MovieChat Forums > The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1990) Discussion > Top Ten Most Twisted Films Ever

Top Ten Most Twisted Films Ever

posted 19 years ago by nickkarner
38 replies | jump to latest

Hey. So, I adore films that just make me squirm or really leave me with a sense of disturbance. You know, those awesome flicks that just mess you up in the head. I'm trying not to double up, although several directors on this list have more than one messed up film. What's your top ten? If you have more than 10 favorites, put those down too, I definitely have more than ten. I felt compelled to make out a list. In no particular order:
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
Taxi Driver
Happiness
The Brood
A Clockwork Orange
Nil By Mouth
Salo
Eraserhead
Ichi the Killer
Night of the Living Dead(Original 1968 version! try and tell me that scene where the little girl kills her mother with the garden spade isn't freaky!)
Pink Flamingoes
The Piano Teacher
Blue Velvet
Henry: Portrait of A Serial Killer
Julien Donkey Boy
Battle Royale
The Wicker Man
Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS
The War Zone
Begotten
American History X
Kids
Irreversible
Night and Fog
Sick

I could go on, but let me know. And by the way, I know NOLD is an old Romero flick, but try and tell me that scene where the little girl kills her mother with the garden spade isn't freaky! Good luck.
Hope to hear from you soon and hear about all these crazy sicko movies I've been missing!
-NK
informer

[–] one-fine-day 19 years ago

I'm slightly different in that I don't look out for disturbing films, though I do enjoy some of the challenging films you have cited (American History X for one). My taste is in gentler, independent films, so...

What is it about The Cook that is disturbing? I've never seen Greenaway, and he is by reputation a maverick, this is apparently his most accessible feature. Should I avoid this if I am of a slightly gentler disposition...?!

[–] nickkarner 19 years ago

Well, I always think that although it is very dark at times and they do cook a man at the end of the film, don't worry, I won't tell who. This is a beautiful film, which I think also made it controversial because it was shot so elegantly and lovely, that people went to see it and were appalled when they saw this extreme violence yet it was being shown in stunning imagery. Just my thoughts. That and a woman has a fork gouged into her cheek.

informer

[–] tripitacha 14 years ago

Being tortured by having pages of The French Revolution stuffed down your throat one by one with a wooden spoon, absolutely trumps anything from the Saw movies!

I love this film. It's so beautifully shot, so poetic.

Tomorrow is my birthday.

[–] ksagendo-1 18 years ago

I'd call this one twisted, no question, but very well done (no pun intended!)

My top 10:

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover
Taxi Driver
A Clockwork Orange
Deliverance
Lost Highway
Blue Velvet
Eraserhead
Natural Born Killers
Re-Animator (Campy I know, but still twisted)
Hannibal

[–] J-man 18 years ago

I'm a little late to the party LOL

I Stand Alone.

[–] JIM_KELLYS_AFRO 17 years ago

Holy Mountain

Bullshyt MR han-man!!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pbl1 17 years ago

Ernest goes to prison

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jejozi 11 years ago

The only thing twisted about Ernest movies is the audience.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] ajkt 17 years ago

You forgot Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and 2001 space odissey.

[–] rozix78 16 years ago

You can also add:
Ma mere - with Isabelle Huppert
La luna - directed by Bernardo Bertolucci

[–] MrNellbox 16 years ago

Werner Herzog's Even Dwarfs Started Small (1970)
(German title: Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen)

Is the most disturbing film ever, this one is a real nightmare.
I saw it for the first time this year & it's replaced ERASERHEAD as my favorite movie.

Potato man loves ketchup man.

[–] Khronos87 16 years ago

You want twisted? Try the hungarian black comedy, and bowel wretching TAXIDERMIA!

[–] filmscholar35 16 years ago

The most disturbing film I think I've seen is "The Untold Story", a 1992 Hong Kong film. Oh my god....

Also:

Salo, the 120 Days of Sodom
Cook, Thief
all those late 70s Jungle cannibal movies (Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox,etc.)
Irreversible

And, I've NEVER seen it, nor would I acquire it, (I think it's illegal in most areas), but there is a film called "Maladolescenza" that is supposed to be "out there uncomfortable" by anyone's standards.

[–] bella_mia 16 years ago

You can add:

Little Boy Blue (1997 version)

[–] barlowe2003 16 years ago

That I've seen:

The Devil's Rejects
Happiness
The Cook The Thief His Wife And Her Lover
Last Tango in Paris
A Clockwork Orange
Chinatown
Heavy Traffic
Coonskin
Flesh & Blood
Dead Alive

For now. Some, like Bloodsucking Freaks and I Spit on Your Grave, are so bad that I can't give them credit.