At first I was planning on doing a massive list with the likes of Cannibal Holocaust, A Serbian Film, August Underground, Murder-Set-Pieces, Salo and the likes, but then I got around to thinking that while these were disturbing, they didn't quite leave a mark on me, so I narrowed it down to to the following six films.
It definitely wasn't easy by any means, but this is a list of films that have disturbed me in a way that I just can’t stop thinking about them. Now, I know this list will probably be different from yours, so I urge you to share your list in the comments below. For now, welcome to my 6 Disturbing Films Etched in my Mind.
The Last House On The Left
For my first pick I’m going way back to the first film I remember that truly left its mark on me and that is Wes Craven’s The Last House On The Left. I've always been a horror fan for as long as I can remember, but this, this was a whole new level of horror for me. This wasn't a boogeyman, or some supernatural spirit, this felt real, and damn, did it look real. The film has this gritty overtone to it, but the moment that is etched firmly in my mind is when Mari is viciously raped by Krug and the whole gang just watches, they have this look on their face where for a moment you may actually think they may show some humility, but no. Mari is mercilessly shot in the back as she cleans herself in the lake. It was a moment that I will forever remember. You'll want a cold shower after this one.
Begotten
How the heck do I explain this one!? E. Elias Merhige’s experimental film Begotten is something truly unique. It’s a film which explains life, the earth and the creator. God is displayed as this entity disemboweling itself so Mother Earth can emerge and thus impregnate itself to give birth to the Son of the Earth, who is some convulsing man who goes about vomiting some sort of organic matter. Soon after there are scenes of rape and moments of pure graphic horror. It’s a very poignant film that deals with various religious themes all done in a very horrific way. I think I've watched this twice, maybe three times and I’m still not exactly sure if I fully understand it. But either way, it has definitely left its mark on me and I'm sure not to forget this one any time soon.
Men Behind The Sun
This next one is something I will forever be grateful for, it sounds bizarre, but it's true. T.F. Mou’s Men Behind The Sun was the film that made me aware of the atrocities which occurred during World War II by the Japanese at Unit 731. It was a facility which held secret biological weapons experiments while also conducting some of the most heinous medical experiments on Chinese and Soviet prisoners. The film could be a documentary of sorts, perhaps that was Mou’s intention, but because of its scenes of brutal violence it’s more of an exploitation film and it is in your face. The experiments that you see are absolutely revolting and I believe some of the footage or maybe at least one scene contains real autopsy footage. This one is definitely for those of you who aren't freaked out by gore as it is just full on. This one is full of controversy especially regarding the live cat, but apparently the cat was perfectly unharmed and even received some fish as a reward. But yeah, this will definitely make you queasy, but it also serves as a great history lesson.
Cutting Moments
About ten years or so ago I bought a DVD from a bargain basket. It contained four films on the disk (can’t remember the other three for the life of me) but one really stood out and has forever stayed with me and that is Douglas Buck’s short horror film Cutting Moments. It is a film that has made me so sad upon watching it and giving me this uneasy feeling which I have only ever felt with one other film and that is Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs. Cutting Moments is a film which follows a young couple, Sarah and Patrick, who keep their emotions to themselves and are extremely cold to one another and act like complete strangers. But one day, Sarah tries to gain the attention of Patrick, but he is too fixated on the TV, so she takes matters into who own hands and begins a moment of self-mutilation. From here out, it turns into an orgy of violence. It truly is shocking, dark and utterly depressing.
Mermaid in a Manhole
I couldn't have a disturbing list without including one of the infamous Guinea Pig films, I mean these films pretty much set the bar for the shock factor, but for me, possibly the most well-known entry, Flower of Flesh and Blood, isn't the one that disturbed me the most. Nope, that one goes to Hideshi Hino’s Mermaid in a Manhole. For me, the film plays out like a love story, with a twist. In the film we follow an artist who has recently lost his wife, and stumbles upon a mermaid in the sewers, yes, sewers, the thought is odd, but hear me out. It soon turns put to be a mermaid he met when he was a young child, but she becomes trapped, so he frees her and takes her home. Soon enough things turn a little sour as the mermaid begins to develop boils or tumors all over her body from being exposed to the sewers, and what we get are some utterly grotesque scenes and a sad end to this fairy-tale. But in doing so the artist is able to paint a portrait from the blood and pus from her wounds just before she dies. It’s such a tragic film and some of these scenes still haunt me to this day, but whenever anyone asks me to recommend a love story, this one is almost always on the list. (Quick note, the image below is the only one I could find without making you nauseous.)
Headless
And finally we come to one of the most recent films I have seen, Arthur Cullipher’s Headless. For those of you who have seen Scott Schirmer’s Found, will have had a little glimpse at Headless during the film, but nothing could prepare you for what you’re about to witness. Headless is not only disturbing, but it is already one of the best films I have ever seen. Does that make me sick? Who knows, all I know is that I love horror and Headless is definitely for you gore-hounds. The film follows a young boy who is tormented, locked in a cage and made to do some unspeakable acts and thus his childhood is non-existent. In later life he becomes obsessed with death, skull-fucking and the thing that makes me most nauseous, chomping on eye balls (This is all thanks to the eye scene in Zombi 2). It’s full of gore, depravity and definitely not for those with a weak stomach. It’s been a while since I've had a film linger in my mind, but thanks to the exploding eyeballs, Headless has done it.
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