Okay I am officially disturbed

I am a horror movie fan, primarily a fan of the more cerebral psychological horror films like Jacobs Ladder and The Shining, I am also a big fan of fantasy horror like Hellraiser, Evil Dead, and The Mist (the Frank Darabont film not that crappy 80s movie).

Movie gore and things of that nature do not make me squeamish as they are fictional, so I am not usually disturbed by horror films.

Until now...

I have recently been introduced to some "films" (if I can truly even call them that) which have for lack of a better term "raped my soul". I say that because I read a review for one of these movies which expressed that feeling as well, and I could not help but agree.

These films primarily come from Europe and many of you have probably heard of at least one of them. These movies are not like The Human Centipede, oh no. These movies make Tom Six's work look like Rugrats.

The first of these movies is Inside. Now many might have seen this movie and shrugged it off. What I saw was over an hour sadism, on a level that took me beyond horror, it was just sick. I was not afraid at all during the film, I just felt sad, helpless, and defeated.

And this trend continues...

Next was Antichrist. This film was just a glorified sadomasochistic fantasy, albeit a beautifully filmed one. Lars von Trier is a very gifted director, but this film shows me a part of him I do not even think he is willing to admit to himself, and that is why he has to express it through cinema.

And then I saw it, the film to end all hope.

A Serbian Film

My god...

If there was ever a time that I felt so offended, and disgusted the was it. I actually did not want to see after this, i would have gladly given up my eyes. I wish I could just take the memories away, Jesus!

Maybe these directors accomplished what they set out to do, maybe the disgust I felt, the sadness, the helplessness. Perhaps this was all according to plan, but I cannot help but think upon other horror films such as the Shining that was an amazing film which created an atmosphere of fear and tension that did not need to show a women be ripped apart or raped to get its point across.

While death and violence are facts of life and are more than acceptable to be portrayed to convey a sense of fear and unease, I just cant help but hate myself for viewing these movies, they are like fantasy snuff films.

So ATS, do you agree? Or am I just a wimp?

If you have seen Jacobs Ladder, and what you have seen has disturbed, and unsettled you further then if you are anything like me the affect these films have had on you must be very dark.

Wow, you seen 'A Serbian Film'?! I haven't heard of the others, but I couldn't watch that movie. I know the plot. The crazy thing is there is more movies like that out there. Who is watching them? Are they even economically viable to whomever is producing them? Is it a tax-write off? I mean what is the point to making a movie such as this?!

Don't tell me you bought these movies and/or went to see it in a theatre somewhere?

reply to post by Openeye


I agree. I love horror films—my favorite film genre—but I have a tough time watching some helpless soul tortured in the sickest ways imaginable. It's like you say, not scary but disturbing, and shows how creative humans can be when it comes to imagining ways to inflict cruelty and torture. I want to be scared, not sickened.

Don't watch Human Centipede. I will not watch the Serbian Film. Thanks for the heads up. I did like Antichrist for the beautiful cinematography however.

ETA: Just realized I did watch A Serbian Film after I checked out the plot..... sick stuff.

reply to post by Openeye
I have to agree: A Serbian Film is the most disturbing movie I have ever seen in my life. There were parts that I had to close my eyes, which I have never done before while watching a movie in my life. Once you have seen it the horror sticks with you, I suspect for the rest of your life. What is worse is that a few months ago I heard they were making a sequel- YUCK!

reply to post by Openeye


European horror, particularly French, has always been superior to any other regional sub-genres. Of the movies you mentioned, I only found Serbian film to be particularly disturbing.

If you have the time you should check out "Martyrs". In my views, it is the best horror movie ever produced. It's french and it has the perfect doses of violence, psychological thrills, existential questioning and supernatural elements.

reply to post by Openeye


I haven't seen Antichrist and Serbian Film, but I have seen Inside. What a load of pure rubbish, IMO.

The plot is ludicrous, plain stupid. Blood and gore.

I suppose some like their horrors with more blood and gore, hearing the bones crack, where i enjoy my [REC], The Descent, The Thing type of scary flicks, and some supernatural classics.

Nonetheless, Inside was just a really bad movie.

I have not seen Antichrist,

I have seen the other ones. Human Centipede, both of them, were just stupid funny.

But A Serbian Film, I saw the uncut version. I was not amused. Even I have to draw the line somewhere.
Probably one of the reasons I have no confidence for the future of our species.

I just read the IMDb for Serbain Film.

An aging porn star agrees to participate in an "art film" in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film.

Umm.. No Offense, but who would watch it in the first place? I mean, this isn't exactly the plot I'd grab off the shelf and eagerly head home to watch over a bucket of popcorn. It sounds....perverse and sick. Who makes these things?

I have seen A Serbian Film
That was the most disturbing movie I had ever seen. I believe it's actually banned in many Countries. And rightfully so.
I recommend "Room 237" for a good watch. It's kind of scary but it's not disturbing.

Would you believe I found a youtube link to the entire A Serbian Movie, well 1:39:27 of it.
I can't believe it's on Youtube!

I would confirm and link it but you'll just have to take my word for it due to the movies nature. I'm 100% the T&C's would be against me doing that. It wasn't hard to find using Google.

I had no idea Youtube allowed anything like this. Just skimming through it and it looks pretty messed up. I don't think I'm going be seeing this one.

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I just read the IMDb for Serbain Film.

An aging porn star agrees to participate in an "art film" in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film.

Umm.. No Offense, but who would watch it in the first place? I mean, this isn't exactly the plot I'd grab off the shelf and eagerly head home to watch over a bucket of popcorn. It sounds....perverse and sick. Who makes these things?

Good question Wrabbit. The only answer I can think of is...as long as people are willing pay money to have their dark, sick natures catered to, there will be those willing to make these kind of films. Art they are not!

They are the sick offspring of greed and twisted souls....

Des

I tried to watch the Nicholas Cage movie 8mm a few years ago.

Couldn't do it. Spoiler alert................ The movie is about a detective tracking down the makers of a snuff film.

I lasted about seven minutes. Then left the theatre feeling sick.

It still haunts me to this day, I guess the realism of it.

reply to post by Openeye


the serb movie yes not good ,another mindf^%k is the movie flower of flesh and blood the review said a brilliant horror movie... i was shocked !

reply to post by Openeye


I don't watch any horror films or violent movies. You should feel relieved that you don't work in any area where you have to screen uploads from the public.

too many sick and twisted scumbags in the world today. The irony is the demand is there for horror films and so they keep making them.

In some earlier threads I addressed these movies.
I tried to find the ultimate horror movie and sought them out in threads such as this one.
These films are not so much horror as they are sick. I wish I could remember my phrasing from before because it covered my feelings so well about this topic. When I watched The Serbian uncut, it actually sickened me. Horror never affects me the way a sick film does. The despair and sinking feeling while viewing does not entertain me. I actually wish I could force forget The Serbian ever existed and move on with my life, but every time it comes up here I remember the bad parts.
The Human Centipede was almost comical to me. It too was a bit sick but in a way that was removed from reality enough to buffer me enough to laugh it off. I truly enjoy horror and will watch anything that may be entertaining, it is unfortunate that sometimes my search brings me to the sick side disguised as the horror genre.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I started asking myself the same question Wrabbit, I watched it going in knowing nothing about it other than it was described as one of the most disturbing movies of all time. I also heard it had some allusions to the impact of genocide, but I really fail to see how it "alluded" to anything other than suffering.

It is probably the only movie I have ever regretted watching, and this thread is a warning to all those who even consider it.

reply to post by LesMisanthrope

I did like Antichrist for the beautiful cinematography however.

Yeah like I said in my op I think Lars von Trier is very talented, I just also think he is a little messed up in the head.

reply to post by Thurisaz

You should feel relieved that you don't work in any area where you have to screen uploads from the public.

Actually that is my job more or less. I am a QA analyst for a major entertainment company and I test all their video streaming software. While I don't really deal with uploads from the public, I do stream most of the movies that come out on DVD and digital release.

How do you know it's not a snuff film already if it's as bad as you all say it is? Can't be no different than the movie Hostel? Never heard or seen this movie, after Wrabbit's description, I don't think I will.