Topic: What was the most DISTURBING movie you ever saw?


Topic Posted by: Mitch
Email: pmitch01@msn.com
Date Posted: Tue May 27 23:43:37 1997
Additional Comments:

The most truly disturbing movie I ever saw was Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer, a low budget film with a cast of unknowns and done in an almost documentary style. Do not watch this alone and/or with the lights out.

A close second was River's Edge with Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye, Crispin Glover (in a wildly over-the-top performance) and Dennis Hopper.

What's even more disturbing is that they are both based on fact, although Henry's supposed to be a composite of different killers. Not a very comforting fact.

The ultimate praise that I can give them is that they were so realistic, I never want to see them again.

What disturbs you?

Posted by: Mitch
Email: pmitch01@msn.com
Date posted: Fri May 30 1:00:21 1997
Message:

Before this topic disappears off the Board, I wanted to thank everybody who answered. I hadn't expected the theme to go the Civil Rights and Holocaust direction, but I'm glad it did.

Just as an afterthought, some movies that I suspected to be included, and weren't, were Hitchcock's Psycho, Friedkin's The Exorcist, and Tod Brownings Freaks.

Posted by: Chicken Little
Email: Falling Skye
Date posted: Thu May 29 19:15:20 1997
Message:
Silence of the Lambs, Seven & the Changeling

I liked SOL and I'll probably see Seven --- with my eyes closed!, Thanks CL...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Cheryl
Email: cheryl.a.white@boeing.com
Date posted: Thu May 29 10:01:29 1997
Message:
"Platoon" - I threw up in the theater - I can't stand any war movies - especially involving the Vietnam war! We don't give enough credit to our veterans for their living hells!

I think I have difficulty relating to Oliver Stone and his work, that's the reason I avoided this movie. I liked 'Full Metal Jacket', though...eom...Mitch

Posted by: CoCo
Email: theEdge.com
Date posted: Thu May 29 1:37:28 1997
Message:
The movie that keeps coming to my mind as a dispressing and disturbing movie is the one with Nicolas Cage..Leaving Las Vegas, I think is the name. Anybody see it?? He played such a dark and hopeless character. I agree with whoever said that a disturbing movie is one that stays with you long after it is over. This is how I felt about Leaving Las Vegas. He definitely deserved an Oscar for his performance.

I was familiar with the book and was afraid the movie was a little too close to home for me to see...eom...Mitch Loved it! I agree that LLV was very disturbing...it gave me chills and made me cry. eom (Zarah)

Posted by: Maria
Email: San Mateo,CA
Date posted: Thu May 29 1:34:20 1997
Message:
Mitch, I've seen both of the films that you mentioned. Remember, I like being disturbed.
The most disturbing film I've seen recently is KIDS. Like you said, so realistic and so much so that it doesn't even feel like a movie, more like you're eavesdropping.
Here's a link with a review of the film KIDS : http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/lef070.htm

For the ultimate in true disturbance try Faces of Death. These films, there are 4 of them, are so disturbing because they are real footage of gruesome deaths, suicides, hostage situations, accidents, etc. The one part that I cannot watch is the animal deaths part. I have to turn away or FF through them. Strange how that is, I can watch the people but not the animals. It's just that the animals are so helpless and well, I don't know, I just can't take that type of thing, even with my morbid curiosity. Besides, I'm a vegetarian.

There was a show on the Bravo channel about French opera composer Hector Berlioz...It had some very graphic scenes of an abattoir... I couldn't watch...makes me consider vegetarianism...I've seen the FOD videos and can understand people's fascination with them...Death is the ultimate taboo in our society...eom...Mitch

Posted by: mollyb
Email: winniferd@hotmail.com
Date posted: Wed May 28 23:31:16 1997
Message:
Seven was pretty haunting. I rented and watched it alone one night. then I had to take it back to the video store at 11:30 pm. i was ready to keep it over nite and pay the late charges to avoid having to go outside. but i wanted that movie out of my house ! i still get creeped out thinking about the body coughing on the bed. does anyone remember which sin that guy was ?

The Sin of Coughing in Bed?...Hi, Molly!...eom...Mitch

LOL !!! but you must remember the 7 deadly sins from Catholic school - sloth, envy, greed, pride, lust,. see i cant remember the othr 2. can u help ? eom molly

Anger and Gluttony round out the 7...aka the Capital Sins...would you believe I still have a copy of the Baltimore Catechism, ca. 1955?...I bet my milk bottle has more black spots than yours!...Love our chats, mollyb...eom...Mitch


Posted by: Ilar
Email: Michigan
Date posted: Wed May 28 18:03:47 1997
Message:
The Omen, The Diary of Anne Frank, Schindler's List and Silkwood. Also, The Long Walk Home and any movie portraying the civil rights struggle, especially during the 50's and 60's.

My favorite 'motivational' civil rights movies are the The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman and To Kill a Mockingbird...eom...Mitch

Ditto to ..Miss Jane Pittman and ...Mockingbird---EOM

I just thought of something...My next door neighbor refers to me as 'Boo Radley'...Is this a good thing or a bad thing?...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Tina H
Email: $$
Date posted: Wed May 28 15:46:56 1997
Message:
Did ya happen to see Sleepers? Just rented it a few weeks ago. It really got you thinking. I love movies that can make you think about them for days. After this topic is nearly through, I will print it and rent the ones I haven't seen.

Try reading the book-it was even better than the movie....eom-LisaJ

Sleepers

Thanks , I'll read the book. eom tinah

Posted by: Sarabeth
Email: none
Date posted: Wed May 28 14:57:25 1997
Message:
"Jacob's Ladder" with Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Pena. You think it is about one thing and at the end you are BLOWN AWAY! Seen it several times and get something different each time. The first time the movie stopped and my husband and I just sat there for about ten minutes - couldn't even talk! "The Prophecy" with Mimi Rogers and David Duchovny. Sort of a religious conversion that borders on irrationalism...or does it. Makes you seriously think about that mystical part of religion where you just believe and how that appears to the rest of the world. (If you hate movies, try John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany.") "Nomads" with Pierce Brosnan becoming an extremely sexy biker not quite dead guy! Stretches your boundaries and definitions of death. The last scene is etched in my mind. I consider movies disturbing when they stretch your beliefs and really make you think.

Good definition, Sarabeth!....I always wondered what happened to Elizabeth Pen(y)a...a beautiful actress...eom...Mitch

Elizabeth Pena was in Lone Star last year. eom

Posted by: haroldthedog
Email: pvpound
Date posted: Wed May 28 14:41:15 1997
Message:
Movies which disturb me to this day are "Straw Dogs", "Last Exit to Brooklyn"and "Kalifornia". I want to see "Natural Born Killers" but have been hesitant to rent it.

Straw Dogs is my kind of movie...haven't seen the others, though, sorry to say...eom...Mitch

Hey, HTD, I'm one of the three people in the world who LOVED **Natural Born Killers** - I guess ya love it or hate it!! Remember - it's SATIRE, and CARTOONY and you may be the 4th person who enjoyed it!! eom Kelly O

Posted by: Corynne
Email: St. Louis
Date posted: Wed May 28 13:33:51 1997
Message:
Mississippi Burning really made me mad. Most Civil Rights movies disturb me so to speak. Seven got to me like many of you. Once I got over the initial shock of what the movie was actually about I enjoyed it but the ending freaked me out. I think I sat throught that whole movie either with my mouth open or my hand over my eyes. I thought about that movie long after I left the theater. Thought i might even have nightmares but I didn't.

Hi, Corynne! Made your chicken and rice recipe. Loved it!...eom...Mitch

So Many of you tried and liked it!! I'm so glad. Thanks for telling me. EOM (Corynne)

Posted by: Bear Hunter
Email: The Cave
Date posted: Wed May 28 13:27:27 1997
Message:


Hmmmm. Disturbing movie? It would have to be, without a doubt, Faces of Death. That poor monkey getting "bobbed" in the head then everyone eating it's brains was nasssssssty.


Next would have to be "Deliverance". I never looked at a pig the same since then.


And third . . . . . would have to be have to be "S.O.B." Why? Yes . . . it was a good movie but I was stunned for life seeing Julie Andrews "boobs". I mean . . . GAAAAAWD . . . she's JULIE Andrews "The fields are aliiiiiive with the Sound of Music" . . .like . . . ya know?


GRRRR!

Boy! . . . After reading this post, I'm gonna rent aloooot of movies this weekend. eom. . . . . Oh yeah . .. GRRRR!

Mary Poppins poppin out all over! You crack me up BH....by the way.....pssst...

Actually . . . . .

Posted by: Carole
Email: n/a
Date posted: Wed May 28 13:15:50 1997
Message:
Hi! Good question. Elephant Man.

Another truly sad tale...it would have been sadder still if he had ended up as part of Michael Jackson's 'collection'...eom...Mitch

LOL! That would make anyone suicidal. eom

Posted by: Cheri B.
Email: cb
Date posted: Wed May 28 12:55:34 1997
Message:
Good topic, let's see...Faces of Death, part 1, A clockwork Orange, Henry and most recently, Kids.

Funny you should mention 'Clockwork'...I just bought a recording of Baroque composer, Henry Purcell's music...his funeral dirge for Queen Anne is used in the movie...I'm afraid people only ever remember Rossini's 'The William Tell Overture'...eom...Mitch

Oh yeah, Jacob's ladder, too!

Posted by: mags
Email: always home
Date posted: Wed May 28 12:36:43 1997
Message:
"Unforgiven" because there wasn't a redeemable character in the whole movie and "Closet Land".

I don't think I've even heard of either one of these, Mags...I'll have to check them out...eom...Mitch

Clint Eastwood directed and starred inUnforgiven I'll try it this way! Mags

My Principal (movie-aholic) described Closetland to me and I found just hearing the description disturbing! eom (Sousin)

Posted by: Pierce the creep
Email: Your Id
Date posted: Wed May 28 12:28:49 1997
Message:
I thought "Kids" was brilliant but REALLY disturbing. After seeing it at the theatre I called up my teen sister and yelled at her! Yeah, "Seven" was pretty horrific too because I'll never be able to get those images out of my head. More recently the new Cronenberg film, "Crash" which tried to be disturbing but was just disturbingly BAD.

Replies: (list all replies)

You're right. I see two groups of 'disturbing' movies here, PTC...gratuitously dist and with-a-serious-message dist...I'd put 'Kids' in the latter...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Jason R. Carter
Email: dragonballz2@hotmail.com
Date posted: Wed May 28 11:44:47 1997
Message:
Without a doubt,'Menace II Society'

I'm gonna have to check that one out, too, Jason...eom...Mitch

Boyz in the Hood - that got me thinking! eom Sarabeth

I agree with you on Menace II Society, very disturbing (eom/Maria)

Posted by: Diane
Email: ****
Date posted: Wed May 28 11:06:36 1997
Message:
Taxi Driver

Sid and Nancy

Drugstore Cowboy
I don't recall ever seeing Crispin Glover in another role after River's Edge, but he definitely should have won an oscar.

Diane, did you post a message about my 'Favorite Childhood TV Show'?...

Yup. Don't you wish you still had that Jerry Mahoney doll? I wonder what they go for on the collector's market. eom Diane

My sister said I LOOKED like Jerry Mahoney...closer to the truth than I care to admit....older sisters can be MEAN!...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Babzilla
Email: Denver
Date posted: Wed May 28 10:02:57 1997
Message:
I saw "Henry" a few years ago by myself. It wasn't that bad except for the bathroom killing. That movie is actually about Henry Lee Lucas, a real serial killer. All Holocaust stuff disturbs me. But for a movie that was truly weird and that bothered me, I must say "Crash." It was just out. It stars Holly Hunter and James Spader. It's about this group of people who have sexual fetishes for car crashes and body scars. It's by David Cronenberg..ICK!

Thanks for the info...I liked Cronenberg's SL&V but don't know if I could handle Crash...I told a person about Henry...she rented it and started yelling at me about it the next day...her name?...BABS!...how ironic...eom...Mitch

Hey Mitch, have you seen

Allow me to try again

Haven't seen that one, Babsy, but I like David Lynch's work. I remember a friend taking me to see 'Eraserhead' --- a disturbing film in its own way --- when it was strictly an underground. cult movie. I found out later that Lynch found inspiration for that film while staying in a Philadelphia hotel near where I lived. I can relate...eom...Mitch

Posted by: LisaJ
Email: na
Date posted: Wed May 28 9:18:41 1997
Message:
I saw your comment on the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC-I've been there-what an amazing experience. It is designed to give to give you a sense of the Holocaust by taking you thru it step by step. I won't describe it here, but I was amazed to see people who didn't have a clue about the whole thing, experiencing the horror first-hand (well as first-hand as a museum can get).

You have to buy tickets to get in, and for me there were 3 parts that really floored me. If you go, we'll se if you found the same three amazing. One was the area dedicated to the American Response to notification of the existance of the camps. I won't tell you the other two. But its worth going. It is both the saddest and most awe-inspiring place. It brings the expression NEVER AGAIN home, and into your heart.

The next time I'm in D.C. I'll definitely go. I'm disgisted by people who take the attitude, 'It never happened'. We MUST bear witness. Equally disturbing are the people who say, 'So What? The Holocaust isn't the only example of genocide in history.' Of course it isn't, but it's the most thouroughly documented example in history....good to hear from you LisaJ...eom...Mitch

Hi Mitch honey-its always good to see your posts. I always enjoy reading whatever you have to say-you feeling ok these days? eom-LisaJ

Metza-Metza...but better than I was feeling...Thanks, LisaJ...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Kelly M
Email: na
Date posted: Wed May 28 9:11:43 1997
Message:
Silence of the Lambs

Yep, that one is scary, too...Love Anthony Hopkins...from Hannibal Lecter to Richard Nixon...so convincing...so appropriate...eom...Mitch

I'm usually careful to avoid these kinds of movies but I saw this one and have had occasional nightmares for years. eom (Sousin)

Posted by: Abi
Email: XXXX
Date posted: Wed May 28 8:56:03 1997
Message:
I would definitely have to say "Seven". It really disturbed me, I thought about it for days, couldn't get it (the ending) out of my mind. My son warned me I wouldn't like it...but did I listen, he** no! So, if you haven't seen it yet, think twice, if you are a sensitive person!

Replies:

Heard about it....only reasons I would see it are Brad Pitt and Gwenyth Paltrow...very glamourous couple...eom...Mitch

Posted by: Kelly O
Email: na
Date posted: Wed May 28 8:42:34 1997
Message:
Good morning, Mitch! I agree - River's Edge was very disturbing, but the one movie that to this day creeps me out TOTALLY is "I Spit on Your Grave" - a lovely little story about a woman who was raped and sodomized by four redneck-types, then proceeds to get even with them one by one. Let me tell ya, the scene with her taking a bath with one of the rapists and slicing off his cojones is one I'll NEVER forget!

I've heard of ISOYG....Sounds like 'Deliverance' from a woman's point of view...eom...Mitch

I loved the scene with the outboard motor in the lake!!EOM (Bob)

Disturbing yet satisfying, (Maria/EOM)

Posted by: Tracie
Email: none
Date posted: Wed May 28 6:11:52 1997
Message:
A few years back my husband rented a series of movies called The Faces of Death and it was real film of real people, really dying! Some of it was skydivers falling, bear mauling....but the one that really upset me was one where a rapist/killer video taped himself doing the crime....and to see it and know it was real, was too much I couldn't watch it.

I've seen FOD video in the rental store...THAT really was beyond the pale...eom...Mitch

Tracie, the part that disturbed me

Posted by: jj
Email: gcava19@mail.idt.net
Date posted: Wed May 28 0:36:08 1997
Message:
I saw an eight-hour documentary called "Shoah" about ten years ago. It was all about the Holocaust, and believe me, nothing could be more disturbing than a very long expose about man's inhumanity to man. "Horror flicks" -- the "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" stuff doesn't bother me -- the true horror films are about the consequences of hate in our world.

Replies:

jj, I saw that, too...ITA 100%...please read my response under Susie's message...eom...Mitch

Posted by: boobies
Email: ?
Date posted: Wed May 28 0:08:07 1997
Message:
The Hitcher with Rutger Hauer really bothered me. i can't watch a movie with him in it. also, the toilet scene from Trainspotting f-ed me and hubby up! We had just eaten giant burritos and it was all we could do not to puke. I did, however, really dig the tongue biting-out scene from Midnight Express-one of my alltime fave movies. Where is that darn shrink?

Replies:

Loved ME (sad about poor Brad Davis), I want to see Trainspotting but I haven't heard about Hitcher...worth renting you say?...eom...Mitch

Did The Hitcher have C. Thomas Howell in it too? If so that was a VERY disturbing movie! EOM. Tara

Mitch-what happened to brad davis?-you can rent the hitcher-but be warned! eom boobies!

BD died about 3-5 years ago from AIDS...eom...Mitch

Posted by: carin
Email: outasite
Date posted: Wed May 28 0:00:13 1997
Message:
Mitch, I rented 'Copy Cat' once, and I had to stop watching it, it was too real. I would be afraid of someone who likes those kinds of movies. I liked 'Pulp Fiction', but it wasn't a study in HOW to kill someone, I know it may seem the same to some people but the two are as different as night and day, as far as I'm concerned.

Replies:

That's how I feel about renting the movie 'Seven'...eom...Mitch

Copy Cat is on my disturbing list too! EOM, Tara

Posted by: Suzie
Email: hjholmes@sccoast.net
Date posted: Tue May 27 23:50:05 1997
Message:
I've always been interested in books on serial killers but I was too afraid to rent Henry. The most disturbing movie I've ever watched was Schindler's List. Actually, any movie dealing with the holocaust bothers me for days. I just can't believe it happened--and so recent at that.

Replies:

Suzie did you see 'Sohie's Choice'? My husband and I saw it at a theater, and when we left after the show, we were like in a depressed coma. I live close to DC, but I won't go to the Holocast Memorial, I couldn't take it. (carin) eom

There was an international scandal when highschool students in Oakland started laughing during Schindler's List...sociologists, psychologists, politicians and everybody else were editorializing about it for weeks....movies like that make me cry...I still can't watch any of the versions of Diary of Anne Frank without crying when she says, 'In spite of everything, I believe people are basically good at heart.'...Those are movies I think are good to disturb us...NEVER AGAIN!...eom...Mitch

Carin--I was also going to mention 'Sophies Choice, and Anne Franke

........Carin/MItch--Somehow I lost my whole message. Please rent the move,

Carin/Mitch--Where does my message keep going? I'll make this succinct. I was also going to list Sophies Choice and The Diary of Anne Frank, but there is another one you MUST see. It's called 7 Beauties, and it has layer upon layer to unpeel...I would love to discuss this movie with the two of you--and anyone else who sees it. There are subtitles, but they just don't get in the way. Let me now if you rent it, and we can talk about it. Love, BFNubbs :D eom

Hey Fuzzy!...Loved all of Lina Wertmuller's work...Good to see Giancarlo in 'Walk in the Clouds'...BFN, are you at the 'itchy' stage yet?....Like Mom used to say, you're getting better...eom...Mitch

Hi Mitch-It WAS great to see Giancarlo in Walk in the Clouds. (Keanu Reeves was nice to look at too). Made me want to chuck it all and move to Italy. I hope to visit one day before EVERYTHING on me goes to He!! in a handbasket (love that expression). So Mitch, did you see 7 Beauties? What did you think? I saw Swept Away (L. Wertmueller), but did not find it as profound as 7 Beauties. I don't know anyone who has seen this movie, except for my husband, and he slept thru the whole thing because of the sub-titles. If you did see it, what did you think? If you didn't, go rent it right now, this very minute and watch it, and come back here immediately and report to me!!!! :D eom

PS Not itchy yet-I think in about a week???!? Right now my nubbs are soft, but of course look soooooooo bad. I look like a gargoyle. The elephant wo-man. Something on that order. I am grateful for NOT itching at this point!! My mom always said that too! :D

I know I saw 7 Beauties when it came out...I remember the concentration camps scene...It was my 'foreign film' phase...but what a time to go through it!!!!...some of my favorites, besides Wertmuller's....Death In Venice....Garden of the Finzi-Continis -- Dominique Sanda's one of the truly beautiful actresses....All of Fellini's movies of the period---Satyricon, Roma --- loved the clerical fashion show at the end....Amacord...I SHOULD see all of these again...Movies, like books, mean different things to you at different times in your life, agree?...---sigh---Let's take a gondola ride down the Grand Canal to the Doge's Palace...we don't have to tell your husband...think he will miss you?...eom...Mitch

Oh man, I forgot all about Death in Venice. I LOVED that movie. Mahler's 5th makes me cry. I also loved La Strada, Tin Drum and Marriage of Maria Braun. eom Diane

Maybe there's room for one more in that gondola....no husbands/boyfriends...just you guys and Mitch...eom...Mitch


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