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One of the most disturbing mainstream movies in the past 10 years

posted 8 years ago by sqrrlface
7 replies | jump to latest

I'm not including films like A Serbian Film or Martyrs in this discussion. Although there are way more horrifying films, this one has always stuck out to me. With that being said, this film was way more disturbing than films like Saw or Hostel, which are not that bad for the most part (just gore). The slaughter of the family was incredibly brutal and sadistic, and really infuriating. The mother's death was just downright cruel to say the least. Unfortunately, this film followed the overused and unnecessary rape plot device with no meaning or further purpose in the movie. The rape scene seemed incredibly out of place and poorly done, to the point where I've heard people joke about it. It's also worth mentioning that the violence in this movie was pretty vicious and graphic, adding even more to the dark atmosphere.

What other movies do people feel like this with?

[–] MRJasonLOL 8 years ago

I agree 110%. I loved it, for a 'mainstream' movie, its one of the more brutal. I can only think of MAYBE The Descent? Apart from that, most mainstream flicks this brutal go straight to DVD or are from different countries (Example being "The French new wave of horror" genre)

--A friend is a gift you give yourself--

[–] tommyk1287 8 years ago

The Chaser really messed me up, it slowly brings your hopes up only to dash them again and again. The ending was just so messed up, and it didn't feel like justice was served in any way. It was almost too much, but still a good movie. Not really mainstream though.

[–] owlfy 8 years ago

What other movies do people feel like this with?

The ending to 'Eden Lake' was pretty messed up. 'The Mist' ending also stuck with me for a long time.

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

I agree with most of the things you said in the OP.

The things I don't agree with:

I don't agree with with conflating Hostel and Saw. Except for the final Saw film which was a piece of crap, Hostel is vastly more gratuitous & vastly more of a torture porn film than is Saw. And I also don't agree that Hostel's gratuitous torture porn isn't bad.

What other movies do people feel like this with?

I know of very few films like this one. Something you didn't mention in the OP but which I find to be one of the main things that makes this film extremely disturbing is that once the horror action starts, it keeps going relentlessly, with almost no break.

Most horror films don't work that way. Instead, they interrupt the horror action with long periods of boring filler wherein nothing exciting or important or scary happens.

[–] Jakethemuss 8 years ago

Its similar to Aja's Switchblade Romance/High Tension, in how the movie moves fairly peacefully for awhile with tension building gradually, then BAM the horror and violence starts and doesn't really let up until the credits.

I thought the nighttime attack on the family is especially brutal as it all happens at once; one person is attacked then another whilst everyone runs to help, then another. Basically, thing get real very fast!!

I also agree with OP how this movie, despite being adult horror, can't truly be compared to Martyrs and other examples of extreme cinema. This is still a mainstream horror movie made for mass audiences.

[–] sqrrlface 8 years ago

That's so true how did I miss that! Once it hit I never felt the anxiety or suspense lessen at all. There was really no filler scenes for this movie like you said, which makes you actually care for the characters and makes the movie flow much more smoothly. I think Aja learned how to do these things well with High Tension, another awesome movie despite the so-so ending (I actually kinda liked the ending!).

[–] 8 years ago

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