Vanessa Maki with ten horror movies guaranteed to make you uncomfortable…
Contrary to what some might think, horror is sometimes meant to make you uncomfortable and uneasy about what’s happening. We as viewers are occasionally supposed to be squirming in our seats or feeling extraordinarily nervous if we’re watching these films at night. And ultimately horror doesn’t need to be jump scares, screaming ghost girls, or a man with a knife to be effectively uncomfortable or scary.
Instead of focusing on horror movies that we all know quite well and rightfully love, the following films will range in how known they might be. Whether it’s an international horror film that’s all grime and grit, a low budget found footage film that found popularity on YouTube, or a Shudder original with a refreshing protagonist. The options are plenty and there’s something for everyone on the list.
Keep reading to find a potential new watch that’ll make you feel deeply uncomfortable during your first viewing. You won’t be disappointed, but you will likely feel uncomfortable, and that’s the point.
[REC] (2007)
The chaos and the inescapable situation makes for a stressful watch. [REC] follows a reporter and her cameraman who end up stuck in an apartment building that’s being quarantined. What starts off as a sticky situation, turns into a deadly one because of the infection that’s taking place in the building. And with there being no escape because of the police, everyone is essentially doomed.
Naturally the infection itself, how it manifests, and what it makes the infected individuals do to people very uncomfortable. However, this being a found footage film with a stressful atmosphere, and how nobody can physically leave, makes it even worse. The idea of escape isn’t really an option, therefore it leaves people with nothing to do but run and hide. The ending is relatively miserable, and if that doesn’t bother you, then absolutely give this one a try.
The House of the Devil (2009)
Before there was the X trilogy, Ti West gave everyone this ‘80s throwback that’s not entirely a slasher. The House of the Devil follows a college student who takes on a babysitting job, only for her life to be threatened because something isn’t right in the home. The film serves as a homage to the ‘70s and ‘80s especially in its style. You’d likely assume it was a film made in either of those eras because of the filming style.
The House of the Devil is slow and builds to the reveal of what’s really going on in that relatively large house. Rather than throw our protagonist into the thick of it immediately, the dread and her own paranoia builds and builds. It’s tremendously uncomfortable and builds a dread-inducing atmosphere. Whether the film sticks its landing is subjective, but it’s still something you should check out.
Starry Eyes (2014)
In this film there’s a firm reminder that Hollywood is cruel and powerful people often manipulate and sexually abuse people without consequence. Starry Eyes follows a struggling actress whose desire for fame turns extremely disastrous. It’s a gnarly little film with body horror that isn’t stylish and a very muted atmosphere as far as colors go.
It’s very clear in Starry Eyes that Sarah’s (Alexandra Essoe) quest for stardom is going to end quite poorly. At every turn, she’s faced with humiliating and exploitative requests from those in power. Meanwhile, she’s experiencing body horror and decides to give in to what’s happening to her. It’s a very heavy film that doesn’t lift its weight off of you until it’s over.
The Wailing (2016)
A gut punch ending is a promise in this South Korean horror gem. The Wailing follows a policeman who tries to investigate bizarre sickness and killings happening in a Korean village. The visuals throughout The Wailing will leave you unsettled and potentially disturbed, depending on your threshold. It’s absolutely not a film to expect a happy ending or a heroic save.
The film is long and takes its time to flesh out what’s happening, how it’s affecting the community and what it means for this desperate policeman, especially when his daughter’s life is on the line. Everything from the atmosphere, the behavior from the sick people etc is guaranteed to make you reach for your blanket. If nothing else, you’ll be uncomfortable with how everything plays out.
Capture Kill Release (2016)
It’s best to avoid this one if you 100% can’t handle people purposefully killing or harming animals in horror. Capture Kill Release follows a couple who have been planning to kill someone together, but their relationship begins to unravel when one of them gets cold feet. The film uncomfortably depicts how manipulation can manifest, the ways we try to change for people, and how some serial killers begin.
Capture Kill Release is a found-footage film, therefore it makes the violence and the filming of it feel all the more real. There’s a scene involving a bathtub, as well as the cat scene, that’ll make you feel like you’re watching a couple actually filming these things. The film is quite underrated in the found footage scene, and would appeal to folks who enjoy their found-footage to be really twisted.
The Devil’s Candy (2017)
Extremely artistic and dedicated to maintaining the essence of metal music throughout. The Devil’s Candy follows an artist who begins to experience disturbing things upon moving into a new house with his family. There’s quite a bit that’ll unsettle viewers about this film, especially when it relies heavily on disturbing imagery. Of course, with the lead character being an artist, his art is reflective of what’s going on inside him.
If you dislike mildly distorted, bizarre, and somewhat psychedelic horror films, then you will find enjoyment in The Devil’s Candy. Despite the title, it’s not a strictly supernatural horror film in that someone loses it due to possession. The film forces its audience to decide why people are behaving the way they are. And part of the unnerving aspect of the film is the fact that it’s left up to the viewer to decide.
Mother! (2017)
It’s best to check the content warnings for this one because it’s definitely not a good time for anyone. Mother! follows a woman whose life with her husband is disrupted when another couple visits and destructive, disturbing, and chaotic events begin to play out. The film thrives on chaos and doesn’t allow its audience to breathe once everything unfolds.
Mother! is one of those films that you experience and may never want to again because of the sheer destruction that occurs throughout. There are more than a few scenes that’ll make you wish Mother (Jennifer Lawrence) could just leave her circumstances and flee to a safe place. It’s a film that rattles your cage and is purposefully trying to make people uncomfortable as a result. Though it’s worthy of a watch and if you want to see Jennifer Lawrence in the psychological trenches, then you’ll get exactly what you’re looking for.
The Boy Behind the Door
The levels of discomfort in this one are definitely high. The Boy Behind the Door follows two best friends who are kidnapped by child traffickers, only for one boy to escape and return to save his best friend. It’s a film that not only allows for a young black boy to be the hero, but it touches mildly on a disgusting yet very real thing, such as child trafficking.
It’s a very tense watch because these are children in peril and the situation they’re in isn’t typical of a horror film. Instead of a slasher villain, these people who have kidnapped them are just simply human. And that makes it all the more uncomfortable because it’s another reminder that humans can be equally monstrous.
Megalomaniac
If you’re looking for grimy and disgusting horror, this one might be the one to check out. Megalomaniac follows the now adult children of an infamous serial killer, who are both on their own dark paths. It’s a film that you’ll either be able to stomach or you’ll tap out early because it’s quite graphic, disturbing, and unsettling in all sorts of ways.
It’s not a French film, but it does have similarities to New French Extremity films in its tone as well as extreme content. Therefore, if you’re looking for vibes like that, you’ll somewhat find them here. Megalomaniac isn’t heavy on plot and that’s where the film struggles, but it’s going to achieve its goal of making you feel uneasy. Therefore, it’s effective in that respect, if nothing else.
Milk & Serial
Occasionally a hyped up horror film is actually worthy of the hype it’s receiving. Milk & Serial follows a pair of YouTubers who take a prank too far, and from there the reality of who one of them actually is. The film is found footage, low budget, and available to view on YouTube, but none of that should stop you from watching it. In fact, it’s a film that people really enjoy and hype up because of what was done with such a minimal budget.
Milk & Serial has a simple story, but it’s executed in such a way that you’ll only appreciate it more. The feeling of discomfort with this one comes from how easy it is for our protagonist, who happens to be the villain, to do what he does. It’s well worth a little over an hour of your day, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how things unravel throughout.
Have you seen these films? What horror movies make you uncomfortable? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Vanessa Maki
