Although these movies may have traumatized me for life, there is absolutely no reason as to why they shouldn’t be some of my favorites . . . except Vivarium. I can’t recommend that to anyone.
#9. Mirror Mirror (2012)
Now we are not starting off very strong in terms of disturbing. I adore this movie and it is way up with my other favorite films. However, there is a slight SPOILER warning, if it matters. It is a complete and unique spin on the original Snow White tale, taken from the perspective of the Evil Queen. The camera work and CGI acts in all sorts of different realms, including this creepy alternate dimension with the Man in the Mirror, who is actually an eerie reflection of the Queen herself, one with terrible magical abilities. She is indeed the one mainly acting in the scariest scene of this movie, involving spellbound, human-sized marionette dolls. Their sole job is to attack the dwarves protecting our beloved main protagonist, Snow White, but the way they contort and twist their bodies is for one thing, possible, but it shouldn’t be, and for another—it’s flipping terrifying! But if you are not a ten-year-old, you should give this movie a try. I promise the wooden creatures are only there for a few minutes. Don’t count me on that . . .
#8. Vivarium (2019)
Now this entire movie is simply a pun on disturbia. I question why this movie was even made, but then again I always come back to the lore of the backrooms, some of you may know, and then I imagine the appeal. I viewed this film with my hopeful friend who had watched one too many Instagram reels on the potential of its scenes. We expected a sneaky and surreal liminal space picture, but we left feeling gross. All in all, a disturbing disaster up until the end, which was actually pretty cool, but there were many distractions that blocked it from becoming an acting masterpiece. Who wants to remake this with me?
#7. Identity (2003)
(Tiny SPOILER) I watched this following the ending of Shutter Island, a genius invention compared to this. I’m not explicitly stating that it was bad, but it could’ve used a bit of smoothing around the edges. Just like a lot of these movies, there were twists and turns, and I really liked all of the acting in this movie. But eventually, ideas run out of creative ways to say “They were crazy the whole time.” So even though it wasn’t anything I expected, it was entertaining and still, in a way, pretty unique, especially the little sneak-ins of science fiction.
#6. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)
Totally the best children’s movie, and I’m being slightly serious about it. I think this is one of the most inventive stories ever, and I rarely got bored watching it multiple times. But the premise is DISGUSTING. I mean, monsters that go after talented and special children for their eyes?! What a sick move. And they only strive for the children with neat abilities to fuel their own power. I would hate to be a cool child in that universe, but apparently, the monsters are capable of eating entire people (you’ll know what part I’m talking about). No matter how scary and, earning the title, disturbing this film is, it is honestly super enjoyable and creative. Add to your must-watch list.
#5. Shutter Island (2010)
I don’t have a heart, so says my mother, but this movie tested my emotions. It was an entire rollercoaster of self-manipulation and it rocked my inner imagination. I was like, “How could I do this . . . but better?” It was brilliant, and yes it used a common cliché that I mentioned in one of the above features, but they bent it completely and launched my negative criticism out of the ballpark. I tend to talk a lot when watching movies with someone, so do not watch one with me, but I could not utter any words by the end. Watch, watch, watch. It goes by quickly, don’t look at the time.
#4. Fight Club (1999)
This movie takes the cake for the term loopy. It hardly lost my attention because it would dive into, for once, related side stories that provided the little information we needed—the handy clues to connect the dots at the very end. Pretty twisty and done uniquely, once more. This was also based on a book, but the movie definitely ended it off better than the book ever did. When watched again, the twist always appears more evident than the last, and it’s no theory that your mind will be boggled. Both actors, Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, did their best in the weird flick. Also watch Red Dragon with Edward Norton. He may never change appearance (wink-wink), but he fluctuates his acting role splendidly. Same for Brad Pitt. That jawline can’t hide.
#3. The Truman Show (1998)
Oooooh, oooh, pick me to talk about this! I was obsessed with this when I first watched it this year. It was a wild ride, even when the false world was evident from the start. Most of these disturbing, strange films tend to tap into my fears, and this one was the icing on that Fight Club cake. The two movies are not related, but both only feed one of my thoughts: what if none of it is real? It’s an obvious question, but the simulation theory still stands. I’m just kidding, I don’t believe that, but after seeing how all of these movies connect, I wouldn’t be surprised. Jim Carrey is such a fluid actor, and another loopy movie I recommend is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both bring tears to my eyes, but I won’t let them show!
#2. The Thing (1982)
I really don’t care what anybody says. This is the scariest movie ever . . . okay, well maybe just for people who dislike body-horror. I really do care about opinions, don’t sue me. But John Carpenter’s The Thing was a god-send compared to its mediocre prequel and older movies. This crazy movie targets the fear of . . . the imposter, that someone among us is not like the rest. Yes, I’m hinting at the game because it was inspired by this very film. It serves its purpose as a good old horror movie and leaves you scarred, but the ending also does the loopy job that tricks the audience, even when the director didn’t intend a false truth. It is action-packed, and the key factor of isolation out in the frigid cold is not to be messed with.
#1. Fallen (1998)
If the title didn’t offer a bit of a hint, then you’d be fascinated to know that this underrated Denzel Washington film’s main factor is the fallen angel, Azazel. The premise includes the malevolent demon who orchestrated a series of murders to attract the influence of the law force. There is one freaky ability that Azazel has to torment our main detective, and it is the interesting power of possession through touch. Although it seems like a common theme throughout most unholy stories and horror genres (take The Exorcist for example), it boggled my mind how immediate the interaction could be between one human and another and another . . . It is a terrifying thought to be followed and tortured rather than released from life by this evil spirit, and I wouldn’t say this movie ends well like others above. Something about offering a taboo-ridden force to a terrible being is creepy, unfair, and has definitely occurred before. If you take an interest in the demonic and supernatural, please try this movie as Denzel never fails to put on a show, plus the many actors/actresses that had to undergo an unreal, and internal, transformation!