Admit it. You love it when you watch a film that sits with you for hours, even days after. Your stomach twists and turns, you cover your eyes but peek through your hands because you can’t miss a minute. You get that strange internal shudder that goes down your spine all the way to your toes. Your mouth tastes slightly off afterwards.
Yes, I love a good ol’ sick movie. Not necessarily scary as in jump-scares. More like scary as in could-this-really-happen-cos-if-it-did-I-would-never-sleep-again. The most disturbing horror movies have a range of characteristics; while some are stomach-churning with oozy visceral goodness, some are mentally disturbing that leave you questioning the sicko who actually came up with the film’s concept. I know when I find a movie disturbing because I get a headache from frowning so much and I get the walkabouts. Here are the ones that particularly resonated with me – for all the WRONG reasons.
10. Dread
‘Dread’ is an interesting, thought-provoking movie; it follows a group of college students making a documentary about the things people dread most. It’s a relatively slow film but quite enjoyable… that is, until the scourer scene pops up. In short, one of the girls in the film has a dark purple birth mark that covers one side of her body and after being humiliated, attempts to use a scourer and a bottle of bleach to ‘clean’ her body. That scene alone really messed with my head.
9. Deadgirl
Hmmm… interesting is all I have to say for this one. Oh, ok, I’ll give you a summary. So this film is about a group of high school boys who discover a woman in an abandoned mental asylum who is literally unable to die. Bound to a hospital bed, the boys’ hormones get the better of them and they proceed to experiment (in a number of different disturbing ways) with the woman. It is quite disgusting and creates a lot of questions about morals and integrity. Worth a look but not for the weak stomached.
8. The Woman
Similarly to ‘Deadgirl’, ‘The Woman’ once again has a woman help captive for a multitude of disturbing reasons. However, Jack Ketchum’s film is centered around a seemingly family man who discovers the last remaining member of a wild clan of people. He attempts to ‘civilize’ her by chaining her up, however he is unaware of the effect this woman is having on his family. The film is violent and brutal, yet quite an interesting piece of social commentary. This fact doesn’t make it any less disgusting. I get quite squirmy when people are not ‘normal’; any deformities that are created for the purpose of sheer horror really make me feel quite ill. I have recently added Ketchum’s ‘The Girl Next Door’ to my Quickflix queue, so I’m interested to see where that would’ve ended up on this list.
7. Funny Games
Not to be confused with the Naomi Watts remake of the same name (which also stands solidly on its own), ‘Funny Games’ is an eerie German movie about a family who is tormented by a couple of sick neighbours while on holiday. This is one film you definitely feel the need to watch with one eye closed; not for the scare factor, but because it is quite horrific in a totally different way. The thing that makes this film so disturbing is not only that it could truly be a possibility, but the lack of remorse and the sheer pleasure the tormentors get out of their sick games will burn a hole into your mind.
6. House of 1000 Corpses
I like Rob Zombie’s music and his films are quite good. This one, being his first, still churns my stomach to this day. I first watched this movie as a teenager and while it wasn’t particularly scary, some of the moments were quite horrific in my book. I can still picture the half-man-half-fish (Dwight Schrute everybody!) and it gives me some serious wiggins. Let’s face it: anything with deranged carnies will make anybody feel sick.
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I would add the 1999 movie Audition to the list.
Audition is very disturbing.
Audition was deliciously disturbing.
I dare anyone to see an obscure art film called the “Begotten”. Black and White, no dialogue, just the sound of crickets and torture.
LOL Audition sucked
If “Human Centipede” doesn’t make a list of most disturbing movies than it’s a pretty weak list. Especially since “seven” and Pet Sematary” made it the list. Two thumbs down ! This aricle sucks.
Would put Martyrs and Inside on this list. Def over Pet Sematary.
i got bored of that film, scary to begin with but after an hour of someone knocking on the door it just got boring
“The Strangers” - stuck with me for quite a while after I saw it.
Eden Lake was pretty messed up.
I truly met my match watching INSIDE whoa…I think my review is around here somewhere:)
Oh how I love House of 1000 Corpses. The follow up, Devils Rejects is more of a “Oh crap now I must run (but kill along the way)” kinda film.
Se7en is very clever. Lust, Pride and Wrath are the worst for me.
I don’t think I will ever watch The Hills Have Eyes again. Way too over the top for me…
Hunting down Deadgirl now though!
deadgirl is availabel on netflix instant queue
dead girl on netflix instant queue
Deadgirl and Audition made my brain cry. And I lost control of my bladder. And I might have died for a few minutes.
I assume you have not seen “A Serbian Film” yet. Don’t try. All these movies will become Discovery Kids after that.
Agreed. “A Serbian FIlm” is most definitely disturbing yet the message is quite intriguing. THe ride is terrifying but for some reason you have to finish.
See that’s the funny part, I can pull a message out of just about anything but the message here was either so muddled or so weak. And nothing could justify what happened in that movie. We can forgive the oral sex murder and the decapitation but the infant business and where children are involved crosses a certain line, not even morally, fuck morals, on an animal level it was just….unacceptable.
Also agree. A Serbian Film was the one that did me in.
consider it as the big brother of “Taken”, don’t mess up with people you don’t know and don’t even think you know the ones closer to you.
True. One of the few movies I’ve ever said to myself “Man…I really just can’t finish watching this movie…”, but I stuck through it.
But you seriously will not find a more disturbing movie. I have no doubts that this writer just hasn’t seen that movie, because if she did, it would be at the top spot without question. The newborn scene is one of, if not the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen on film.
”Serbian Film” was absolute trash. Nothing disturbing about it. The newborn scene is laughably atrocious, and I’m not one of those internet “tough guys” that say this about any movie. “Cannibal Holocaust”? Disturbing as hell and will stay with me forever. “Salo”? Ditto. “Serbian Film” just felt like a 16-year-old cramming as many vile ideas as he possibly could into 90 minutes, and the end result is embarrassing.
I watched Cannibal Holocaust. I found it rather boring and switched it off. When I tried the second time I fell asleep half way through. Decided not to try again.
Little over halfway is when it gets good from a horror standpoint. Whole movie is good though
Finally!!! someone who understands that all these movies just suck and basically thrown together to make $$$ on netflix.
Cannibal Holocaust was really awesome, one of those movies that really had a plot and posed an overall question on human nature and what ‘civilized’ actually means.
Agreed!
I watched Serbian Film at night and just laid in my bed unable to sleep for the whole night, no joke. Cannibal Holocaust also disturbed me but not on the level of Serbian Film.
Funny Games is Austrian, not German.
Human Centipede. God help all who watch it.
I saw that. It was too stupid and gross-out to really disturb me that badly.
see there could be two lists. One on disturbing films that are still good…and then ones you shouldn’t watch lol
Good point on making two lists.
I couldn’t. The synopsis alone made me vomit a little. I am…a punk ass.
Pet Cemetery? That’s almost a comedy. Audition is WAY more disturbing.
yeah I don’t know about pet cemetery…but I agree with Hills Have Eyes…the trailer scenes were brutal. Like sittin there in shock kinda stuff. I watched it with my friends and we were SILENT throughout that shit lol
if you watched pet sematary now, yes it would seem more like a comedy than a horror flick.
but if you watched it back in the 80s when it was released, it would have done some serious damage to your childhood. that and Stephen King’s IT. f*ck that movie.
And yes, Audition is disturbing.
Audition is sick, also but only if you can take it i’ll say martir
I’m surprised ‘Martyrs’ didn’t make the list – I thought nothing could really get to me again until I saw that…
no nekromantik eh?
How about….
Cannibal Holocaust…..Salo…..Tetsuo…..Eraserhead…..Begotten….Man Bites Dog….Meet The Feebles…..Last House on the Left…….and Guinea Pig.
cannibal holocaust #1 without freakin’ question. if you find the above movies (talkin’ about the top 10 list by author) disturbing then you should never ever see cannibal holocaust – or even do any research on it
wow- i never heard of that one sounds like a movie in the way they use to make them back in the 70s…Blood Sucking freaks got banned in Europe( i think), so sometime you will only find an edited copy but the full versions are out there probably on tape.
Which guinea pig film you fuckin idiot
Ok So One Of My Picks Would Be Insidious…… The Use Of Tiny Tim’s Rendition Of “Tiptoe Through The Tulips”, A Lipstick Faced Demon, And A Man Dressed Up Portraying A Disturbingly Creepy Old Lady Ghost. This Movie Is Disturbing In Every Sense Of The Word Causing Goosebumps Throughout. Also Quite Possibly The First Movie To Startle The Crap Outta You With The Title Screen During The Opening Credits And Some Maniacal Fiddle Action. I Also Agree With How Martyrs And Audition Didn’t Make The List.
that list should be titled “10 Most Disturbing Movies that were theatrical released in the U.S. in the past 15 years”. it’s very narrow and picky.
Kudos on your list. I know a lot of people are saying what should and should not have been included. Well, let them write their own list. I agree with most of your selections but have not seen Irreversible or the original Hills Have Eyes. Dead Girl was hard to watch, yet almost impossible for me to stop watching. Your list is the first that I’ve seen Woman on, but it may still be fairly new. To me it was an instant classic, although it will be a while before I want to see it again. Jack Ketchum is a real twisted bastard, but man can he tell a messed-up story.
And to the guy that mentioned A Serbian Film, I just want to say, you can’t un-watch a movie, but with that film I really wish I could.
So, thanks for the list and good job.
There are also Cannibal Holocaust, Nekromantik, Requiem for a dream, The human centipiede, Audition, 120 days of sodom, Last house on the left (70′s version) and many others
I was about to suggest Salo too…. With all these comments I have to recognize that I watch too much horror….lol
Lazy list by someone who hasn’t seen too many disturbing movies. Pathetic list.
I have heard that “Antichrist” by Lars Von Trier is pretty disturbing as well.
That true, I swear those scene still stuck in my head.
Human Centipede TWO was SOOOOO wrong on SO many levels! Very disturbing! You can almost see some strange freak trying to do that for real like the freak in this sequel! The rape scene was the most horrific experience in the whole movie! And let’s not forget how disturbing the Hostel franchise is!
You stole my thunder with “Hostel”… I didnt even want to see the sequel!!!
Is something wrong with me? Your list, of the ones I have seen they do not disturbed me. I watch for entertainment, I know it’s not real, so they don’t bother me. The only thing that does bother me is rapes scenes. I will ff through those, I don’t feel they are necessary. But most who have endured one don’t. :
Fire In The Sky…
I agree with those who suggest Audition (1999). Not as relentlessly disturbing as some of these films, but it builds to one of the most effed-up scenes ever filmed (IMHO).
Men behind the sun was very disturbing, Kill List was messing with my head as well (even if there are quite some similarities to serbian film).
would ‘Frailty” make this list? How about Irreversible? The latter isn’t a horror (and I haven’t seen it – but I heard it was rough) and the former well – that movie is messed up (from the kids perspective).
“The Girl Next Door” Will be on the revised list I guarantee
one you should watch if you haven’t is the movie Sick Girl
A Serbian Film. Nuff said.
If you haven’t seen A Serbian Film…you haven’t been disturbed…Plain and simple.
If you’re talking about disturbing horror films, you must, repeat, MUST have “A Serbian Film” and “Martyrs” on the list. Those would be in my top 5 most disturbing, without a doubt. Especially “A Serbian Film”… But “Martyrs” is a deeply disturbing film, too.
I know that “Irreversible” is one of the most disturbing films ever, but it is clearly not a horror film…. even if there are moments that are “horrific”.
I have no idea what would lead someone to put “Pet Semetary” anywhere on the list, though I enjoy the film… I wouldn’t put it anywhere near the top 10. I mean, lots of horror films are not only more disturbing, but simply better in all respects… like “Hellraiser” or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “The Exorcist” even…
And of course, without “The Human Centipede” or “Human Centipede 2″, I have to say the list has some oversights. Regardless of anyone’s opinions about those films, there is no doubt that they are disturbing as hell.
Gotta have “A Serbian Film” on there though… one viewing of that film will stay with you for a lifetime.
I completely agree with you. I cannot believe that The Human Centipede did not make the list! The sequel was even more disturbing. Being a horror fan, it takes a lot to make me feel sick and contemplate whether or not I can continue watching the whole movie, until I saw The Human Centipede. Definitely left me with the creeps.
The Human Centipede isn’t disturbing, it’s laughable, stupid and shows like a bunch of 8 year old’s wanted to make a disgusting movie.
If you don’t find people being sewn together by mouth to anus, and goes even further by feeding the first one laxatives for further amusement, then you have problems.
The idea is fairly disturbing, sure, but the movie isn’t, its execution is laughable.
You are crazy the Dr was fantastic in the ‘Centipede’, he is a legendary character actor in Germany. Its a disgusting film but the production is solid.
@Ganjamancer No, the production isn’t solid, not even a little bit, it was about as solid as diarrhea and smelled about the same too.
@twitter-76719068:disqus No, the production isn’t solid, not even a little bit, it
was about as solid as diarrhea and smelled and looked about the same too.
What about Blood Sucking Freaks…a gross disturbing movie you can’t forget not many people know about…just be sure to get the uncut version.
I guess how distubing a movie is is a matter of an opinion
(or point of view 
)
If the Body horror stuff scares you, I’m wondering if you’ve ever seen the David Cronenberg version of “The Fly?” That’s the horror movie I saw when I was too young, and I still have a hard time getting through it.
A Serbian Film.
That is by far the most disturbing yet amazing move I have seen.
I watched a movie, The Divide, recently. If you haven’t seen it, it stars Michael Biehn, Rosanna Arquette, Courtney B. Vance and some other lesser known actors. It is the story of nine survivors of a nuclear attack on NYC. The nine take refuge in an old fallout shelter, of a high rise apartment building.
The truly disturbing aspects of the film, is watching each member of the group slowly loosing their humanity and morality over the course of the picture.
The film is directed by Xavier Gens, who directed Hitman in 2007. The movie based on the video game franchise of the same name.
The Divide is a very dark and depressing film. It’s one of those movies that you watch once and will never watch again. Not because it is a bad film, but because of the dark subject matter and the feeling you hopelessness you are left with when the credits roll.
This movie left a definite impression on me and I am not a person who is easily affected by movies. This one though really got to me.
visions of suffering , and antichrist , belong on any list of disturbing films . seven and the hills have eyes does`nt belong on the list at all !
Try Cannibal Holocaust. It was banned in 8 country’s and involved real killing of animals. The director was arrested because the killings in the movie appeared so real.
Let not forget the french! “Calvaire” & “Martyrs” should definitely be in this list.
Yes these aren’t the most disturbing for all of us, but this is the writer’s opinion. I haven’t seen anybody mention the Slaughtered Vomit Dolls trilogy yet, nor the August Underground trilogy yet. Mordum is the worst, (second film) they’re shot in the “real movie” way and it looks super realistic, props to the makeup team on that. Watch them, for me they’re over ASF, which I actually thought was amazing.
House of 1000 corpses is a crappy B Movie. You`re having a laugh because you like the movie.
just want to agree with posts below Serbian Film and Martyrs need to be among the top five most disturbing ever also another Serbian film titled The life and death of a porno gang has a good disturbing factor and at the end Devils Rejects just for Rob Z. fun base
I believe Antichrist (2009) would also fit very well on this list. Psychologically and physically brutal. The self mutilation alone warrants it. Not to mention other notable horrors committed by Dafoes lunatic wife… Martyrs is also excellent.
Very nice list indeed, but Funny Games is Austrian, not German.
Just wanted to point that out.^^
I can’t believe that the Human Centipede did not make the list!!!! That movies is the most disturbing and sickening film I have ever seen. I didn’t think it would be possible to make an even more disturbing movie, until I saw the sequel, Human Centipede 2. The plot: Creepy doctor kidnaps people and surgically attaches them to one another by mouth to anus, to make a ‘pet’ for himself. It’s really realistic and gross.
what that movie was, was tedious and boring, with a gag punchline that had worn flat from blogging months before the movie came out
What about Ichi the Killer and Grotesque? Both banned by the BBFC, and then some.
Ichi was great, but it was really cartoony. I would never consider it disturbing.
The Exoricist didn’t make your list? Time to hang it up you fail
The Exorcist is probably the most overrated horror movie of all time. It’s not even close to disturbing.
Really, grandma? Still shaking on your bedpan?
Grandma? you must be some young punk bitch keyboard warrior eh lmfao fag
Well, actually I’m a real warrior serving in Afghanistan. So there’s that. And as a horror/shock fan, I like the big boy movies like August Underground and Murder-Set-Pieces. I’m not left shaking by an image that flashes on the screen during a lightning storm.
It’s too bad your generation is lost, I’m guessing you think Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj are the greatest musical artists as well. So keep on being told what to like. And serving in Afghan eh, it’s too bad your government uses you like the bitch you are to invade a country on a lie. Enjoy your pathetic salary as a soldier while you protect the real enemy that sucks the oil and poppie renevues to line their pockets lmfao
Wow, you’re accusing someone of being told what to like when your big horror experience is The Exorcist? You should probably take a long look in the mirror so you can see what a hypocrite looks like. And I’m so glad you’ve watched CNN and read some headlines on Huffington Post. You have such a deeper understanding of the war as opposed to somebody that, you know, is actually there. I guess some people have talk and some people have balls.
Also, considering that you used “lmfao”, I’d place your age at about 15. Glad you enjoyed your first R-rated movie!
okay its your oppinion…but i think for myself the top5 most be 5.Hostel 4.Human Centipede 2 3.Martyr 2.dread 1. Human Centipede….but it think some movies from your list are really great horror movies ..but the movies an my list are sic sadistic and no entertainment….as a big horror movie freak I MUST SAY if something is not entertaintment anymore in a movie and almost too close on reality…sadistic and no entertainment.
So pedestrian. You need to explore more.
I would switch Human Centipede 2 to first and Human Centipede to 4th place. I found the part where the lady gives birth in the car and has to step on it because it landed under the gas pedal, pushed it for me.
I tend to agree with this list, although mine’d contain following movies as well:
- Saló [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073650/ ]
- Cannibal [ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910548/ ]
Nekromantic?A Serbian Film?Slaughtered Vomit Dolls?perhaps you should watch more movies because these films are pretty tame.
What the **** have you been watching?? A Serbian Film, pretty tame?! You been watching real snuff films there guy?
Yeah, not to be a jerk, but this list is super tame. Should have at least included the perennial August Underground.
Martyrs, The Loved Ones and Nekromantik were pretty disturbing, more so for me than many of the authors choices
Martyrs should definitely be here. Nice list though.
This entire conversation is pointless without the inclusion of “A Serbian Film”. Everything else pales in comparison.
funny games isn’t a german movie. it’s an austrian movie.
“Disturbing” and “disgusting” aren’t the same thing. Half of these belong in their own list of “10 goriest horror movies”.
I would be ashamed to have written this list, there are a ton more films that are more disturbing, do more research and watch more movies before making a list this bad.
The top disturbing movie of all times is like Mike mentioned: “Martyrs”. It really gets you inside and mess you up for the night. I am 44 and I saw a lot. Could not stop watching.
Clearly a list made by someone who hasn’t seen any true disturbing horror films. Funny Games? Really? I’ve seen more messed up ABC Family dramas. Martyrs and A Serbian Film should have topped this list.
Funny Games was really messed up.
The most disturbing film ever? Harry Potter….Nuff said!!
No Hard Candy, Inside, A Serbian Film, or Martyrs? Audition? Oldboy?
I have to agree that Pet Semetary 1 was messed up, the flashbacks are what did it for me and yes, Gage once he came back to life. Movie is still weird. I may get some crap for it but, I also think JEEPERS CREEPERS 1 was pretty damn creepy, no punn intended. It just was…. I loved it. MARTYRS and HIGH TENSION also should be on this list!
August Underground: Mordem
How is A Serbian Film not on this list? And not #1 on the list? I’ve seen some gory, disturbing flims but A Serbian Film makes all of them, including every movie on this list (Pet Sematary is #1? Really? That’s really the most disturbing thing you’ve ever seen?), look like an episode of Sesame Street. I can say that I am traumatized by what I saw. I’ve seen gore enthusiasts breakdown and vomit to this one.
i laughed my way through most of these, especially pet cemetar and House of 1000 corpses, I love that movie! watch Hatchet and Hatchet 2 if you want to see gore.
Can’t knock how someone feels about a movie.. It’s not for me, or anyone
else to diss what someone finds scary. People have varying degrees of
scare factors and different ideas of what horror is. Deadgirl was pretty
freaky.
I think “A Serbian film” wasn’t scary so much as a
gorefest. It’s not my idea of terrifying. Disturbing, yes. Somebody
decided to make a movie about a chain of every vile, repulsive act known
and sometimes unknown to man. It made my stomach churn, but it didn’t
truly terrify me in the sense of sending a chill down my spine. I was
sickened and so far beyond shocked, I turned the movie off because I
felt filthy just playing it. I was kept awake by the thought of
somebody’s mind entertaining the ideas in that movie enough to put them
on film, how much the kids portrayed actually knew about the film, and
what it would do to their psyche. But I wasn’t awake with the fear that
something or someone was going to get me and I needed the lights on so
that I could see and not trip over an errant shoe like the stupid girl/
guy did and do me in.
I think this is a pretty solid list. I
would’ve included Martyrs for sure. Audition, the first Poltergeist,
Psycho (took being a mama’s boy to a whole other level), The Birds,
Ginger Snaps (if hormonal, menstruating, teenage werewolf girls don’t
scare you I bow before you), The Thing, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(1970′s), The Orphanage ( awesome that bloody entrails doesn’t always
equate to scare-the-$*** out of you), Freaks, Event Horizon. My scariest
movie would definitely be The Shining. Those twin girls chanting, “come
play with us…forever.” Yeah….just no. As I said, varying degrees of
scary. ~Sigh~ so many….
There are varying degrees of scary for everybody. Not everybody may agree with this list, but it’s the reviewer’s choice. I don’t think A Serbian Film was at all scary. Disturbing and depraved? Yes. It was like someone stuck a chain of the most vile, repulsive thoughts known and sometimes unknown to man together and put the ideas to film. I felt filthy just watching it and hoped the kids portrayed in that movie didn’t have a clue what was going on. It kept me awake at night because I wondered what effect the movie would have on the kids’ psyche. It didn’t send a chill down my spine, it didn’t make my hair stand on end and need to sleep with the lights in case i needed to make a quick getaway and didn’t want to trip over an errant shoe like the stupid girl/guy did and do me in. It sickened me, but it didn’t truly scare me.
I think this is a pretty solid list. I
would’ve included Martyrs for sure. Audition, the first Poltergeist,
Psycho (took being a mama’s boy to a whole other level), The Birds,
Ginger Snaps (if hormonal, menstruating, teenage werewolf girls doesn’t terrify you I bow before you), The Thing, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(1970′s), The Orphanage ( awesome that bloody entrails doesn’t always
equate to scare-the-$*** out of you), Freaks, Event Horizon. My scariest
movie would definitely be The Shining. Those twin girls chanting, “come
play with us…forever.” Yeah….just no. As I said, varying degrees of
scary. ~Sigh~ so many….
The most disturbing film I have ever seen, that’s easy “28 dresses”. As for horror, I would ad Martyrs, Cannibal Holocaust, Inside and a movie I haven’t seen mentioned by anyone Ankle Biters
I was wondering when someone would mention August underground. I personally enjoy Rob Zombie, Stephen King and Wes Craven.
Clearly you guys haven’t seen “The Collector”. I’ve seen basically all the movies above and nothing on this list even comes close to that movie. After seeing it was from the makers of Saw i figured I could handle it with no problem but this was fucked up on a whole other level
Calvaire was nuts. But I think A Serbian Film takes the cake for the most fucked up. Hands down and I’ve seen ALOT of fucked up movies, but that was the first one to ever truly make me feel genuinely upset and violated. I literally felt sick. NOTHING does that me.
AntiChrist should make it on there, for obvious groin related reasons.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre origonal and Last House on the Left (wes craven_)
“The Human Caterpillar2 freaked me out…ewwww
“The Human Centerpide” freaked me out..ewww
The esteemed authoress needs to get ahold of a dictionary and look up the difference between :grizzly” and “grisly”.
I completely agree with you putting Pet Semetary as your number 1. Maybe it is because I saw it when I was young. But man, that is a terrifying and disturbing film. Deformity, child death, zombies (people and pets) and so much more. Nice list. I have seen most… Serbian Film, Thesis and Martyrs are on my “to see” list…I think they might dislodge some on your list.
this is the worst list and explanation portion i have ever seen. are you like 14 and play on your playstation all day and night because that’s who i imagine writing about and choosing these films. ROB ZOMBIE IS THE WORST “director”EVER!! his movies all suck. he has no clue. all he knows are the cliches of horror and think it’s cool but it’s not cool to be stupid.
there is a Hungarian film called “Taxidermia” that is weird, beautiful and really disturbing, yeah those scenes that stay with you for quite a while after the film is over… not for the faint of heart, not that it’s super gory, just some scenes that are hard to watch.
Human Centipede 2. AWESOME!!!!!
Why isn’t Hellraiser on this list, the first time I saw the Chatterer, that image was burned into my memory.
LOVE THESE FLICKS. ,, / ,, /
where was “Henry: Portrait of a Serial killer”?
the only really disturbing film here is Funny Games
the “rewind” scene was so fuc***ing perfect
you cant forget ” delicatessen “…movie was pretty awesome
‘The Human Centipede’ trumps all those movies.
I’ve seen a lot of these “most disturbing films” lists, and for some reason, not one of them listed Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Not much gore, but without a doubt the most realistic depiction of serial killers ever filmed. The scene of an entire family being slaughtered in their own home (as viewed through a portable camcorder) will definitely stick with you for days.
Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer.
’nuff said.
How about 8MM? I found it very disturbing. The 8MM snuff film, the seedy underground porn world and when Nicolas Cage got back at the film makers. One of Cage’s only good films in my opinion.
Pretty sure you need to update this with the Human Centipede movies. Ho-ly God. Nobody should ever watch those. Ever.
SEED should be top 2. Sick movie. A must see.
Salo and Eden Lake (mainly for the ending) tops my list…
Noone’s mentioned New York Ripper yet? Saw a fragment of Blood Sucking Freaks back in the 80′s, happy I didn’t see more.
For me, the endings of of ‘Breaking the Waves’ and ‘Dancer in the Dark’ by Von Trier are generally more disturbing than most horror films mentioned here (that I’ve seen). Splatter and gore is generally more ‘disgusting’ than ‘disturbing’. It’s the films that manage combine sadism with the psychlogical that have the hardest impact on you.
You can always make films that are more brutal than others. ‘Beyond the Limits’ by Olaf Ittenbach for example isn’t watchable for any ‘sound’ person, but it’s pretty crap so it may not affect you badly. I couldn’t sit through it though.
Bought a copy of Hills have Eyes, watched it and then burned it. Most disturbing piece of absolutely garbage I think i’ve every seen, All though It sounds like Deadgirl is more twisted.
LOL! Who ever made this list clearly hasn’t seen many films!
two words… visitor q
Martyrs is much more disturbing than half of these movies. It’s genuinely the only movie that I could not re-watch to save my life
a serbian film,,now thats the film which you should not watch if you love your families.’antichrist’,salo,the human centepede1 and 2,just try these grand nanny of all these film combined.
They left a movie off this list that is far more disturbing. I heard of it and I can not believe what the had in that movie. I saw things in that movie that I have never seen and hope to never see again. The movie is called A Serbian Film. The baby being born scene was crazy as hell.
‘Matilda’ – watching that fat kid eat an entire cake of which, I thought at the time, had actual “sweat and blood” in it, makes me sick to this day.
I totally remember the fat kid eating the cake scene.LOL!! His name was Bruce.
no one mentioned “Sisters” from the early 70′s. very creepy
how in the hell is “The Thing” not on this list…
You missed ‘The Human Centipede’. Now that’s one fucked up piece of celluloid!!!
I would have A Serbian Film and Salò, or 120 days of Sodom on this list before all of the ones you listed.
Subconcious Cruelty
Has anyone seen the Korean film THE BUTCHER?? Where there’s 3 guys and they have 3 people(I think)tied up in a warehouse and they’re shooting a snuff film.The victims have cameras on their heads where you can see what their captors are doing to them.One of the captors is the “star” of the film and he’s wearing a pig head and an apron..The movie was banned in its own country…
You have obviously never seen the movie “Salo”, “Cannibal Holocaust” and the wort of all, “A Serbian Film”.
have you seen the movie freaks the new version, the last 10 mins are pretty disturbing.
The top of my list goes to Necromaniac. It is the most disgusting pile of cinema garbage I have ever seen, thanks to an old friend who begged a bunch of us to watch it. It is banned in nearly every country, and as the name implies you can get what the film is about without going into details. Another film that disturbed me was Freaks, the original not the remake, although not necessarily a horror film by definition. It was scary none the less. I felt bad for the so called freaks who were and still are exploited through their unfortunate birth defects for money and fame. Some of the films on the list are good picks for shock value for sure. I spit on your grave for the simple fact it is realistic and it’s grainy and shaky cam shots give it a sense of impending doom. I am surprised the writer here never mentioned Last house on the left, unless of course they never seen that film, the rape scenes in that film rank it high on any list for disturbing shock value. Not sure if I would put Pet Semetary at the top for my picks, but the child coming back is a horrifying premise. I felt Kings book was better than the film.
“the boys’ hormones get the better of them” in explanation to what they did to the woman really makes me want to punch whoever wrote this in the fucking dick
Vulgar was very disturbing. Wish I never would’ve watched but had to finish.
Thanks for the list everyone, now I know what NOT to let my kids watch, like one person said, you can’t unwatch something, once you’ve let trash inside its there to stay and no clue how its going to affect you psychologically, why do that to yourself? I don’t really get why people feel the need to make these kind of films, in my opinion they are adding to the decline of our societies moral compass and desensitizing of our children
First of all, I like every movie mentioned on the list. All were quite disturbing in one way or another, and there are a few that would also be on my Top 10 Most Disturbing Films List, and some that are actually among my fav horror flicks of all time. With that being said, we all define disturbing very differently, and here are some excluded films that would have made my personal list. (Most of these have been previously mentioned, but I digress):
Cannibal Holocaust, A Serbian Film, Human Centipede (1 & 2), Freaks (the original), The Collector, It (because I have clown phobia), Pan’s Labyrinth (for that one disturbing creature), Last House On The Left (original), Straw Dogs (original), The Descent (1 & 2), Atrocious, Strangeland, Tideland, Exorcism of Emily Rose (her possessed voice stuck with me), Wrong Turn(s) (since Hills Have Eyes was mentioned), and finally since no one has mentioned this film I’m assuming that no one has seen it; it’s for fans of the truly disturbing, for those who really want to see how much violence and vivid, realistic, human suffering they can endure watching, here is my final suggestion………………Philosophy of A Knife. It chronicles the horrors committed by the Japanese army’s Unit 731, which used biological and chemical weapons on Russian and Chinese prisoners during the 1930s and ’40s. Be warned, it’s 249 minutes long, and full of exploitation and torture not for the faint of heart. You will cringe, and maybe even cry, after witnessing the depth of cruelty that human beings are willing to enact against each other. It is mostly silent except for interviews with various witnesses. And that’s my list.
I was actually surprised to see Pet Semetary at the top of the list. The book is disturbing, but usually I’m the only person who says Pet Semetary is also the most disturbing horror film ever to me. I’m sure part of it has to do with the fact that the first time I watched it I was 8 years old. Anyway good list.
‘The Unborn’ was one of the scariest movies ever! Along with ‘The Excorcist’(original) & ‘The Crazies’ (remake) & I’m not scared easily!
I watched the ‘Hills Have Eyes’ when it first came out on DVD. It was recommended to me by my disturbed ex; I actually cried and covered my eyes during the movie. ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ was equally emotionally draining. Guess I’m not cut out for these type of movies, I won’t even watch ‘Hostel’.
No one here has mentioned August Underground Mordem…..August Underground Penance?
Did someone mention Salo?? What kind of movie is that? I mean that fucked up shit is pathetic. The only disturbing scene in that movie is that girl eating hot shit of the gay guy. I almost forgot to mention, i hope ya all have seen that “eye out of the socket with a spoon scene” Ha ha ha…. i couldn’t stop laughing.. is that what you call graphics?? i call it “cheap old school kid’s magic”
Not being a proper horror movie “The divide” is pretty disturbing
BAD BOY BUBBY
I totally agree – Bad Boy Bubby was so messed up! Also, another not yet mentioned – I found Wolf Creek fairly disturbing but that probably has a lot to do with the fact I’ve driven through the ‘outback’ so many times – now when I do all I can think is “head on a stick” lol.
No mention of THE BUTCHER? The movie from Korea that was banned in its own country…more disturbing that anything America has come out with in a long while..
If you want BRUTAL, try MARTYRS, what happens to the lead woman in that film is very horrific, then her tormentors kind of hail her as a hero toward the end, because she became a martyr…..well, what was left of her
Completely agree MARTYRS is without doubt one of the hardest movies to watch.
The angels melancholy…. Wow…. It will change your life forever…
I would have included Ichi the Killer. Well it’s not horror, it’s mostly suspense and a lot of gang violence and the most misogyny I’ve ever seen in one film. Not only does it have several rape scenes but also many brutal beatings against women including cutting off a woman’s nipples. I couldn’t even sit through the whole movie, that is how disturbed I was. I agreed on most of the movies listed here like House of 1000 Corpses and The Hills Have Eyes but l’d say of all movies that ever disturbed me, Ichi the Killer tops the list.
necromantic.. game over..
To the creator of the list: Interesting choices. Came here to get some ideas and thought I would add my 2 cents. First let me say I am a 25 year old female, since everyone is talking shit I thought Id throw that out there. The only thing that disturbs me is extremely graphic skull crushing, its the sound that one makes after their skull is caved in and they are still trying to breathe… To each their own. I must say that I do love Ichi the Killer I wanted to show it to my friends and family. When I described it, the looks on their faces were absolute disgust… Apparently people have an aversion to rape? (sorry for being a dick) A Serbian Film was LAME 100% predictable. And how dare people even mention Human Centipede, beyond stupid. “Hi im five and im gonna glue my dogs together.” HA. It just pisses me off when there are multiple chances for people to escape in horror movies and they dont take it. You want your movie to be good? DONT LET THE PEOPLE YOURE GOING TO MURDER/FUCK WITH HAVE EVEN ONE SHOT AT ESCAPING. Im sorry but horror is my thing and they alllllllll suck lately.
<—- yes that is a sad face. Although currently Korean thrillers are getting gooooood I recommend 'I Saw the Devil' Ohhh Netflix. LOLZ <3 <3 <3 Oh and to the asshole @CoreyShaughnessy who made a remark about The Exorcist not being disturbing and I believe you called someone a "granny" stfu that movie is scary as balls. Just because you like SHOCK "Ohhhh im a big boy." Its just bloooooood and guts bro. Booooooooo! I see more gore when I have my period compaired to the movies you watch bahahahaha
Funny Games is as German as Mozart, Schwarzenegger, Christoph Waltz, and Hitler…
Deadgirl was pretty bland, or maybe I just found it dull because I watched it a few days after watching “A Serbian Film”. I haven’t watched any of the others so I’ll check them out, thanks!
When you say gluttony i think you actually mean sloth