Horror Movies That Are Too Disturbing To Watch Twice

Movies can be a way to safely experience scary and unsettling things, but some films go too far for most viewers. These films use intense violence and psychological distress to really stick with you. Often, the filmmakers want to shock audiences or make a point about society by showing extreme brutality. Watching these movies is a challenging experience that many people only want to try once. This collection features some of the most disturbing and unforgettable films ever made.

‘A Serbian Film’ (2010)

Miloš, a former adult film actor, takes a well-paying job in an art film to help his family financially. He quickly realizes the director is a dangerous extremist with horrifying demands, and the film set becomes a scene of brutal sexual violence targeting defenseless people. The movie is infamous for its extreme and disturbing content, and has been censored or banned in many countries because of it.

‘Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom’ (1975)

A group of four wealthy and morally corrupt individuals abducts eighteen teenagers and holds them captive in a hidden, authoritarian state. Over several months, the captors inflict severe physical and emotional abuse on the teens, forcing them to participate in humiliating and degrading rituals. The film’s director intended it as a harsh commentary on power, corruption, and the ways they can be abused. Its intense and disturbing content makes it incredibly difficult to watch, even for those accustomed to horror, and has led to it being widely banned throughout history due to its graphic depictions.

‘Cannibal Holocaust’ (1980)

A rescue team entered the Amazon rainforest searching for a missing film crew who disappeared while filming a documentary about indigenous tribes. The team discovered film footage revealing the filmmakers had deliberately created conflict and destroyed villages to make the documentary more dramatic. This footage showed disturbing scenes of animal cruelty and sexual violence, ultimately leading to legal charges against the director. Initially, many viewers believed the actors had genuinely been killed during filming. Despite its shocking and disturbing content, ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ is considered a groundbreaking film that helped create the ‘found footage’ genre.

‘Martyrs’ (2008)

Lucie is a young woman determined to get revenge on those who abused her as a child. As she pursues her vengeance, her friend Anna uncovers a disturbing secret society fascinated by the afterlife and willing to inflict suffering to try and reach it. The movie starts as a tense home invasion story but quickly transforms into a disturbing study of pain and what lies beyond. The film’s climax contains long, graphic scenes of torture that are very difficult to watch. ‘Martyrs’ is often considered the most extreme and defining example of the New French Extremity film movement.

‘Irreversible’ (2002)

This film tells a disturbing story in reverse, following two men as they seek revenge for a violent assault in Paris. It’s known for a single, unbroken nine-minute scene of sexual violence. Director Gaspar Noé deliberately uses unsettling sound and camera techniques to make viewers feel sick and anxious. The reverse timeline means you see the tragic end of the story before the characters’ happier beginnings. While technically brilliant, the film is incredibly upsetting and emotionally draining to watch.

‘Antichrist’ (2009)

After the tragic death of their young child, a couple seeks solace in a remote cabin, hoping to repair their fractured marriage. However, their retreat turns into a terrifying ordeal as the wife’s grief spirals into insanity, leading to unimaginable acts of violence against her husband. The film is a visually striking but profoundly unsettling exploration of despair and the darkness within nature itself. Its graphic and disturbing content, including scenes of genital mutilation, caused significant reactions and walkouts during its initial screenings. Director Lars von Trier crafted a truly nightmarish and deeply disturbing cinematic experience.

‘The House That Jack Built’ (2018)

As a film buff, I recently watched this incredibly disturbing, yet fascinating movie. It’s told from the perspective of a really smart serial killer, Jack, who basically walks us through five of his murders, recounting them to someone called Verge. What’s truly unsettling is how he sees these horrific acts as some kind of artistic expression – he has absolutely no remorse for his victims, who are often women and children. It’s a really tough watch, blending dark, almost black comedy with incredibly graphic violence that definitely pushes boundaries. There was one scene in particular, a hunting trip involving two kids, that caused a huge uproar when the film came out. Ultimately, it’s a chilling deep dive into the mind of a complete psychopath – someone utterly devoid of humanity.

‘Funny Games’ (1997)

A family’s vacation turns into a nightmare when two well-mannered young men take them hostage and force them to participate in cruel games, simply for the killers’ enjoyment. The director, Michael Haneke, intentionally involves the audience by having the perpetrators speak directly to them, making viewers feel like accomplices to the violence. The film offers no easy answers or hope, and instead challenges viewers to confront their own fascination with violence in media. It’s a deliberately unsettling and frustrating experience, meant to critique how we consume violent entertainment.

‘Hereditary’ (2018)

After their secretive grandmother dies and a terrible accident befalls their daughter, a family starts to fall apart. Their home is haunted by unsettling events as they realize they’re caught up in a dark and dangerous occult plot. The movie builds tension through a creepy atmosphere and sudden, shocking violence. Toni Collette gives a deeply disturbing performance as a mother descending into madness, and the film’s final images are unforgettable and truly frightening.

‘Midsommar’ (2019)

A woman struggling with loss joins her boyfriend on a trip to a secluded Swedish village for a traditional midsummer celebration. However, the idyllic setting masks a sinister cult engaged in disturbing rituals and control. The horror takes place in the bright daylight, leaving nowhere for the characters – or the audience – to hide. The protagonist’s personal grief becomes intertwined with the horrifying practices of the community, creating a beautiful yet deeply unsettling and claustrophobic experience, even amidst the wide-open landscape.

‘Tusk’ (2014)

A conceited podcast host journeys to Canada hoping to interview a mysterious sailor known for his captivating tales. But the old man has other plans, drugging the host and performing disturbing surgery to turn him into a walrus – a twisted attempt to relive a forgotten memory. The film’s unsettling and realistic special effects create a truly horrifying creature. It’s a darkly funny and deeply disturbing experience, blending body horror with a strange, unsettling feeling that lingers long after the credits roll. The movie is undeniably bizarre, but it commits to its vision with frightening dedication.

‘The Poughkeepsie Tapes’ (2007)

Investigators found hundreds of videotapes in an abandoned house, revealing a decade of crimes committed by a serial killer. The film uses this footage as if it were a real documentary, showing how the killer kidnapped and manipulated his victims. The videos are intentionally grainy, which makes the torture and psychological abuse seem disturbingly real. One woman is held captive for years, and the film heartbreakingly shows her gradual change. The movie has become a cult favorite because of its realistic depiction of a criminal mind.

‘Eden Lake’ (2008)

I was completely disturbed by ‘Eden Lake’. It follows a couple trying to enjoy a romantic getaway, but their trip turns into a nightmare when they clash with a group of vicious teenagers. What starts as an argument quickly spirals out of control, and the teens begin a brutal hunt through the woods. It’s a really tough watch because it shows how quickly things can turn violent, and how helpless the couple feels. The film is incredibly realistic and doesn’t pull any punches with the violence. Honestly, the ending left me feeling completely hopeless – there’s no sense of resolution or comfort. It really taps into that primal fear of being randomly attacked and finding yourself in a place where there’s no help available.

‘Inside’ (2007)

On Christmas Eve, a grieving widow in her final months of pregnancy is terrorized by a stranger who intends to harm her unborn child. The film is an extremely violent and fast-paced horror experience, filled with gruesome attacks using everyday objects like scissors. It’s notorious for its relentless intensity and one of the most shockingly bloody finales ever filmed, making it a deeply unsettling and stressful watch from beginning to end.

‘High Tension’ (2003)

A weekend getaway to a farmhouse turns terrifying when a cruel killer attacks a family. One young woman must fight to survive and rescue her friend in a frightening chase. The film is known for its shockingly realistic gore, including a particularly infamous scene with a concrete saw. A surprising plot twist adds a new layer to the violence, sparking debate among viewers. It’s considered a key film in the history of French extreme horror.

‘The Green Inferno’ (2013)

A group of student activists journey to the Amazon rainforest intending to help a threatened tribe, but their plane crashes, and they are captured by the people they were trying to save. The tribe sees them as a food source and prepares to perform ritualistic killings. Director Eli Roth delivers a gruesome film inspired by 1980s cannibal movies, updated with contemporary special effects. The deaths are drawn out and graphically depict the mutilation of the human body. It’s a dark and shocking film that critiques performative activism while reveling in extreme violence.

‘Hostel’ (2005)

Three young travelers in Europe are tricked into staying at a hostel in Slovakia, where they fall victim to a horrifying scheme. They are sold to a secret group that caters to the desires of wealthy individuals who pay to torture and kill others for entertainment. The film explores the disturbing idea of human life being treated as a commodity and the vulnerability of being stranded and helpless in a foreign country. ‘Hostel’ is known for its graphic and brutal violence, and it played a significant role in the rise of the ‘torture porn’ trend in the mid-2000s.

‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)

A sheriff and a small group venture into a harsh and empty landscape to save town residents who have been kidnapped by a tribe of cannibals living in caves. The movie builds tension slowly like a classic western before suddenly erupting into intense violence. The villains are frighteningly effective and communicate with unsettling whistles. One scene, known for its graphic and realistic brutality, shocked viewers around the world. The film masterfully combines the western and horror genres, creating a truly terrifying experience.

‘The Sadness’ (2021)

A terrifying virus sweeps through Taiwan, eliminating people’s self-control and unleashing their most violent desires. Those infected remain conscious and able to speak, but commit horrific acts of sexual assault and murder. The film is brutally graphic, filled with constant bloodshed and disturbing imagery, creating a sense of complete chaos where anyone could become a victim. ‘The Sadness’ is a shocking and overwhelming experience that takes the zombie genre to its absolute breaking point.

‘Terrifier 2’ (2022)

I have to warn you, this movie is intense. It follows Art the Clown as he terrorizes a young girl and her brother on Halloween, and it’s seriously disturbing. It’s a really long film, and everything is done with practical effects – it’s all very over-the-top and gruesome, but in a way that’s strangely unsettling. There’s one scene, in a bedroom, that’s become infamous online because of how brutal and drawn-out it is. Honestly, I heard stories about people getting sick during screenings – even fainting! It’s definitely a slasher film that doesn’t hold back, and it really focuses on the pain of the characters. It’s not for the faint of heart!

‘Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer’ (1986)

The film centers on Henry, a detached man who casually kills people with the help of his unpredictable friend, Otis. It doesn’t glorify murder, but portrays it as a bleak and ordinary aspect of Henry’s life. A particularly unsettling home invasion scene, filmed as if with a home video camera, feels incredibly realistic. Michael Rooker delivers a frighteningly subtle performance, making Henry seem disturbingly human. The film originally received an X rating because of its controversial themes.

‘The Last House on the Left’ (1972)

Two teenage girls are kidnapped and brutally tormented by escaped convicts while attempting to buy drugs. The situation escalates when the parents of one of the girls discover the killers are hiding in their own home, leading to a violent and bloody confrontation. The film is shot in a gritty, documentary-like style, making the violence feel disturbingly realistic. It’s a jarring experience, mixing dark humor with extreme brutality, and offers a harsh, unfiltered look at the consequences of violence.

‘The Girl Next Door’ (2007)

This disturbing film tells the story of a young boy who uncovers a horrific secret: his neighbor is holding her orphaned niece captive and subjecting her to brutal abuse. Even more shockingly, the neighbor involves her own children and other kids in the torture. The film is based on the true and tragic case of Sylvia Likens, which amplifies the emotional impact. It’s a deeply upsetting portrayal of the darkness that can exist beneath the surface of seemingly normal suburban life, and the graphic depiction of the abuse is extremely difficult to watch.

‘Kill List’ (2011)

This film follows two hitmen whose latest job pulls them into a terrifying world of cults and the occult. What begins as a gritty crime story quickly transforms into a full-blown nightmare, featuring shocking bursts of violence – including one particularly brutal scene. The ending isn’t just scary, it’s deeply unsettling and leaves a lasting impact. It’s brilliantly crafted to create a sense of dread and constantly keep you guessing.

‘Speak No Evil’ (2022)

A Danish family pays a social visit to a Dutch family they previously met on holiday, but the visit turns unsettling as the hosts become increasingly hostile. The film highlights the perils of excessive politeness and the difficulty of setting boundaries. The tension escalates gradually, culminating in a truly hopeless and devastating climax. The characters are punished for their passive behavior, leaving the audience feeling both frustrated and deeply frightened. The ending is among the most bleak and disturbing seen in horror films recently.

‘Baskin’ (2015)

When a team of Turkish police officers answers a call for help in a secluded location, they unexpectedly encounter a bizarre and disturbing Black Mass ritual. The film unfolds like a nightmare, as the officers are forced to endure horrifying ceremonies performed by a sinister cult. Visually striking and intensely graphic, ‘Baskin’ creates an unsettling, otherworldly atmosphere. The film’s villain is a chillingly calm and philosophical figure who oversees the gruesome events. ‘Baskin’ is a terrifying journey into a nightmarish realm with no way out.

‘Possession’ (1981)

A secret agent comes home to a wife who wants a divorce and is acting strangely. Her emotional distress takes a bizarre turn when she begins a relationship with a monstrous being in their apartment. Actress Isabelle Adjani gives a famously intense and unhinged performance, particularly in a harrowing scene filmed in a subway tunnel. The film uses elements of horror to depict the anguish of a failing marriage and a painful breakup, creating a deeply unsettling and emotionally draining experience for the audience.

‘Angst’ (1983)

The film ‘Angst’ follows a recently released psychopath who immediately commits a home invasion, intending to kill the family inside. The movie is notable for its intense, close-up perspective, letting viewers hear the killer’s disturbing thoughts. It’s shot with dynamic camera work that mirrors his erratic movements, and deliberately avoids glamorizing the violence, portraying the murder as brutal and chaotic. ‘Angst’ offers a deeply unsettling and uncomfortably intimate portrayal of a killer’s mind.

‘Eraserhead’ (1977)

Henry Spencer struggles to cope with life in a harsh, industrial setting while also caring for his severely disabled and constantly crying baby. Director David Lynch crafts a disturbing and dreamlike experience, filled with unsettling sounds and images. The baby is represented by a shockingly realistic and repulsive puppet. Rather than a clear story, the film uses fragmented, dreamlike scenes to create a feeling of intense anxiety. It’s a powerfully unsettling film that stays with you long after you’ve seen it.

‘Begotten’ (1990)

The experimental film ‘Begotten’ begins with a striking and disturbing image: a god-like being tearing itself open in a barren setting. Filmed entirely in stark black and white, the visuals resemble animated inkblots. Without any spoken words, the film relies on unsettling sounds – crickets and heartbeats – to create a dreamlike, nightmarish atmosphere. ‘Begotten’ isn’t a story in the conventional sense; it’s a challenging, immersive experience that feels like a recovered fragment from a forgotten nightmare, more focused on endurance than narrative.

‘Man Bites Dog’ (1992)

A film crew documents a captivating serial killer, who details how and why he commits his crimes. As they follow him, the crew members start to lose their professional distance and become involved in helping him, all in pursuit of more compelling footage. What begins as a dark comedy gradually descends into genuine horror as the violence escalates and becomes deeply personal. The film is a biting critique of how the media can become involved in harmful acts and the public’s disturbing attraction to violence. The unexpected transition from comedic to terrifying moments is particularly jarring for viewers.

‘Snowtown’ (2011)

I was completely disturbed by ‘Snowtown’. It tells the story of a manipulative man who convinced people in a struggling community to help him commit terrible acts of violence against those he deemed outsiders. What really got to me was that it’s based on a true story – the bodies-in-barrels murders in Australia. The film doesn’t glorify the violence; it’s shown in a very stark, almost documentary-like way, which makes it even more horrifying. It’s less about the acts themselves and more about how this man psychologically controlled others, turning everyday people into people capable of such cruelty. It’s a really bleak and unsettling film, but it feels incredibly real, like a horror story rooted in social issues.

‘Grotesque’ (2009)

This film follows a young couple who are abducted and brutally tortured by a cruel doctor. It’s essentially a series of gruesome scenes showcasing inventive ways to inflict bodily harm, with very little story to connect them. While similar to the ‘Saw’ movies in its graphic violence, it lacks any real plot or moral complexity. In fact, it was refused a rating by the British Board of Film Classification because of its intense and sexualized violence. This film is intended only for viewers who are specifically seeking extreme gore.

‘Trauma’ (2017)

A group of four women traveling in the Chilean countryside are assaulted by a man and his son, who are haunted by a disturbing past. The film begins with scenes set during the Pinochet dictatorship, offering background to the subsequent violence. It contains graphic and extended depictions of sexual assault and explores how the trauma of a repressive regime can impact future generations. This is a very difficult film that doesn’t shy away from portraying suffering.

‘Megan Is Missing’ (2011)

The film depicts two teenage girls who are abducted and held captive by someone they met online. The first part of the movie feels like a typical teen drama, but it shifts to a found-footage style that shows the girls’ horrifying ordeal. The acting in the last twenty minutes is incredibly powerful and realistic, with the girls convincingly portraying their desperate pleas for help. The film quickly gained attention online, and unfortunately, deeply disturbed many young viewers. It’s a harsh but important reminder of the dangers of the internet and the need for online safety.

Share your thoughts on which of these films you found the most difficult to watch in the comments.

2026-02-06 04:21