It’s funny how some films out there can be really, really great but leave you feeling really, really bad afterwards. Further there are some rather depressing films you probably wish you could “un-see”. Listed below are 5 films which are really in the upper echelon in terms of story, character development, pace, mood, etc. While these films won’t do much for your mood afterwards, we believe these to be truly fantastic pieces of art.
These films are created with expert hands and are feats in and of themselves. However the intent of the story is to get under your skin and (to properly tell the story) to leave you heartbroken, in tears, nauseous…or a combination of all three. The titles below are ones we believe are done in a fantastic manner but they do leave you feeling rather and incredibly depressed. At the film’s conclusion you feel emotionally drained and exhausted but you’ll be glad you saw them and made it through to the end…except maybe Irréversible. After that one, you’ll probably want to drink heavily until you forget that one.
So while most have scenes where you wish you would have looked away from cringe-worthy scene a moment sooner, you will remember them forever…and that’s not a bad thing. Also, these are in no particular order.
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Million Dollar Baby – As most people should know, and as Andy has recently written, Clint Eastwood defines the word “Legend”. To me, one of Clint’s finest efforts comes in this little package about a determined pugilist. The first half is a compellingly awesome story that is, more or less, about a stubborn girl and her nearly surrogate father. It appears to be the feel good movie of the year and a pro-woman re-imagining of the classic Rocky film. But when this movie turns sour, it does so in painful instance after painful instance. If you thought the fingernail scene in Syriana, or the hammer scene in Payback was bad, that’s mere child’s play compared to Maggie’s sad turn of events. This is not a Sunday afternoon movie but one that is both a joy and a chore to watch just to reach the end…but still, very well worth it.
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Requiem for a Dream – I just want to say this right off the bat: If you showed this to children when they are in Jr. High School, America would cease to have a drug problem inside of 10 years. I would argue that this is Darren Aronofsky‘s finest work and while this is a tale of 4 equally ill-fated people spiraling down at a rapid pace, as bad as it gets, you just can’t keep from watching. I’ve seen this just once and it was over a decade ago. Now just listening to the music gives me shivers like I had when I was watching it. After that singularly shocking viewing, even though I had no addiction, I still wanted to bathe myself in fire and peroxide. Most people reading this will have undoubtedly seen this so, we’ll move on.
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Irréversible – If you thought watching a movie where you had to read yellow subtitles against a movie that was 70% shot inside buildings lit by red lights and strobe lights was taxing, that’d the least of the beatings to be unleashed on your eyes. Poor, poor, Monica Bellucci. Shot in the style of Memento (i.e. backwards) this horrifying tale of assault and revenge comes just millimeters behind Requiem for the overall nauseating feeling you’ll be left with. If anyone hasn’t seen it yet, I would actually advise you stay away. Those of you who’ve seen it, please advise your friends to do the same. The movie shows the lengths someone will go to for revenge following their loved one’s assault. The difference here is that you witness all 11+ minutes of said act. The entire ride makes you feel sooo bad:( Especially when you see the very end. Holy shit!…or should I say Sacrebleu!
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Schindler’s List – Now this was a very tough look at an extremely bleak and horrific time in history. Yet it is handled with delicacy and respect that few but the great Steven Spielberg himself could have done. I was in 8th grade the first time I saw this, and like Requiem, I’ve seen this only once. We were led to our assembly hall and sat down to watch this film. Then, at the age of 14 I realized that this movie would forever redefine the way I look at things. Covering issues like racism, death, war and most of all courage set against one of the lowest times in recent history…and the worst part? Very few knew it was happening. Eye-opening and heart-breaking. Not easy to view but this is an important and remarkable movie.
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The Mosquito Coast – While most films have 3 acts, this (just like Million Dollar Baby) has two acts. 1st act – very good. 2nd act– very bad. The story about a mechanical and agricultural renaissance man/inventor (Ford), who is fed up with society’s unfair contrivances, takes his family and heads off in to the jungles of Central America. He tells them that because of some apocalypse that has befallen America they can never go home. This aids in their determination to start anew. They build a “Utopian” paradise but it only lasts so long. Things go belly up fast and everything continually goes to shit. Instead of telling his family the truth, Ford unfairly drags his family deeper into oblivion. This is the type of movie that just about mid-point, you’d want to turn the movie off and tell your friends you saw this neat, but different, Harrison Ford film. Sadly, this isn’t the case.
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So whaddya think? Not exactly the way to kick off the new week…but hey, like I said above these are important movies that need to be seen, or at least written about by the ones who did.
42 Comments
Red
Nice post. My top one would probably be 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days. Never before have I seen so many critics say a movie is arguably one of the best well made movies they’ve ever seen, but yet they couldn’t fully recommend it because it was so disturbing and they’ll probably never watch it again. As for me, I can watch it over and over simply because it is astonishing to see a movie made with such command and simplicity, yet it still shrugs at your emotions.
Another one is Boys Don’t Cry. Another great movie, and it has a special place for me in my film library because the events took place not 15 minutes from where I grew up.
Marc
Never seen either of them Red but thanks for the recommendation. Not sure I’ll hunt these down to see in the same sitting, but I’ll check them out.
One I was thinking about putting on here was The Devils Rejects. It’s equally “good in a bad way” but as the ones listed here have a sympathetic human element to them, Rejects is a straight up horror movie so I don’t think it belonged with these “important movies”. Still damn good though.
Red
Oh, and Antichrist.
Marc
I started watching it on Netflix Instant, and got about 10 minutes in (just got past that insanely graphic and heartbreaking slo-mo intro). But my wife was home and I didn’t want to have to explain it to her if she walked in on the wrong moment. One day though…
Red
Haha, fair enough. I know people that watched it on the computer before it hit theaters and didn’t like it as much as they thought they would. I happened to catch it at the cinema and thought it was fantastic. Beautifully shot movie that really works on the big screen. Never have I seen such a large percentage of the crowd walk out though because of of the emotions they were feeling from the movie, not because of the lack of quality. A girl in front of me was crying about half the time.
Peter Eramo Jr.
Gotta see Antichrist! Can’t wait!!!
Klaus
Interesting post. I find myself only watching these kinds of films once – and while not really regretting it, have little desire for a repeat viewing. I’ve been meaning to watch Irréversible for some time, and am not familiar with Requiem for a Dream.
I’d add The House is Black (1962) a short 22 minute film about a leper colony in Iran as one of the bleakest films i’ve seen.
http://klausming.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/the-house-is-black-1962/
Marc
Wow, never seen it. How did you come across this, being as it is a short film from so long ago?
Pretty sure if I ever see it, I’d second you last line. “One which you never want to view more than once”. Did they ever get the medication they needed?
Klaus
It’s in the most recent edition of the “1001 Movies to see before you Die” book, and was available as a torrent when i found it. As far as I know it wasn’t a happy ending for anyone. The film was a political statement that attempted to raise awareness – but it has long been considered a subversive piece of film-making for criticizing the state and religious belief in Iran.
Marc
Ah…I’ve seen that 1001 list and was so overwhelmed at all the films I hadn’t watched that I kind of gave up any notion to start moving through it. But that makes sense, how could it be a call to action if it’s a happy ending…stupid question on my part:P Hey, it’s Monday!
fandangogroovers
I saw Irréversible in a busy theatre, I’m guessing 300+ people, this is unusual for a subtitled movie, I’m used to having the place to myself. There are two scenes that are seriously graphic and disturbing; you don’t need me to tell you the scenes I refer to. A couple of people walked out at these points but about ten walked out when the BBFC card saying subtitled came up.
There you have it reading is more disturbing to most cinema goes than rape and murder!
Thanks for the mention by the way.
Marc
Hahaha…Oh NO! Reading? Run away run away:)
What about the ones that stayed? Anyone traumatized? My college roommate is forever tarnished because if this…
fandangogroovers
Have you seen Martyrs?
Marc
Don’t believe I’ve even heard of it. Yay or Nay? What do you give it Andy?
Peter Eramo Jr.
Vdry nice list and interesting topic. Can’t complain with the choices, that’s for sure. The Wrestler was just so depressing for me, but brilliant. The Mist has a very morbid ending which was outstanding. The White Ribbon too!
Marc
I agree with your choices, they both leave you pretty deflated and almost teary eyed. The Wrestler was just an amazing movie, and I prefer to Requiem but I don’t think it’s as shocking or depressing. Haven’t seen White Ribbon yet.
Castor
I have to second Red’s 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Great movie but I can only stomach viewing it once. In another category, movies that scare you can also be great films that leave you feeling really bad. When I was a kid, the TV movie “It” would be up there on the list.
Marc
“They all float down here”…yeah that was quite horrifying o__0
Barbara
I agree again, Marc – not only with your choices, but with your overall contention – that some dark, bleak movies are well worth seeing for their artistry as well as the valid points they make, but how many of is watch them more than once?
Two more contenders:
“Quills” – Extraordinary performances by Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Caine, a very fine script, superb production design, and core concepts about freedom vs. License that you could debate all night long. But I don’t own it because I don’t know how often I could sit through it.
“House of Sand and Fog” – Everyone’s right and everyone’s wrong in this beautifully wrought film in which a beachfront house transcends real estate values to stand in for the main characters’ values, needs, pasts and presents. I don’t think Ben Kingsley has ever been better or more uncompromising, and this is the film that introduced me to the sublime Shohreh Aghdashloo (who is owed the Oscar that went to Renee Zellweger). Again, don’t own it, but will never forget it.
Marc
Wow, I’m striking out all over the place, have seen neither of those, or any of anyone else’s suggestions. But thanks for the compliment:)
I may be alone in this, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Ben Kingsley film where he’s as great as everyone claims he is…I tried watching Ghandi but couldn’t make it through. I’ll give “Sand and Fog” a go…thanks for the suggestion.
Barbara
While I thought Kingsley was very, very good in “Gandhi” – and my opinion was at least partially formed after seeing him in “Bugsy”, “Betrayal” and “Schindler’s List” after, which gave me an idea of his range – he was, IMO handicapped by the movie itself. I like Richard Attenborough – love him as an actor and think his direction of “Cry Freedom” is underrated – I tend to agree with my ex husband about “Gandhi”: It reduced the majesty and cultural fascination of India to a dustier version of Rhode Island.
Rob
Just a chime in for one of my choices, Grave of the Fireflies. One of the most depressing animated films you’ll ever see. It was animated by Studio Ghibli as well, so you may want to check it out. Or maybe not, as you’ll come away feeling worse.
Marc
I think you mentioned that to me once, but as it was a Ghibli picture I couldn’t image it being as deflating as these. I’ll put it on my list. Thanks for the COMMENT Rob, now how bout a POST once in a while?:P
Castor
Yes! Grave of the Fireflies is such a beautiful, yet sad movie. It’s definitely up there as one that is great, yet makes me feel like shit.
Also, am I the only one who feels like crap after seeing a good romance movie (if there is such a thing… uh… uh lol?)
Marc
Good point, I seem to be severely struggling for examples. Perhaps the only one I can think of is “Modern Romance” with Albert Brooks and that didn’t make me feel like crap. Yup, you are the only one…weirdo:P
FRC Ruben
Requiem: best. movie. ever. And soooo terrifying..
I tend to not really be that into Clint Eastwood flicks, but Million Dollar Baby totally did it for me…..until the end.
Was Schindler that sad of an ending? all those old Jewish peeps put rocks on the grave.
Marc
The difference with Schindler’s List is that since the events depicted actually happened, the emotional toll on everyone involved (including the surviving characters and their families for generations to come) is incalculable. So it’s not a film with a sad ending, it’s the entire journey (like the rest of these films) that is sad/deflating. Does that make sense?
rtm
I don’t think I need the warning NOT to watch some of flicks mentioned in the comments. One of my friends saw Antichrist as it was recommended by a fellow colleague. Suffice to say he wished he could un-see it.
As for your list, I’ve only seen Schindler’s List. Yes it’s sad but it actually ends in a hopeful, albeit heart-wrenching note, so it wasn’t terribly depressing for me. It’s hard to watch surely, but I’m glad I did given its important subject matter.
FRC Ruben
I bought Requiem so that I can watch it once a year when I’m in the right frame of mind and I need a shock to my system. It totally gives you a perspective on the dangers of desire and how it leads to need. And, it makes you physically ill.
aweosme.
*gushes*
Marc
Wow, I admire your conviction. To me that would be like burning my hand each year to remind myself that fire is HOT. Eh, to each his own Ruben:P
Marc
Well like I wrote to Ruben’s comment, at the end, I feel more for the surviving family members because of their grief. I agree not a depressing “ending” like the rest here, but I still think this deserves to be on this list.
Since you haven’t seen the rest, I’d suggest you see Million Dollar Baby…then work your way to Requiem, but be prepared, it’s shocking!. The rest, for you Ruth, I wouldn’t advise.
Barbara
Requiem for a Dream is arguably the best “Just Say No” argument available. Who could watch that movie and think that using drugs is a good idea? Nothing romantic, mind-expanding or wondrous about anything that happens to these people. And the acting, especially Ellen Burstyn, is beyond amazing.
With “Schindler’s List”, I agree with Marc that it’s the journey, and the knowledge that the events are real, that Goeth – only one emblematic monster among many – was real. I teach a class in Holocaust History, and the film is required viewing, both for the horror and the hope, for the tragic sadness and for the awareness of the human faces of heroism, villainy, victims and survivors. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is actually more difficult to digest in some ways, but we can comfort ourselves a little that it is fictional.
Marc
Well said Barb. I have been meaning to check out Pajamas, but haven’t yet. Awesome you teach such a class…good on ya!
Heather
Requiem For A Dream was the first that came to mind, and probably the most obvious but truly best example of this kind of movie.
Se7en made me feel this way, along with Oldboy.
Also………………8MM, one of Nic Cages better films.
Marc
Oldboy was really good and the ending was, to me, more of a WTF? than it was leaving me devastated. However that seems to be a reoccurring theme with Asian cinema…ending the film on some messed up issue with one’s immediate family. Why can’t all the insanity befall someone our hero has never met or isn’t related to and at the same time make that “heavy” with a singularly stereotypical villain…oh that’s right, because Hollywood and American cinema has that formula locked up and under patent causing Asian cinema to be more creative:)
Oh, haven’t seen 8MM
Heather
Go SEE 8MM……………incredible movie with stunning performances.
And ditto to your rant. 😉
Heather
Ahhh…..Not Without My Daughter was another one…….
Marc
Or that one…jeeze, I’m missing out apparently:P
rtm
That’s right, Heather, I saw that in college and I found it hard to watch. I just realized years later that it was Alfred Molina as the Iranian husband, wow it’s a testament of how good an actor he is.
Kaiderman
Is it sad that Harrison Ford in Misquito Coast reminds me of my father?
This is a GREAT list Marc… Irreversible and Requiem were the first 2 that popped in my head… my only qualm is that Million $ Baby and Misquito aren’t quite as horrible as the other 3.
Marc
True I don’t have an extensive familiarity with films that “leave you feeling bad” (as it looks like the rest of you out there do) but they were the ones I could think of.
mill1924
Yes, yes, yes on Requiem. That movie literally took a chunk out of me after I watched it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days and days, and not in a so-great way.