11 Realistic Horror Movies That Are Hard To Watch
What qualifies a film as horror ? That our stomachs are turning in our throats from shock? It creeps into our souls like a parasite and stays with us, like a stench that we can't get rid of? Or maybe we realize in a possible, not so distant reality that the occasions we choose to entertain are not so far-fetched at all? What makes the films listed so strong and the audience response so strong is that no one is immune. An absolutely horrific sight that we paid money to sit and watch could have happened to any of us. We've seen enough crime documentaries to know that.
Each film chosen has its own unique method of engaging the audience. Whether it's the sheer brutality, the dark foreboding that the mother of all jumps brings, or the psychological implications we're forced to consider as we go through the story with the characters, these films are knocking on our doors with our worst fears and nightmares. and asked to be accepted. They are able to touch the subtle inner nerves and whisper to our subconscious mind how safe we are. This film choice takes away the mystique of the horror genre and makes the fears real, and once we're hooked on them, they're hard to shake.
Updated May 13, 2023: If you're a horror fan, you're in luck. This article has been updated by Mona Bassil to add additional content.
Hitchers (1986)
If you've ever thought about hitching a ride on the road, then the action horror thriller The Hitcher , directed by Robert Harmon and starring charismatic actor Rutger Hauer, is sure to stop you from doing so. The plot revolves around the dangerous and hot-tempered John, who is innocently picked up by Jim (C. Thomas Howell) on a Texas highway.
As they pass the abandoned vehicle, John claims he killed the driver and threatens to do the same to Jimmy, daring him to "stop me". Horrified, Jimmy drives him away and then finds another car with the butchered family. Then the game of non-stop chase really begins, with Johnny following Jimmy and trying to outrun him while sending him bloody messages, like the severed finger he found during a much-coveted restaurant dinner.
Devil's Pool (2003)
Directed by Joel Viertel and starring Kip Pardue and Tara Reid, Devil's Pond is a direct-to-video love story turned violent escapist thriller. The story begins with two newlyweds, Mitch and Julianne, left alone in a cabin by the lake, completely isolated. Sounds like a quiet, intimate start to life together, right?
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Unfortunately for Reid's character Julianne, Mitch has a sinister ulterior motive and a sinister ending. Once he realizes he has betrayed him, Mitch's harrowing descent into madness begins and Julianne's desperate attempts to regain her freedom begin.
Street (2009)
Based on the 2006 book by Cormac McCarthy, The Road was directed by John Hillcoat and stars Viggo Mortensen "Man" and Kodi Smit-McPhee "Boy". This grim and depressing film is a wild ride as an unknown disaster has left the land barren and people as wild as the first humans from America. We will see how the two main characters, a father and his son, travel through the wilderness of what was once the United States of America, barely surviving the elements and what is left of humanity.
This isn't your typical horror film. However, it is he who does not shy away from the terrible and base instincts that lurk in the human soul. Seeing this, the audience will be amazed and wonder whether society will become terrible if the apocalypse occurs. The House of Cannibals sequence is disturbing and one of the main messages of the film.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Directed and co-written by John McNaughton and starring Michael Rooker in his first acting role, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer follows a psychopath who goes on a killing spree after being released from prison. It's a perfect example of the gore, guts, and basic gore you'd expect in the psychological crime horror genre.
For starters, the opening scene alone features a woman covered in blood, bent unnaturally, her eyes open but staring into a lifeless void. More often than not, horror is equated with suspense and masked people. However, Henry was one of those monsters who didn't hide their face or killing intent.
"If you shoot someone in the head with a .45, every time you kill someone, it's like a fingerprint, see? But if you suffocate one of them, shoot the other and cut one and not the other, then you know the cops won't do it." ." don't do it." . I don't know what to do. Make him believe that you are a different person. What they really want, that makes the job easier is a model. That's what they call the modus operandi."
Henry kills indiscriminately, leaving many victims in his wake, and greets each new interaction with a level of indifference that can become indifference. He is the epitome of a sociopath who takes life without hesitation or regret.
Eden Lake (2008)
Eden Lake is a British-French horror thriller film written and directed by James Watkins and starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender and Jack O'Connell. Steve and Jenny are madly in love and fiercely loyal to each other. Steve takes Jenny to the countryside to propose. Unfortunately, a group of violent local teenagers decide that the pair are nothing more than bait for their violent rage games.
This gripping cat-and-mouse portrayal does not disappoint in its attempt to showcase every blood-soaked, adrenaline-fuelled moment of terror the duo had to experience. Eden Lake , set in rural England, is one of the few films to effectively address the theme of "Broken Britain", the unrest in British society, particularly among young people. This is not a recommended choice for horror fans who like stories that end well in the end.
According to The Guardian, "it's a vicious nightmare that wildly stifles the coveted redemption and vengeance in the third act, delivering only nihilistic howls and devilish satires at our supposed social ills: knife crime, gangs, and the fear of a 'broken society. .' ". ." .
Deadly Land (2016)
What creates the most sinister outdoor environment? Be it a lake, a corn maze, or a dark forest, fear is sure to creep in. Australian thriller Murder Spot , directed by Damien Power and starring Harriet Dyer, Ian Meadows, and Aaron Pedersen. no exception.
Told from the perspective of a camping trip gone horribly wrong, this wilderness accident delivers all of the tense, straightforward energy we're used to in slasher films, without any relief in sight. From the thrilling twist of the main character finding a missing child alone in the desert, to the all-out gorefest that follows, Killing Ground is relentless.
Be My Cat: A Film About Anne (2015)
It recalls the eerie aspects of the incel movement growing sadly, along with images and memories of fans going too far to adore their favorite celebrities (eg Yolanda Saldvar with Selena Quintanilla Perez and Robert John Bardo). with Rebecca Schaeffer), Be My Cat: An Anne Movie delves into very bigoted territory.
Inspired by actress Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, director Adrian Tofei put together "found footage" to convince the actress he admired so much to work with him. By doing so, he managed to bring about great discomfort and horror. Be My Cat is the first in Tofei's trilogy, followed by We Put the World to Sleep and Pure.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Revenge is one of the most satisfying storylines for horror audiences, as the hunter becomes the hunted. What happens when a normally obedient family is pushed to the brink? In Dennis Iliadis' Last House on the Left, we get a front row seat to how far a mother and father will go to avenge the brutal rape and murder of their beloved daughter. The culprits were some gang members who were sitting in his house.
This remake of Wes Craven's 1972 masterpiece of the same name leaves nothing to the imagination as the couple's worst nightmare—and their undeniable parenting instincts—is relived. The film stars Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Garret Dillahunt and Spencer Treat Clark.
The Stranger (2008)
Inspired in part by the Manson Family Tate murders, The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertinois, is a chilling exploration of isolation and terror that will have viewers running their hair down and doing a double-take. Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) plan a quiet, romantic getaway after a rejected marriage proposal leaves them disconnected and uncomfortable. However, instead of the peaceful escape they had dreamed of, they were met with a terrifying disturbance.
Classified as a psychological thriller, this film will keep your eyes glued to the screen as you both question each other and… their sober state of mind. This is another title that leaves viewers confused about the ending and definitely not for those prone to anxiety and paranoia.
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
A remake of the controversial 1978 film of the same name , I Spit on Your Grave, directed by Steven R. Monroe and written by Stuart Morse, holds nothing back and is definitely brutal. Jennifer (Sarah Butler) is a writer who decides to rent a secluded cabin for privacy while working on her next project. She then had the misfortune to encounter a group of men who sexually assaulted her and tried to kill her.
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Fortunately, he evaded their capture and turned the tide in a graphic and unforgiving manner. Don't be surprised if some of the more explicit scenes, including tooth extraction and tooth extraction, are unbearable. No mercy is allowed here.
Neighbor Girl (2007)
Directed by George M. Wilson and starring Blythe Auuffarth as Meg and Blanche Baker as Ruth, The Girl Next Door is perhaps one of the most difficult to watch. The plot follows a young teacher, Meg, who is taken in by her Aunt Ruth after the death of her parents.
The events that unfold are terrifying, as the director goes to great lengths to show the unspeakable and constant cruelty committed to Mega, not only by her supposedly beautiful aunt, but also by her cousins and neighborhood boys, at Ruth's behest. If you are a parent, this hour may be especially difficult for you. This film is based on the tragic murder of Sylvia Likens and is dedicated to her memory.
Even though the horror genre can sometimes be designed to give the impression of being fun, funny, or scary, there are some films that make us uncomfortable. As the images featured here are, this horror is hard to swallow as it taps into a part of our mind that is deliberately muted, reminding us that we are never safe from the worst of human tendencies. More precisely, the indifference with which we risk it, or the open malice that can be hidden behind a polite face, or the appearance of a romantic partner, or nature itself.
Whether it is the elements that attract us or the people we innocently choose to surround ourselves with, we can never be sure, nor can we worry too much about it. This is where the real horror lies.