uncomfortable film suggestions?
April 6, 2009 5:28 AM Subscribe
Moviesuggestion-filter: Looking for eerie moody films like Crash (96), The Game, Cat People (82), Possession, The Fury, After Dark My Sweet...
Some of these are neo-noirs, but not all of them. I think I like the slow action, the unobtrusive music, and the overall sense of uneasiness.
I'm already pretty well informed about directors like Polanski, Cronenberg, De Palma, Lynch, and the Coen brothers.
Some of these are neo-noirs, but not all of them. I think I like the slow action, the unobtrusive music, and the overall sense of uneasiness.
I'm already pretty well informed about directors like Polanski, Cronenberg, De Palma, Lynch, and the Coen brothers.
Best answer: Let The Right One In (sadly, the halfassed subtitles on the initial DVD release detract from it a bit -- they're apparently fixing that)
posted by runehog at 5:37 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by runehog at 5:37 AM on April 6, 2009
The Ring
Changeling (the George C Scott one from 1980)
Funny Games
Caché
posted by mkultra at 5:41 AM on April 6, 2009
Changeling (the George C Scott one from 1980)
Funny Games
Caché
posted by mkultra at 5:41 AM on April 6, 2009
The Grifters
Seconding "Let the Right one In"
The Hunger
Flatliners
posted by degrees_of_freedom at 5:47 AM on April 6, 2009
Seconding "Let the Right one In"
The Hunger
Flatliners
posted by degrees_of_freedom at 5:47 AM on April 6, 2009
Never been made more uneasy than by Spoorloos. Avoid the American remake, The Vanishing, which is pretty embarrassing to all concerned.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:53 AM on April 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:53 AM on April 6, 2009 [2 favorites]
Probably the next step you can take into the dark side is the works of Guy Maddin.
posted by JJ86 at 5:54 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by JJ86 at 5:54 AM on April 6, 2009
The Piano by Jane Campion is magnificently uncomfortable; Tim Roth's unforgettable directorial debut, The War Zone, will make your skin crawl; Vinterberg's The Celebration; von Trier's Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark (though music in the latter is not unobtrusive, the film can quite accurately be called "uncomfortable"); Sean Penn's intense portrait of grief and guilt, The Crossing Guard; Soderbergh's debut sex, lies, and videotape; a couple by Gillian Armstrong, High Tide (awkward and uncomfortable mother-daughter relationship) and Oscar and Lucinda (Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett seem unable to fit into the world around them at all); Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge.
This is an interesting question. I'll keep thinking.
posted by cgc373 at 6:01 AM on April 6, 2009
This is an interesting question. I'll keep thinking.
posted by cgc373 at 6:01 AM on April 6, 2009
Response by poster: Hmm I've seen most of these. I'll check out Brick, Changeling, Funny Games, Cache, and Flatliners. I've seen everything from the Wired article except Safe or Three Days of the Condor, so I'll see what those have to offer.
posted by beerbajay at 6:04 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by beerbajay at 6:04 AM on April 6, 2009
Also I'm not sure if Bergman fits the bill. I'm thinking films such as Through a Glass Darkly.
posted by vacapinta at 6:10 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by vacapinta at 6:10 AM on April 6, 2009
I know you mention Lynch already, but the two movies of his I do recommend above all else are Lost Highway and INLAND EMPIRE. They are my favorites and very oppressive.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:55 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by slimepuppy at 6:55 AM on April 6, 2009
The Orphanage an extremely restrained and creepy ghost movie that I can't recommend enough.
Sexy Beast is a bit mixed but Ben Kingsley is fantastic in it.
Shadow of the Vampire, also mixed but has some great scenes with Malkovich and is a treat if you liked Nosferatu
Being John Malkovich kind of an obvious mention
From an international cinema class, some others that stand out in memory:
Raise the Red Lantern along with the Orphanage, probably the closest to what you're asking for
Memories of Underdevelopment a lingering Cuban film shot in a fragmentary style with a pleasantly repulsive main character
How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman Brazilian historical period piece about colonialism and cannibalism
posted by CheshireCat at 7:04 AM on April 6, 2009
Sexy Beast is a bit mixed but Ben Kingsley is fantastic in it.
Shadow of the Vampire, also mixed but has some great scenes with Malkovich and is a treat if you liked Nosferatu
Being John Malkovich kind of an obvious mention
From an international cinema class, some others that stand out in memory:
Raise the Red Lantern along with the Orphanage, probably the closest to what you're asking for
Memories of Underdevelopment a lingering Cuban film shot in a fragmentary style with a pleasantly repulsive main character
How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman Brazilian historical period piece about colonialism and cannibalism
posted by CheshireCat at 7:04 AM on April 6, 2009
A couple more foreign films (the Europeans, IMO, do the mood you're looking for way better than American directors):
The Others
The Devil's Backbone
Two films you probably already know the endings of even if you haven't seen them, but are still worth checking out:
Jacob's Ladder
The Sixth Sense
posted by mkultra at 7:13 AM on April 6, 2009
The Others
The Devil's Backbone
Two films you probably already know the endings of even if you haven't seen them, but are still worth checking out:
Jacob's Ladder
The Sixth Sense
posted by mkultra at 7:13 AM on April 6, 2009
Of course I think of more as soon as I've posted.
The Machinist, Memento, and One Hour Photo are all more commercial and have likely already been seen but are generally worth checking out
The one I really came back to recommend was the Norwegian version of Insomnia which is a murder mystery and much better than the American remake. It totally fits the neo-noir criteria and becomes increasingly uncomfortable as it goes on and the criminal investigation deteriorates.
posted by CheshireCat at 7:17 AM on April 6, 2009
The Machinist, Memento, and One Hour Photo are all more commercial and have likely already been seen but are generally worth checking out
The one I really came back to recommend was the Norwegian version of Insomnia which is a murder mystery and much better than the American remake. It totally fits the neo-noir criteria and becomes increasingly uncomfortable as it goes on and the criminal investigation deteriorates.
posted by CheshireCat at 7:17 AM on April 6, 2009
A few more suggestions:
The Proposition has a great score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The unease and heat of the Australian desert as well as Danny Huston's and Ray Winstone's barely contained violence just oozes off the screen.
Ravenous. It's not a very good film, but it has a great feel to it.
Sexy Beast got mentioned earlier and I heartily recommend it and would suggest you follow up with Birth, Glazer's follow up with a deliberately Kubrickian feel to it. (Which reminds me: you have seen Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining already, right?)
posted by slimepuppy at 7:20 AM on April 6, 2009
The Proposition has a great score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The unease and heat of the Australian desert as well as Danny Huston's and Ray Winstone's barely contained violence just oozes off the screen.
Ravenous. It's not a very good film, but it has a great feel to it.
Sexy Beast got mentioned earlier and I heartily recommend it and would suggest you follow up with Birth, Glazer's follow up with a deliberately Kubrickian feel to it. (Which reminds me: you have seen Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining already, right?)
posted by slimepuppy at 7:20 AM on April 6, 2009
I'm surprised that the first movie I thought of when I read your question hasn't been recommended yet: Buffalo '66.
posted by General Malaise at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by General Malaise at 7:43 AM on April 6, 2009
Eden lake
I had to stop watching after 30 minutes, but my partner says the movie made him cringe right until the very end.
posted by Sijeka at 7:54 AM on April 6, 2009
I had to stop watching after 30 minutes, but my partner says the movie made him cringe right until the very end.
posted by Sijeka at 7:54 AM on April 6, 2009
Another one that's maybe a bit out of left field: Perfect Blue.
posted by Prospero at 8:02 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by Prospero at 8:02 AM on April 6, 2009
Well, everything by Michael Haneke, not just Caché and Funny Games (either version.) Definitely The Piano Teacher.
You may also enjoy François Ozon's films, particularly Sea the Sea, Under the Sand, and Swimming Pool.
Claude Chabrol! 50 years of films which usually fall at least loosely into the category of psychological thrillers. Try La Cérémonie to get you started.
While I'm going on about the French, perhaps Le Samourai, by Jean-Pierre Melville.
Seconding The Proposition and the Devil's Backbone, too.
posted by desuetude at 8:27 AM on April 6, 2009
You may also enjoy François Ozon's films, particularly Sea the Sea, Under the Sand, and Swimming Pool.
Claude Chabrol! 50 years of films which usually fall at least loosely into the category of psychological thrillers. Try La Cérémonie to get you started.
While I'm going on about the French, perhaps Le Samourai, by Jean-Pierre Melville.
Seconding The Proposition and the Devil's Backbone, too.
posted by desuetude at 8:27 AM on April 6, 2009
The Conversation. After the Wedding (though the end gets treacly). The Limey. Timecrimes is an interesting one, a Spanish film. Don't bother with Flatliners. That movie was cute 19 years ago, but doesn't really hold. Yes, Flatliners came out 19 years ago.
posted by incessant at 9:13 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by incessant at 9:13 AM on April 6, 2009
the most unsettling film I've ever seen was ERASEREAD... A year later, I still feel uncomfortable thinking about it. ::shudder::
posted by changeling at 9:52 AM on April 6, 2009
posted by changeling at 9:52 AM on April 6, 2009
Siesta
The Cook the thief his wife and her lover
Kids
Let me ponder this one, I know I've got to have others.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:48 AM on April 6, 2009
The Cook the thief his wife and her lover
Kids
Let me ponder this one, I know I've got to have others.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:48 AM on April 6, 2009
The Last Seduction
Romeo is Bleeding
Seven
Saw (just the first one)
Killing Zoe
posted by K.P. at 11:09 AM on April 6, 2009
Romeo is Bleeding
Seven
Saw (just the first one)
Killing Zoe
posted by K.P. at 11:09 AM on April 6, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions thus far! I don't know if I'll get any more, but to narrow down the range, based on some films I've already seen:
More like "Let the right one in" than "Dark City"
More like "The Grifters" than "Magnolia"
More like "The Devil's Backbone" than "The Ring"
More like "The Proposition" than "Dancer in the Dark"
Less "Killing Zoe" or "Eraserhead" or "Pi" or "Seven"
I realize now that my choice of examples might skew towards the supernatural/explicitly weird, but I was thinking also of films like "No Country for Old Men" where there's nothing supernatural, just a quiet but unsettling mood throughout.
posted by beerbajay at 11:37 AM on April 6, 2009
More like "Let the right one in" than "Dark City"
More like "The Grifters" than "Magnolia"
More like "The Devil's Backbone" than "The Ring"
More like "The Proposition" than "Dancer in the Dark"
Less "Killing Zoe" or "Eraserhead" or "Pi" or "Seven"
I realize now that my choice of examples might skew towards the supernatural/explicitly weird, but I was thinking also of films like "No Country for Old Men" where there's nothing supernatural, just a quiet but unsettling mood throughout.
posted by beerbajay at 11:37 AM on April 6, 2009
Dead Man, Jim Jarmusch
The Element of Crime, Lars von Trier
Cure, Kiyoshi Kurosawa
posted by Dean King at 12:17 PM on April 6, 2009
The Element of Crime, Lars von Trier
Cure, Kiyoshi Kurosawa
posted by Dean King at 12:17 PM on April 6, 2009
I got back on to recommend L'Enfer ('94) and I'm happy to see that someone else said Claude Chabrol as well.
The R. Crumb Terry Zwigoff documentary
My Dinner with Andre (not really dark but it's got a certain tension)
Delicatessen (too obvious to have been mentioned yet?)
The Ice Storm, Imaginary Heroes, Rachel Getting Married (character movies - yes/no?)
Kids or Bully
La Haine
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Secretary
Quills
Belle De Jour
Oxygen ('99, if you're not expecting much and you liked Crash...)
Last Year at Marienbad (maybe better as a party background movie)
Grey Gardens (documentary - dark + delightful)
Theremin: An Electric Odyssey (not explicitely dark, rather sweet)
The Young Poisoner's Handbook
posted by degrees_of_freedom at 3:19 PM on April 6, 2009
The R. Crumb Terry Zwigoff documentary
My Dinner with Andre (not really dark but it's got a certain tension)
Delicatessen (too obvious to have been mentioned yet?)
The Ice Storm, Imaginary Heroes, Rachel Getting Married (character movies - yes/no?)
Kids or Bully
La Haine
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Secretary
Quills
Belle De Jour
Oxygen ('99, if you're not expecting much and you liked Crash...)
Last Year at Marienbad (maybe better as a party background movie)
Grey Gardens (documentary - dark + delightful)
Theremin: An Electric Odyssey (not explicitely dark, rather sweet)
The Young Poisoner's Handbook
posted by degrees_of_freedom at 3:19 PM on April 6, 2009
Exotica is what you're looking for. I rented it thinking it would be something like a low-budget Showgirls. I was very very happily wrong.
Stay is in the mold of The Machinist or Jacob's Ladder.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai had that feeling too, I seem to remember.
posted by cereselle at 4:08 PM on April 6, 2009
Stay is in the mold of The Machinist or Jacob's Ladder.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai had that feeling too, I seem to remember.
posted by cereselle at 4:08 PM on April 6, 2009
I knew as soon as I posted, I'd think of another one. Try Equilibrium. It's got action, but there's definitely an overall atmospheric feel, and some good use of color.
posted by cereselle at 4:12 PM on April 6, 2009
posted by cereselle at 4:12 PM on April 6, 2009
In lieu of Eden Lake (which is similar in plot/theme) or The Strangers (which is essentially a complete rip-off), see Ils (Them). It makes for extremely uncomfortable viewing.
posted by macdara at 1:55 AM on April 7, 2009
posted by macdara at 1:55 AM on April 7, 2009
Love this question! My recommendations w/varying degrees of discomfort:
Pola X
Cube
My Little Eye
The Last Winter
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
posted by lucyleaf at 7:06 AM on April 7, 2009
Pola X
Cube
My Little Eye
The Last Winter
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
posted by lucyleaf at 7:06 AM on April 7, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:29 AM on April 6, 2009