Other Disturbing Movies... and Some Thoughts.
Funny Games was hard to watch. I think it's the senselessness of the violence, and the innocence of the victims that effects me - and I think we all should be shocked when it does.
A few others that have stayed with me (in a disturbing way) are:
Straw Dogs (the 1971, Dustin Hoffman movie - didn't see the remake)
This was disturbing on many levels, but one particular thing was the rape scene - and the fact that she seemed to start enjoying it - really brought up some weird feelings.
Man Bites Dog (1992)
along the lines of Funny Games.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
This one really disturbed me when I first saw this. It makes you ask, why? - but I'm not sure anyone can truly understand the mind of a psychopath and why they commit their heinous acts...
Closet Land (1991)
Alan Rickman is scary as *beep* in this movie. It was kind of groundbreaking the way this film was made - with only two actors (Rickman and Madeleine Stowe)sitting in a room the entire time.
The Experiment (2010, Adrien Brody)
I guess this was loosely based on the real-life experiments done @ Stanford University in the early 70's. Really interesting how people can change when you give them free-reign power over others. Power without consequences. disturbed me, nevertheless. I do remember watching a documentary video when I was young - about this same subject. Put a uniform on someone, give them a billy club, then put them in a position of power and see how they change. Most people would say "No, I would never behave like that. I'm a good person", but the experiments showed that something really raw and primal comes to the surface when certain people are put into that situation...
American Psycho (2009)
This film stands out with its mix of silliness, humor and horror. Probably the best movie showing the superficiality of the 80's. Unforgettable.
Antichrist (2009)
Not much to say about this film - except I will never watch it again.
You know - I've heard movies described as art imitating life, but in reality, 'real life' can be so much more grotesque.