UGHHHHHHHH!
I am so aggrivated!
I thought I had seen “Gummo” and liked it (I couldn’t remember for sure because it had been awhile and I have seen a ton of movies), so when I had the opportunity to rewatch it tonight I was really excited. After watching the intro I realized I had NOT ever seen it and was so siked that I had the chance to check it out. I have read on MANY list (this one included) that is it one of the most disturbing movies ever, so I couldn’t wait to see what I was getting into.
Without spoiling it for anyone who has not seen it, it was a HUGE disappointment. Sure it had disturbing elements to it, but it very “PG”, and at times just flat out STOOOOOOOPID. There were so many random things being thrown into it to add to the “weird” factor that it actually took away from what little plot there was. That just made the whole thing seem even more cheesy.
I got the impression they were just going for “Let’s just make this as fucked up as we can” and not care so much about whether it made any sense. I don’t know? Maybe I missed the whole point, but I doubt it. I like to think I know a decent movie when I see one… I definitely love a movie that makes me want to think and contemplate. All this movie made me want to do was make a stiff drink, warn others not to bother watching it and forget about it….
So, what’s next peeps????
The Act of Seeing with One’s Own Eyes by Stan Brakhage.
I’m not easily ‘disturbed’ by fiction. Martyrs, Irreversible, and so on—as shocking as they may be I find comfort in their unreality. It’s the real stuff that sticks with me, and maybe none more so than this film, which I never have to watch again because of its impression on me, and its final truth that we are all meat, and all due to be unceremoniously handled by dispassionate workers on the slab.
5/5, by the way.
I was going through this list and was quite surprised I didn’t see A Serbian Film listed but finally Johnna posted it. Right on there. I haven’t seen a lot of the ones on here but damn, A Serbian Film is really messed up. And a pretty good movie at that (I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this). A wonder someone can put together a movie with such material.
I also enjoyed Funny Games and I’m surprised to hear it’s considered so controversial. And I also remember Irreversible having some hard to digest parts. What a depressing film.
Bloodsucking Freaks is not a particularly good film and it tries too hard to be shocking. If you’re a teenager, it might offer some stupid giggles. Salo is a better example because it’s a piece of art designed to force the audience to stop watching.
A Serbian Film or The Human Centipede tend to fall into different categories than Salo. They are like the amusement park ride or the skydiving excursion that folks will goad each other to do for a momentary shock or thrill.
I have found through my experience with underground artists and fanatics that only a certain type of appetite will be whet by this sort of aesthetic/philosophical umbrella, but those who are genuinely intrigued will be hooked for life, therein lies the true meaning of the term; a scarce group of people driven to a self-sustaining “underground” community, where everyone knows everyone, who are generally shunned by those who hold ethically and technically sound art and literature in the highest of esteem (I have also discovered that those involved are almost always highly astute in the history and finer points of their respective medium).
To anyone truly interested in delving deeper (the “underground” puns get pretty old after a while) into this fringe art scene, try the following films, filmmakers, writers etc. for starters:
Jorg Buttgereit
Jim Van Bebber
Ron Atkins
Roger Watkins and Last House on Dead End Street
Peter Sotos
Adam Parfrey and Feral House
Boyd Rice
If you find the lack of technical aptitude or moral uprightness contained within said examples offensive, this stuff isn’t for you.
The Act Of Seeing With One’s Own Eyes
Last House On Dead End Street
Salo
without a doubt INTERRACIAL HOLE STRETCHERS 6. that scene with annette shwartz and lorelei lee? yikes!
Incidentally, while compiling the list I came to the realization that the list of my favorite films runs parallel to that of which have disturbed me the most profoundly:
Scum and Elephant by Alan Clarke
Combat Shock by Buddy Giovinazzo
I Stand Alone by Gaspar Noe
Salo (a popular choice, for damn good reason) by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Fear by Gerald Kargl
Cutting Moments by Douglas Buck
COME AND SEE and IN A GLASS CAGE, probably. I STAND ALONE too. Oh, and ANGST.
uhmmm…disturbing
IRREVERSIBLE by Gaspar Now
SALO by Pasolini
MARTYRS by Pascal Laugier
DANCER IN THE DARK, MELANCHOLIA by Lars von Trier
HUMAN CENTIPEDE by Tom Six
DESPERATE LIVING, PINK FLAMINGOS by John Waters
THE PIANO TEACHER by Michael Haneke
VIDEODROME, SHIVERS, CRASH by David Cronenberg
and maybe
CUBE by Vincenzo Natali
ALEXANDRA’S PROJECT by Rolf de Heer
Probably Dead Ringers.
controversial? without a doubt MILK NYMPHOS – a dude went on trial for that
Santa Sangre, but it’s so damned funny!
The first time i saw Event Horizon, i was 8 and it disturbed me more than anything i’ve ever seen since then.
That movie still frightens me.
Antichrist definitely disturbed me, Flowers of Flesh and Blood was “ruined” bc i’d seen the documentary on it before i’d actually seen it.
Also, I second Odi’s Dead Ringers, if there was an equivalent made about urologists, it’d probably be the most horrific thing in the world to me; i couldn’t imagine the first trip back to the gyno after that film haha
“Lemon Popsicle 4- The VD years”
Hasn’t anybody mentioned CARGO 200 yet? I think this is one of the most cruel, sad and terribly true to life film I’ve ever watched.
I’m becoming curious about Salò by the way
Salo and A Serbian film.
Salo, The Isle, and Violated Angels.
Some films I find disturbing in their wonderfully fascinating approaches to show humanity at it’s most cruel and infuriatingly violent moments in an extreme yet unforgettable way.
Others , I find to be extremely intolerable in their crude and extremely vulgar way of trying to find funny jokes out racism and homophobia. I’m an avid supporter of Family Guy, South Park or 9gag.com in their ‘subtle’ ways of depicting these issues ; but I found Bruno to be the most insulting/disturbing piece of shit I have ever seen up until now – and that after having watched Jessica Alba’s Mother Theresa act in the horribly racist Honey.
For visually disturbing, Antichrist and Cannibal Holocaust. Both amazing but i would never watch again. For emotionally disturbing Margot at the Wedding, Gummo and Cries and whispers.
Dogtooth
Lars von Trier’s
Gummo
The Dreamers
go watch our movie guys and you may be change your top 5
http://mubi.com/films/born-from-pain
^ I can vouch for this one. It’s good, too.
Hey guys!
Has anyone seen anything lately worth mentioning? I’ve been a bit out of the loop.
Thanks!
Anything with Nicholas Cage.
El Edgariin
Punishment park. A very foreboding picture back then, which shockingly reflects the political opression and corruption that is being conducted on us today. It is very scary how accurate it is.Kinda like Network.