Top 10 Disturbing Films

Top 10 Disturbing Films: A Cinematic Rollercoaster

Here’s our list of the top 10 disturbing films that are definitely not for the faint of heart.

Let us know if yours made the list.

“Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
Follow four Brooklynites as they spiral into the abyss of addiction. Warning: May cause sudden urges to hug your loved ones and throw away your TV.
“A Serbian Film” (2010)
A retired porn star gets more than he bargained for in his comeback film. Spoiler alert: It’s not a romantic comedy.
“Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)
Found footage before it was cool, featuring a documentary crew in the Amazon. Let’s just say the locals aren’t vegetarians.
“Irreversible” (2002)
A revenge tale told backwards. Proof that sometimes, hindsight isn’t 20/20 – it’s just disturbing.
“Martyrs” (2008)
A young woman’s quest for vengeance leads to… transcendence? File under: “Philosophy gone wrong.”
“Eraserhead” (1977)
David Lynch’s surrealist nightmare about fatherhood. Never has hair care been so unsettling.
“Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom” (1975)
Fascists behaving badly in WWII Italy. Dante’s nine circles of hell have nothing on this.
“Antichrist” (2009)
A couple retreats to nature to cope with loss. Spoiler: Nature fights back. Thanks for nothing, Lars von Trier!
“The Human Centipede” (2009)
A mad scientist plays connect-the-dots with human digestive systems. Not recommended as a team-building exercise.
“Audition” (1999)
A widower holds fake auditions to find a new wife. Turns out, lying on your dating profile can have severe consequences.

Honorable mentions:

“Boys Don’t Cry” (1999) This biographical drama depicts the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a trans man who was assaulted and murdered in Nebraska. While not typically categorized as a “disturbing” film in the sense of graphic horror, it deals with intense themes of violence, transphobia, and sexual assault. Its realistic portrayal of hate crimes and discrimination can be emotionally difficult for viewers.
“The Birds” (1963) Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller is more suspenseful than overtly disturbing by modern standards. However, its atmosphere of growing dread and scenes of bird attacks were quite shocking for its time. The film’s ambiguous ending and lack of explanation for the birds’ behavior add to its unsettling nature.
“Halloween” (1978) John Carpenter’s slasher film is a landmark in horror cinema. While it contains violence, it relies more on suspense and the ominous presence of Michael Myers than on graphic gore. Its impact comes from the relentless pursuit of an seemingly unstoppable killer and the vulnerability of the characters.
“The Exorcist” (1973) Often cited as one of the scariest films ever made, “The Exorcist” deals with themes of faith, evil, and the corruption of innocence. Its depictions of demonic possession, including graphic physical and verbal content, were extremely shocking for audiences at the time and continue to disturb viewers today.