The movies that are so shocking and unsettling that they leave the audience thinking about them for a long time are always interesting. Typically packed with gore, body horror, and offputting imagery, these films are unforgettable for a reason. They force the viewer to think deeply about them to understand the narrative, as the endings are open to interpretation. Projects like The Lighthouse demonstrate that in recent years, this type of movie has only become more interesting as the visions of filmmakers can be more easily brought to life with exciting new techniques.

Many of these films are mind-bending sci-fi movies that will have you questioning everything or unforgettable action projects that take many twists and turns. Regardless of their genre, these films are all cohesive and firmly establish the rules of their worlds, even as they become more outlandish and unbelievable. Though speculative fiction is expected to push the boundaries of what we see onscreen, all of these works are determined to shock the viewer and present them with intense subject matter to grapple with.

10

The Lighthouse (2019)

Directed by Robert Eggers

Featuring some of the best performances in a Robert Eggers movie, The Lighthouse stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as a pair of lighthouse keepers growing slowly unhinged as the isolation and darkness of their post sinks in. Eggers has a cohesive stylistic aesthetic that plunges the audience into the eerie atmosphere of The Lighthouse from the beginning. Pattinson’s character, Winslow, becomes continuously uncertain of Wake’s (Dafoe) intentions and his terrifying stories about the horror stories of me who came before them.

It quickly becomes clear that Winslow is right to fear Wake, but he also realizes he can’t trust himself, as he begins to hallucinate and become attached to the lighthouse itself. Many classic myths and legends pᴀssed down from seafarers play a role in The Lighthouse, as the men are convinced their actions have marooned them at their post. The Lighthouse is a vividly imagined work, drawing the audience in with its visuals and shocking them with the story.

9

Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Directed by Adrian Lyne

Though Tim Robbins got his start in comedy, the actor quickly proved the depth of his dramatic chops with projects like Jacob’s Ladder. The film is in conversation with the experiences of Vietnam veterans after returning home, as the protagonist, Jacob, grapples with visions and hallucinations of another life. As Jacob’s Ladder progresses, new information makes Jacob realize that these images might not be as imagined as he believed; they might even be memories.

The тιтle, Jacob’s Ladder, gives the audience insight into what the twist of the movie is, but the journey to get there is relentlessly gripping. Timelines and realities intersect throughout Jacob’s Ladder, throwing Jacob and the audience into a perpetual state of confusion. Jacob’s Ladder might take you on a wild ride to the film’s conclusion. However, it does provide a satisfying end that answers some of the many questions that pop up throughout the narrative.

8

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Directed by Boots Riley

LaKeith Stanfield leads the surrealist dark comedy Sorry to Bother You as Cᴀssius Green, a telemarketer who falls deeper and deeper into the terrifying capitalistic world of his new job. At first, Sorry to Bother You appears to be a commentary on race and prejudice, as Cᴀssius is rewarded for using his “white voice” at work to appeal to the white customers on the other end of the phone. However, the science fiction element of Sorry to Bother You sneaks up on the viewer, taking the story in unexpected directions.

The narrative turn of Sorry to Bother You is almost impossible to see coming, turning everything the viewer thought they understood about the story on its head.

Cᴀssius learns the sinister intentions of his company and their amoral business practices but is seduced by the wealth and comfort that’s come into his life. As the conflict between the employees and the company mounts, Cᴀssius is put in the middle and continuously abused by his bosses. However, the narrative turn of Sorry to Bother You is almost impossible to see coming, turning everything the viewer thought they understood about the story on its head.

7

Naked Lunch (1991)

Directed by David Cronenberg

David Cronenberg is largely considered the father of modern body horror, crafting horrible and engaging projects that leave a lasting impression on the audience. Though Naked Lunch isn’t Cronenberg’s most famous film, it is one of his most dizzying, bringing to life the novel of the same name by William S. Burroughs. Naked Lunch stars Peter Weller as William Lee, an exterminator who goes off the deep end and loses all sense of reality.

Naked Lunch isn’t a direct adaptation of the book and takes many liberties with the story, but this allowed this iteration to work on screen. Like all of Cronenberg’s work, Naked Lunch drips with death and confusion, alienating the audience and pushing the characters down terrifying paths from which they can’t return. Deeply in conversation with the idea of the writer and what it means to create a story, Naked Lunch is an acquired taste that fans of Cronenberg will appreciate.

6

тιтane (2021)

Directed by Julia Ducournau

тιтane firmly falls into the body horror genre, showcasing intense and grotesque imagery that isn’t for the faint of heart. Starring Agathe Rousselle as Alexia, a serial killer who has Sєxual encounters with cars, тιтane takes its premise as far as it can, pushing Alexia to new and unusual physical encounters that become increasingly upsetting. As the film progresses, Alexia becomes more violent and becomes more deeply entrenched in her mechanical idenтιтy.

The director, Julia Ducournau, is also known for the horror movie Raw, bringing a unique style and sensibility to тιтane, which takes the gore and violence of Ducournau’s work even further.

The director, Julia Ducournau, is also known for the horror movie Raw, bringing a unique style and sensibility to тιтane, which takes the gore and violence of Ducournau’s work even further. Alexia is an interesting protagonist, and while it’s not easy to understand why she does what she does or what her ultimate goals are, her fervor and immediate desires are clear. All the characters in тιтane live in a foreign universe, but this encourages the viewer to meet the movie on its own terms.

5

Lost Highway (1997)

Directed by David Lynch

As one of David Lynch’s best movies, and perhaps his most unsettling, Lost Highway stars Patricia Arquette and Bill Pullman as the two tragic figures at the heart of the story. Like all of Lynch’s work, Lost Highway is open to interpretation, dealing with the juxtaposition between the idyllic American dream and the violent underbelly of society that hides next to this fantasy. Lynch left his films inscrutable and mysterious because he wanted the audience to engage with them on their own terms, drawing their own conclusions.

Blending elements of the neo-noir, mystery, and surreal genres, Lost Highway defies categorization, shocking the audience on purpose. The narrative ends where it begins, giving the viewer a sense that the order of events doesn’t matter and that the narrative will keep moving in a continuous loop. You have to be in the right mood to engage with Lost Highway and be open to thinking deeply about what the movie is trying to say.

4

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Directed by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Best known for their most recent movie, the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Daniels tested out their surreal fantasy style a few years before. Swiss Army Man, which stars Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe as a shockingly odd couple, is a fantastical twist on Cast Away. Dano’s character, Hank, is marooned on an island. However, when Manny (Radcliffe), a corpse, appears, he’s revealed to have shocking magical powers that end up saving them both.

As Manny starts to get closer to life and Hank attempts to bring them closer to civilization, Swiss Army Man blends genres and makes the audience question Hank’s sanity.

As Manny starts to get closer to life and Hank attempts to bring them closer to civilization, Swiss Army Man blends genres and makes the audience question Hank’s sanity. It’s impossible to say what the truth of Swiss Army Man is, as the premise takes some getting used to. Most of the dramatic moments of the project rely on the gas inside Manny’s body. However, once you accept the rules of Swiss Army Man, there are many laughs to be had.

3

Beau Is Afraid (2023)

Directed by Ari Aster

Ari Aster’s controversial epic, Beau is Afraid, sparked plenty of controversy for many reasons. At just under three hours, the movie takes the viewer on a harrowing journey alongside Beau, played by Joaquin Phoenix, as he tries to make it back to his mother’s house following her death. Full of confusing side quests and grotesque moments of body horror, Beau is Afraid delves deeper into the fears and anxieties inside of Beau throughout the project.

With plenty of surreal imagery, Beau’s worst fears manifest in the physical world many times over, leaving you wondering what was real and what was part of Beau’s imagination. There’s a deep level of self-awareness throughout Beau is Afraid, as Aster imbues even the darkest and most horrifying moments with unexpected comedy. Each act of the film takes you on a wildly different adventure, making it impossible not to have a strong opinion about Beau is Afraid.

2

Hundreds Of Beavers (2024)

Directed by Mike Cheslik

Hundreds of Beavers is an ultra-low-budget black-and-white silent film that just might be one of the best independent projects of 2024. Directed and co-written by Mike Cheslik in his feature directorial debut, Hundreds of Beavers sees its protagonist, Jean, go head-to-head with an army of beavers as he tries to earn money so he can marry the merchant’s daughter. A slapstick comedy styled after the works of Charlie Chaplin, Hundreds of Beavers takes you on an unforgettable odyssey.

While it takes a moment to adjust to Hundreds of Beavers, the best thing you can do is let go of logic and let Hundreds of Beavers carry you away.

Many of the stylistic choices of Hundreds of Beavers heighten the story and transport the viewer to a world with different rules and beavers that look like people in cartoon costumes. While it takes a moment to adjust to Hundreds of Beavers, the best thing you can do is let go of logic and let Hundreds of Beavers carry you away. The film proves that independent comedy can be bizarre and slightly offputting while making you laugh harder than ever.

1

Climax (2018)

Directed by Gaspar Noé

The director of Climax, Gaspar Noé, is known for his heavily stylized and surreal projects, and Climax is no exception to his iconic form of filmmaking. Full of music, dancing, and vivid color, Climax might be beautiful to behold, but it’s also intense and terrifying in equal measure. The story unfolds over the course of one night as a dance troupe is accidentally mᴀss-drugged by what they believe in LSD. From there, the evening only gets more unsettling and violent as they turn on each other.

Climax isn’t always easy to watch, as the project doesn’t shy away from showcasing brutal and grotesque moments. As the characters begin to hallucinate and lose their grip on reality, the audience will start to feel the same way, unsure of what’s true and what’s the effect of the drugs. The escalation of the violence and breakdown of relationships will push the viewer to their limits but make for a shocking project that’s impossible to look away from.