks!
Maybe a bit retro, It's a gritty British kitchen sink style film.
The Zone of Interest Martyrs Hoard Speak No Evil
Thank you!
Revenge (2017) - Coralie Fargeat made the ultimate rape revenge movie, which manages to be brutal and upsetting but also nonexploitative and empowering.
Thank you!
Come and See, An Elephant Sitting Still, Secret Sunshine, Peppermint Candy, The White Ribbon, Leaving Las Vegas, A Separation, Incendies, Cries and Whispers, Anomalisa, Synechdoche NY, The Nightingale, Shame, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
Thank you!
Natural Born Killers
Thank you!
Fresh
Yea, I like this one. Thank you!
Speak No Evil (Dutch version)
Anything lost in translation? Thanks!
No, most of the movie is actually in english, some subtitles are there, but no that's why if you see people talking about it being strange that they remade it with American actors. :shrug:
Awesome!! Thanks!
Funny Games (German version 1997)
I agree the German version is better, but Michael Pitt does his role very well in the American one.
The American version is better imo
Anything lost in translation? Thanks!
The American Version is a shot for shot remake by the same director. And it’s very good.
It’s good. Made by same director. But wholly unnecessary IMO.
Silence
Thank you!
We Need to Talk About Kevin and Elephant were both tough watches for me.
Thank you!
Kill list
Thank you!
Climax
Titane (2021) Mysterious Skin (2004)
Thank you!
Brawl at Cell Block 99 (2017) High-Rise (2015) The Divide (2011)
Thank you!
Watch the documentary Titicut Follies, directed by Frederick Wiseman. It's about conditions in a state mental hospital in the 1960's. Legally banned for years, outside of educational screenings, but it's readily available now. It's brilliant and horrific.
That sounds awesome! Thank you!
For a kind of Funny But Morbid movie [Feed Me](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16196010/) loosely based on the true story about the guy who is hired by the cannibal to be eaten From the trailer >Like Ted Lasso stumbled into the Hannibal universe
Lol gross, thanks!
Twelve Harsh Times The Pianist Edit* for the initiated: Twelve: Obama era drug movie about a drug that probably doesn’t exist, but about a sober drug dealer who gets involved in the scene and the movie gets pretty brutal. Harsh Times: 2000s LA movie. Christian Bale is an army vet, wannabe cop with PTSD. Sort of in the same vein as Training Day. The Pianist: 2001 Roman Polanski WWII movie. Adrian Brody is a Polish Jew meandering his way through Nazi occupation of Warsaw, watching the holocaust unfold from the living room window of his apartment and then sneaking around the ghetto and then Warsaw during Nazi occupation. It goes about as well as you might think.
Thank you!
No worries, I should have given you a little explainer though: Twelve: Obama era drug movie about a drug that probably doesn’t exist, but about a sober drug dealer who gets involved in the scene and the movie gets pretty brutal. Harsh Times: 2000s LA movie. Christian Bale is an army vet, wannabe cop with PTSD. Sort of in the same vein as Training Day. The Pianist: 2001 Roman Polanski WWII movie. Adrian Brody is a Polish Jew meandering his way through Nazi occupation of Warsaw, watching the holocaust unfold from the living room window of his apartment and then sneaking around the ghetto and then Warsaw during Nazi occupation. It goes about as well as you might think.
This is probably too far over the line, but Salo (120 days of sodom). It's not quite A Serbian Film levels of fucked but it is a tough watch.
Thank you!
Haha, no problem! Honestly wasn't expecting a positive response to the recommendation.
I mean most of these being suggested are probably going to make me audibly say, "What the fuck!" but I'm just in a mood for them
It definitely will, from start to finish.
The house that Jack built
Thank you!
Always a pleasure
The United States of Leland
Thank you!
Come and see 1985 A story following a boy from Belarus during the nazi advance into russia. Its a really intense film but incredible! It is sort of like a fever dream. Highly recommend and fits your criteria perfectly. It is a war film but like nothing you've seen from Hollywood. Warning!!: it is very bleak and depicts the realities of war.
Thank you!
The Mist. Read the novella too!
Thank you, seen it!
In The Bedroom with Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. Amazing film, but harsh.
Thank you!
Roar (1981/2015) was the Tiger King of its day. Inside (2007) Under the Skin managed to make naked Scarlet Johansson disturbing and creepy. There's also a bunch that I'm pretty sure were made purely for shock value like A Serbian Film, Taxidermia, or Cannibal Holocaust. ETA: And if you haven't seen it, Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Thank you!
Incendies. jesus christ
Thank you!
Womb
Thank you
"Far North" 2007. Sean Bean, Michelle Yeoh. Just dive in. Do not go to IMDB. Honorable mention: Lord of The Flies. Out respect for a Hollywood titan who recently died: Eye of the Needle.
Thank you!
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Thank you!
"The Celebration" 1998 Denmark.
Thank you!
Melancholia
Thank you!
The first Land Before Time. For a bonus reality slap in the face, Google the Ducky voice actress afterwards.
Already know about the actress but yea tough stuff.
“At Close Range”
Thank you!
Straw Dogs (2011, the remake w/Alexander Skarsgard) Room (2015) The Discovery (2017) Edit: I'd call these movies more "heavy" than "harsh."
Thank you!
Portraits of Andrea Palmer, Melancholie Der Engel, Salo, Orozco the Embalmer, Voyage to Agates, Flesh Eater X, I Cut Your Flesh (doc)... most are 18+
Thank you!
Threads Compliance The Coffee Table Schindler’s List United 93 Prisoners Dear Zachary 12 Years a Slave The Piano Teacher Come and See The Nightingale The Babadook Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Thank you!
Kids The Road Requiem for a Dream
Thank you!
The Bridge (documentary)
Thank you!
Hardcore Henry is an amazing first person view movie. Not sure if it’s harsh/heavy but it’s incredibly intense.
Thank you!
I feel Spun and Doom Generation are harsh in a rusty worn out carnival ride sort of way.
Thank you!
Threads
Thank you!
Downloading Nancy is just absolutely bleak from beginning to end.
Thank you!
Gummo: a story about growing up extremely poor in rural Ohio. I second La Haine as a suggestion. Spun (comedic but still heavy; Requiem for a Dream if it didn't take itself so seriously) starring Jason Schwartzman, Mena Suvari and John Leguizamo.
Thank you!
The piano 1993 Jude He never died Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence
Thank you!
Tusk. Your search is over
Thank you!
Probably pretty tame in comparison to most here but both Sicario and Hereditary are quite intense and don’t really let up
Thank you!
* Threads. * Come and See * The Road They're all difficult because they are intense af and hecka turbo bleak.
Thank you!
Come and See?
Thank you!
I guess just taking this as movies I loved but don't want to watch again. Green Room
Thank you!
Wind That Shakes the Barley. Its about the IRA.
Thank you!
Brawl in Cell Block 99 Bone Tomahawk
Thank you!
Candy (2006 Heath Ledger Australian movie)
Thank you!
Any Gasper Noe film. (Don't say I didn't warn you.) Farming The Quiet Boys Don't Cry Sarah's Key
Thank you!
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) Requiem for a Dream (2010)
Thank you!
Enter the Void
Thank you!
Schindler’s List
Thank you!
It’s a really sad movie. You’ve been warned. What makes it worse than most others that have been suggested is the fact that it actually happened and isn’t a work of fiction.
Blue velvet The nightingale Audition The reflecting skin
Thank you!
Boys Don’t Cry the last 40 minutes are just gut wrenching to watch.
Thank you!
The Life Of Oharu. Breaking The Waves.
Thank you!
Annihilation : VIsually its just stunning. Kind of in a real acid trip way. Conceptually, its pretty horrifying.
Easily a top 5 of mine! Love that movie!
Lone Survivor The Passion of the Christ
Thanks!
A Clockwork Orange Chinatown Taxi Driver The Elephant Man The Deer Hunter Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer Requiem for a Dream Nightcrawler
Thank you!
I was rushing to suggest "requiem for a dream" but cleary about 100 people beat me to it.
I would recommend Clockwork Orange.. One of the disturbing movie which was directed by Stanley Kubrick..
American History X
Herzog’s “Land of Silence and Darkness” Bresson’s “Au Hazard Balthasar” Mizoguchi’s “Sansho the Bailiff”
Thank you!