You know how watching a movie is usually a chance to kick back with a snack, ready for a relaxing, amusing, or thought-provoking experience? Well, there’s a niche of films where snacks might just turn into regret—movies so visceral and unsettling that they’re best watched on an empty stomach. When movies become an exercise in repulsion, and you need a series of showers after watching them, you are left wondering how far is too far.
Here are 10 movies that will require a mental and, likely, a physical scrub afterwards.
Image Credit: IMDb.
1. ‘Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom’ (1975)
Pier Paolo Pasolini’s adaptation of Marquis de Sade’s novel “120 Days of Sodom” is considered by some to be an essential film to see but impossible to watch. Set in 1944-45, in a sumptuous castle in Mussolini’s Republic of Salò, a group of decadent aristocrats abducts beautiful young women and men. What follows is a series of stomach-turning events set in a stately grand salon, with paintings and piano, accompanied by the notes of Chopin. In almost two hours of gut-punching visual assault, Pasolini suggests that it’s nearly impossible for us to fully grasp or visually stomach the idea that the classical values of Western civilization are deeply entrenched in the blood of the innocent.
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2. ‘Antichrist’ (2009)
You are either cut out to watch Lars Von Trier movies or you are not—there’s no in-between. The Danish provocateur has accumulated quite a cult following with his unflinching and visually repulsive storytelling, and the 2009 ‘Antichrist‘ is no different. The movie follows a grieving couple retreating to an isolated cabin in the woods, where their efforts to overcome tragedy spiral into a terrifying exploration of pain, despair, and the dark side of nature. The explicit scenes that follow make you understand that Von Trier’s films are not watched—they are survived.
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3. ‘The Human Centipede (First Sequence) ‘ (2009)
After sitting through “The Human Centipede” (2009), you might find yourself reaching for the bleach to scrub your brain. Directed by Tom Six, this film, notorious for its hideous premise, pushes the limits of horror and taste in ways few others dare. The story follows a mad scientist who kidnaps tourists to create a new creature—the human centipede. It’s a concept that’s as ludicrous as it is horrifying, and one that will ruin your appetite for the better half of a month.
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4. ‘Pink Flamingos’ (1972)
Despite its cult classic status now, as a cornerstone in “trash cinema” John Waters’ “Pink Flamingos” can only be described as an assault on good taste. Featuring Divine, Waters’ muse and a drag queen of unparalleled audacity in a contest for “the filthiest person alive,” the film dives headlong into a series of revolting acts, each designed to outdo the last in sheer filth. “Pink Flamingos” is a no-holds-barred exploration of the perverse and profane, and a middle finger to societal norms.
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5. ‘Nekromantik’ (1988)
If something doesn’t go well with popcorn, it’s definitely the visuals in this film. Directed by Jörg Buttgereit, “Nekromantik” follows a couple with a morbid fascination for the deceased, taking their obsession to extreme lengths. The graphic depiction of taboo subjects makes it a challenging watch intended for a niche audience. While it has garnered a cult following for its brutal content, “Nekromantik” is not for the faint-hearted.
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6. ‘Ebola Syndrome’ (1996)
If you think you’re made of stern stuff, “Ebola Syndrome” (1996) will be the judge of that. This Hong Kong horror flick follows a twisted protagonist who contracts the Ebola virus and spreads it like wildfire, leaving a trail of gruesome carnage in his wake. Director Herman Yau doesn’t hold back, serving up scenes that’ll make your skin crawl and your stomach churn.
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7. ‘Oldboy’ (2003)
“Oldboy” is a jaw-droppingly horrifying yet devilishly brilliant revenge thriller based on Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya’s Japanese manga. The movie follows Dae-su, a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years, going on a wild ride of violent madness. Director Park Chan-wook throws you headfirst into a whirlwind of violence, bizarre twists, and scenes involving snacking on live octopus that will have you reaching for the sick bucket.
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8. ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ (1980)
To put it bluntly, Ruggero Deodato’s “Cannibal Holocaust” is one of the most intentionally distasteful and violent experiences one could watch—leaving you wanting to scrub your eyes with bleach. The 1980 film is presented as found footage following a documentary team venturing into the Amazon rainforest to document uncontacted cannibalistic tribes. Its graphic depiction of violence caused widespread shock and led to legal battles over claims of actual harm, resulting in the film being banned in numerous countries.
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9. ‘Funny Games’ (1997)
Michael Haneke’s commentary on society’s gruesome fascination with violence tells the story of two deceptively polite sadists who transform a family’s idyllic holiday into a psychological and physical nightmare. Yet the shower-provoking horror isn’t found in the gore, which is minimal compared to other films on this list, but in the psychological assault that leaves deeper scars than any physical violence could. The film overturns conventional horror expectations, constantly pulling the rug out just as hope appears.
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10. ‘A Serbian Film’ (2010)
After the fourth shower you’ve taken to wash away the disturbing residue left by the highly repulsive arthouse horror “A Serbian Film,” you might think deeply about how far is too far when it comes to our entertainment choices. The plot, if it can even be called that, amidst a relentless barrage of shock and awe tactics, follows a retired adult actor drawn back into the industry for one last project, only to discover he’s become a pawn in a nightmarish tableau of the most extreme depravity imaginable.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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