Some movies are designed to pack a punch, so when you’re tuning in, make sure you’re prepared for the inevitable gut-wrench that follows. Let’s look at some movies aimed at chilling you to the core with their built-in shock factor.
Funny Games
Whether you saw the original Austrian version of Funny Games or the Hollywood remake starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, the story of an innocent couple terrorized in their home by two sadistic intruders shocked audiences half to death. The brutal violence makes it difficult to watch.
Wolf Creek
It started like any other slasher movie but turned into something dark and gruesome. Starring a caricature like John Jarratt, this Australian horror film shocked audiences with its gritty realism and brutal depiction of a group of backpackers terrorized by a sadistic killer in the Australian Outback. Do not confuse John Jarratt’s sinister demeanor with harmless comedy.
Hostel
Eli Roth smashed onto the movie scene with the Hostel series, leaving audiences suitably disturbed by the premise. Audiences were shocked at the graphic violence and disturbing portrayal of wealthy elites paying to torture and kill unsuspecting victims. There were a lot of torture scenes.
The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
This vastly disturbing horror film directed by Tom Six shocked audiences with its grotesque premise of a mad scientist, Dr. Heiter (Dieter Laser), who surgically connects his victim’s mouth to his anus to create a human centipede. We have to question Tom Six’s inspiration for the movie.
Martyrs
A disturbing French horror film starring Morjana Alaoui and Mylène Jampanoï, Martyrs shocked viewers with its extreme violence and brutal exploration of suffering as a young woman seeks revenge on those who tortured her as a child. It’s a movie you’ll only need to see once, and you won’t be thankful for it.
I Saw the Devil
Directed by Kim Jee-woon, this South Korean thriller stars Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik. It shocked audiences with its brutal violence and relentless pursuit of revenge as a secret agent hunts down a sadistic serial killer. It has been regarded as one of the most violent films of the last decade.
Antichrist
Starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lars von Trier’s psychological horror film shocked viewers with its graphic violence, explicit sexual content, and disturbing imagery. Fans couldn’t decide if it was genius or simply disturbing.
High Tension
In this slasher film featuring Cécile de France and Maïwenn, the relentless violence and intense cat-and-mouse chase between a killer and his victim climaxed in a huge twist. It often features on the most shocking lists, which says it all. The French certainly know how to shock.
Irréversible
Gaspar Noé’s controversial film, starring real-life couple at the time, Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, shocked audiences with its unflinching portrayal of rape and violence. The story was presented in reverse chronological order, culminating in a brutal and shocking climax.
The Accused
The movie’s stars, Jodie Foster and Kelly McGillis, openly struggled during filming due to the explicit nature of the film, which features a real-life gang rape. Aside from several disturbing scenes, one of the most challenging aspects of the story is the long, drawn-out court case that the victim was forced to endure. Not for the faint-hearted.
Inside
This French horror film caused a stir with its intense and brutal depiction of a pregnant woman being terrorized by a mysterious intruder who wants her unborn baby. The storyline was basic, but the execution was downright disturbing.
Audition
This twisted Japanese horror film starring Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina terrified us with its slow-burn tension and shocking climax. A widower becomes the target of a deranged woman’s deadly audition process, and she gives it to him in spades. When Japanese horror-makers deliver the goods, they wholly commit to the cause.
The Loved Ones
While it isn’t one of the most obvious movies, this Australian horror packs a punch with its twisted and sadistic portrayal of a high school prom night gone wrong. Don’t expect a Carrie-esque turnout, though it does feature a deranged girl seeking revenge on her crush.
I Spit on Your Grave
This controversial rape-revenge film, starring Camille Keaton, shocked viewers with its graphic violence and unflinching portrayal of sexual assault as a woman seeks brutal revenge on her attackers. The movie was remade in 2010, with fans divided over which was the superior version.
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom
A group of fascists indulges in depraved acts of cruelty during World War II in a frighteningly disturbing cinematic piece. This controversial movie was banned in several countries due to its explicit depiction of sexual violence, torture, and degradation.
A Serbian Film
This movie, about a retired porn star who becomes ensnared in a depraved world of snuff filmmaking, was banned in several countries following its release. It features extreme violence, graphic sexual content, and disturbing themes of exploitation and abuse.
The Devil’s Rejects
Love or hate him, Rob Zombie knows how to cause a stir, and The Devil’s Rejects was no exception. His plots might lack intelligence, but he knows how to deliver the gore with his winning formula. The movie shocked audiences with its graphic violence, sadistic characters, and unapologetic celebration of depravity,
Oldboy
This South Korean thriller, directed by Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik and Yoo Ji-tae, shocked audiences with its twisted and violent tale of revenge, as a man seeks vengeance on those who imprisoned him for years without explanation. The movie opened up a whole new world of gut-wrenchingly violent cinema.
