“If You Haven’t Seen It, Please… Just Don’t”: 13 Disturbing Movies That Left People Traumatized

Given the number of people who excitedly wait for a new chilling movie to come out every time, we have to admit that they are often mediocre at best. Perhaps it’s the result of a low budget, inexperienced writers, predictable twists, or repetitive plots that dampen the whole experience. 

But all is not lost, as people in this online thread were recently sharing films that still give hope to the terror connoisseurs at heart. Below, you’ll find a list of the most disturbing movies guaranteed to send some creepy crawlers down your spine.

While you're busy adding these films to your must-watch list, don't forget to check out a conversation with screenwriter, actor, novelist, and story coach Neil Chase, who kindly agreed to tell us more about this genre and even shared his favorite chilling movie!

10 PHOTOS

#1

Human centipide.
 
YossiTheWizard:

For me, it’s just such an absolutely disturbing concept that I can’t believe the person who came up with it doesn’t have issues that need to be addressed.

#2

Requiem for a Dream it's not a horror movie but one of the most disturbing movies I've watched.

conn_r2112:

I remember watching it when I was younger, and at a certain point I legit had to pause the movie and go outside just to hear some birds chirp and see some sunshine.

#3

A Serbian Film.

minish4w:

Came here for this. I wouldn’t watch the movie again but, in terms of accomplishing what they set out to accomplish, it was a good movie. I feel bad for even saying that, lol. But man, that’s one that just can’t be unseen. Almost feel terrible for having seen it. On that note, if anyone comments about a movie that’s more disturbing than this one… I don’t think I’d want to watch it. And I’ve gone on horror movie binges that span the globe.

Naturally, the first thing Pictolic was interested in learning about was the film expert's all-time favorite disturbing movie. Chase shares with us that it's Ghost Stories, a 2017 film starring an ensemble cast that includes Martin Freeman, Samuel Bottomley, Deborah Wastell, and Amy Doyle.

For those who aren't familiar with the movie, he kindly summarized it. "The film centers around a paranormal debunker who tries to disprove three separate supernatural encounters. But he discovers they are connected chillingly. What stands out to me in this film are several moments that play upon the psyche of both the main character and the viewer."

#4

Schindler’s List. I will never watch it again.

u/ToBeReadOutLoud:

It’s an extremely good movie and I’m glad I watched it, but once was enough.

#5

A Clockwork Orange was up there on the list.

VidelSatan13:

I can watch a lot of horror but I watched it once and never again

#6

Hotel Rwanda.

u/becuzurugly:

I own it but have only watched it twice. I cry about it for days on end.

"A great example of this is found in the second story that he is trying to debunk - where he enters the home of a disturbed young man and sees the boy's parents standing in the kitchen," Chase continues telling us.

"They have their backs to him (and the camera) and appear to be standing at the sink, washing dishes. However, when the protagonist takes a second look, he sees that they are completely motionless. The camera lingers on this image, and the longer it does so, the more disturbing the effect gets.

Why aren't these people moving? Why aren't they speaking? Why do they have their backs to us? And, just as the investigator is about to take a step towards them, the boy gets his attention, and it pulls us away from those faceless characters. It's never revealed why they were behaving this way, which only adds to the mystery of that moment."

#7

American History X.

EgonsBrokenTie:

I can remember my buddy showing me the film. He had the videotape rewound and back in the case and I still had my jaw dropped while staring blankly into the turned-off TV.

#8

Threads... By far.

SV650rider:

I saw it years ago and still think about it regularly. Sometimes my friend and I need to talk about it to continue the processing.

Saintdavus:

This changed my idea of surviving nuclear war. I’m now glad I live in a high-target city and I only hope I get vaporized instantly if or when the time comes.

#9

Grave of the Fireflies (1988).

Foolish_Flame:

That was just such a devastating movie. Must’ve seen it about 20 years ago and I still think about it often. It still gives me goosebumps.

To learn more about the film genre itself, we were curious to find out what elements make a movie truly chilling.

Chase explains, "Disturbing films typically come in two varieties - those that are meant to disturb on a visceral level (such as shock-horror films like Hostel or A Serbian Film) and a smaller class of disturbing films that are meant to affect the viewer on a psychological level (such as the aforementioned Ghost Stories, and even non-horror such as Thirteen). I find psychologically disturbing movies to be most effective, much more so than movies with just gore and shock value."

#10

One Hour Photo. Robin Williams as a psycho. Brilliant but disturbing.