Buzz
Creating a list of the most unsettling films is as subjective as ranking the funniest or any other category. While many consider Requiem for a Dream deeply disturbing, it struck me as a flashy anti-drug PSA. On the other hand, I found the shark thriller Open Water profoundly haunting, though others often label it dull. So, apologies if you think, “That movie didn’t affect me at all.”
This list spans a variety of disturbing films, from graphic, gore-filled flicks to thought-provoking documentaries and movies unsettling in their implications. A common thread (for most, at least) is that they’re genuinely good. Films aren’t disturbing just because they push boundaries—they need to succeed as movies, too. These all worked for me. Share your picks in the comments so I can add something twisted to my weekend watchlist.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre stands as the pinnacle of horror cinema. Contrary to its title, it’s not a bloodbath. Director Tobe Hooper masterfully crafts an atmosphere of sheer wrongness, masking his techniques behind a deceptively casual visual style that makes it feel eerily real. Nearly five decades later, no film has matched its impact or even come close.
Where to stream: Showtime, AMC+, Tubi, Shudder, Freevee
Funny Games (2008)
In Michael Haneke’s Funny Games, the protagonist is You, the audience. This meta home-invasion thriller repeatedly questions, “Why are you subjecting yourself to this discomfort? Why not just stop watching?”
If you’re anything like me, you’ll stick it out, intrigued by the film’s self-awareness and perhaps questioning your own motives. You might even seek out the 1997 original, though I prefer the 2008 version. Both were directed by Haneke and are nearly identical in execution.
Where to stream: Kanopy, digital rental
Gimme Shelter (1970)
The brilliance of Gimme Shelter lies in its foreboding atmosphere; you know the Rolling Stones concert it documents will end in disaster. The tension mounts as you observe each poor decision leading to the catastrophe, captured in raw cinema verite style. You’re left screaming at the screen, “Perhaps don’t hire the Hell’s Angels as security and pay them in beer? Maybe don’t pack a racetrack with young people and encourage drug use?” But your warnings go unheard. The tragedy is inevitable.
Where to stream: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel
Happiness (1998)
Don’t let the trailer mislead you: Happiness is far from a cheerful romantic comedy. It employs humor as a trap, drawing you in before revealing one of the most emotionally devastating narratives ever put to film. Its sunny exterior masks a core of profound darkness.
Where to stream: Nowhere at the moment. Likely too unsettling for most platforms.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust blurs the line between fiction and reality by mixing real documentary clips with convincingly staged “found” footage. The film was so convincing that Deodato faced charges in an Italian court, accused of actually murdering his cast. Decades later, its impact remains undiminished. Be warned: the genuine animal slaughter scenes are deeply unsettling.
Where to stream: Kanopy, Shudder, Night Flight
Irreversible (2002)
Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible features only two violent sequences, but they are crafted with such visceral intensity that they leave an indelible mark. The film forces you to confront the nausea and dread that should accompany every on-screen depiction of violence or trauma.
Where to stream: Vudu, Tubi, Mubi, Plex
Safe (1995)
While devoid of gore or violence, this film is deeply unsettling. It plays like a monster movie where the creature remains unseen, or a tale of illness with no diagnosis. Its haunting effect lingered for days, and even now, it occasionally resurfaces in my thoughts.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Slaughtered Vomit Dolls (2006)
Unlike the other films on this list, which aim for deeper meaning, Slaughtered Vomit Dolls exists solely to provoke disgust. Its attempt at arthouse credibility is laughably shallow. It fails to be frightening, humorous, or thought-provoking, leaving you to wonder who created it and why.
Where to stream: No streaming service will carry it, but it’s online.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
This Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy is best avoided on a full stomach!
Where to stream: HBO Max
The Innocents (1961)
Despite its elegant cinematography, The Innocents ventures into deeply unsettling territory few films dare to explore. It boasts the most unnerving on-screen kiss and one of the most chilling ghosts in cinematic history. (Avoid the Netflix remake, The Haunting of Bly Manor, which is overly long and inferior.)
Where to stream: Nowhere official, but there’s currently a good quality stream on YouTube.
High Tension (2003)
Widely regarded as the pinnacle of the “New French Extremity” movement, High Tension achieves the rare feat of reinventing the slasher genre. While mainstream critics panned it, horror enthusiasts celebrated its raw intensity, relentless suspense, and nods to 1970s horror classics. Just be warned: it’s deeply problematic by today’s standards.
Where to stream: AMC+, Tubi, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Plex
Hereditary (2018)
As someone who’s watched countless horror films, it takes a lot to genuinely scare me. Hereditary managed to do just that, giving me real nightmares. I didn’t think movies could still frighten me at this stage in life. While horror is subjective, if you think, “It’s not as scary as Scream 4,” you’re sorely mistaken.
Where to stream: Showtime, Kanopy
Un Chien Andalou (1929)
Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí’s surreal and often disturbing imagery remains shocking even after nearly a century. Its age only adds to the surprise—you wouldn’t expect a 1920s film to feature a graphic scene of a woman’s eyeball being sliced open with a razor.
Where to stream: Tubi, Fandor, IndieFlix, Flix Fling
Melancholia (2011)
Nearly every Lars Von Trier film could earn a spot on a “most disturbing movies” list—Antichrist, Dancer in the Dark, even his early ‘90s TV series The Kingdom. However, none of his works are as bleak and unsettling as Melancholia, where a dysfunctional family reacts to the world’s impending doom by largely ignoring it. It feels eerily relatable.
Where to stream: The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu, Crackle, Pluto TV
A Serbian Film (2011)
A Serbian Film is infamous for its shocking, brutal, and grotesque visuals. I included it here because, while many claim it’s disturbing, it eventually crosses into absurdity. I chose it over Hostel as it’s slightly more intriguing.
Where to stream: Vudu (digital rental)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Released during the peak of 1980s slasher films, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer stands apart. Unlike the exaggerated, cartoonish villains of the era, Henry is portrayed with chilling realism. The film underscores that ordinary, even mundane individuals can commit horrific acts, and there’s nothing amusing about it.
Where to stream: AMC+, The Roku Channel, Vudu, The Criterion Channel, Tubi, Shudder, Flex, Freevee
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Salo is often labeled an “art film,” but don’t expect poetic musings or serene visuals. Instead, it unflinchingly portrays the brutal physical, emotional, and sexual abuse inflicted on 18 youths by wealthy elites in fascist Italy. While relentlessly grim, it carries profound significance.
Where to stream: You’ll need to get creative to find it (especially if you’d rather not have the DVD on your library record).
