Ah, movies - the perfect way to unwind from the stress of reality and enjoy some popcorn… well, at least that’s the case for some. Shock factor is a well-distributed technique used in filmmaking to force reactions out of audience members, but some films have scenes that are a tad too much, causing viewers to react to what they were forced to watch, over what they chose to see.

Some films are an acquired taste, and some just require an iron stomach for all things real, grotesque, and controversial. Such films, like The Passion of the Christ or Swiss Army Man, triggered an uproar, awkward silences, and even cinema walk-outs due to taboo scenes that break boundaries, exploit the vilest parts of humanity, and make audience members violently ill. The most shocking premieres of the most controversial films have even achieved the rare feat of causing physical ailment and sickness in their viewers, a testament to the power of shocking filmmaking.

10 'Swiss Army Man' (2016)

Directors: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan

Hank and Manny sitting on an island

The absurdist comedy Swiss Army Man had audiences talking, and not just about a former Harry Potter star’s acting skills. The film follows Hank Thompson (Paul Dano), a man stranded on an island on the brink of suicide until he sees a corpse washed up on the beach. The corpse ends up being able to talk, to which viewers are introduced to a child-like Manny (Daniel Radcliffe), whom Hank must teach to live again.

A creative and unique friendship film, Swiss Army Man produced a storyline yet to be seen - a body that serves as a jet-ski amongst other objects. However, the strange and crude style of directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who would go on to direct Everything Everywhere All at Once, was not nearly as well received in their directorial debut. Swiss Army Man prompted walk-outs when it first premiered for Sundance, disgusting viewers with grotesque images.

Swiss Army Man
R
Release Date
June 24, 2016
Director
Dan Kwan , Daniel Scheinert
Cast
Daniel Radcliffe , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Paul Dano , Timothy Eulich , Richard Gross , Marika Casteel
Runtime
95

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9 'Reservoir Dogs' (1992)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Two men at a gun standoff

Infamous director Quentin Tarantino’s first film left viewers speechless and uncomfortable with its foul language and spine-chilling violent scenes. The 1992 crime film Reservoir Dogs depicts the events before and after a diamond heist, with the eight members of the gang turning on each other in suspicion of deception.

The grim scenes of violence sparked outrage, most notably at a screening at the Sitges Film Festival, where 15 people walked out, including famous horror film creators Rick Baker and Wes Craven. While nowadays, the film is considered a standard affair not only for Tarantino's line of work, but for the wide variety of filmmakers and stories he inspired, it's a showing of just how lucrative and groundbreaking his filmmaking style was at the beginning.

Reservoir Dogs
R
Release Date
September 2, 1992
Cast
Harvey Keitel , Tim Roth , Michael Madsen , Chris Penn , Steve Buscemi , Lawrence Tierney
Runtime
99

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8 'Crimes of the Future' (2022)

Director: David Cronenberg

A woman performing surgery on an older man

From master of body horror David Cronenberg, Crimes of the Future shows a strange future in which the human species has adapted to manmade environments, and no longer feels pain or gets sick. As a result, there isn't nearly as much need for traditional doctors or even cleanliness, as the film follows an avant-garde performance artist and his partner, who put on a show only possible in this future. The artist will grow additional tumorous organs so that his partner will cut into him, tattoo art on them while they are still inside him, and then remove them for a live audience to see.

Even for Cronenberg's standards of body horror, Crimes of the Future proved itself to go above and beyond in terms of unsettling and disturbing depictions of gore and bloodshed in the name of art. This approach made the film as praised and beloved as it was controversial, as Crimes of the Future simultaneously received walkouts and a 7-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. The film continued its cycle of controversy and intrigue up until its wide release, where it continued to shock and bewilder audiences with its strange depictions of mutilation. – Rob Lee

Crimes of the Future
Release Date
June 3, 2022
Director
David Cronenberg
Cast
Viggo Mortensen , Lea Seydoux , Kristen Stewart
Runtime
107 minutes

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7 'Freaks' (1932)

Director: Tod Browning

Circus performers of the 'Freaks' cast having dinner together

Freaks is a controversial American horror drama made in 1932 that had to be censored for its grotesque views and alleged exploitation of people with disabilities. The film follows money-hungry trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) and her plan to seduce the wealthy circus performer Hans (Harry Earls) - a man with dwarfism. When the other members of the circus find out about Cleopatra’s plan, they work together to create the ultimate revenge. Hans, Frieda (Daisy Earles), Half-boy (Johnny Eck), the Siamese twins (Daisy and Violet Hilton), and Schlitzie (as himself) all had physical disabilities that allowed them to act in the film, which at the time upset viewers.

Although unsuccessful during its release, upon further analysis into the cultural context of the time, Freaks was hailed as a discerning film that humanizes those who are often dehumanized in society for the way they look. This re-evaluation of the film made it labeled as a cult classic, with important commentary on the treatment of people with disabilities, class issues, and the Great Depression.

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6 '127 Hours' (2010)

Director: Danny Boyle

James Franco in a canyon in 127 Hours
Image Via Searchlight Pictures

A survival drama based on a true story, 127 Hours is the more tame film on the list, for instead of approaching taboo subjects, it focuses on survival amidst danger, where the main character must rely on their own will. 127 Hours tells the story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), a mountaineer, who travels to a national park in Utah without telling anyone. Where the film earned its more controversial side was its realistic and brutal depiction of Aron's final desperate plea for escape.

Heading through a slot canyon, a boulder comes loose, and he falls, causing him to be trapped where no one can hear or see him. Viewers who watched 127 Hours felt physically ill, and some even fainted, vomited, or even had seizures at the harrowing sight of Aron hacking at his own arm in an attempt to stay alive. All of this controversy only managed to make 127 Hours that much more of a hit, as it enticed audiences more and more to see such a powerful realistic portrayal of a groundbreaking real-life story.

127 Hours
R
Release Date
November 12, 2010
Director
Danny Boyle
Cast
James Franco , Kate Mara , Amber Tamblyn , Lizzy Caplan , Elizabeth Hales , Patrick Gibbs
Runtime
93

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5 'Antichrist' (2009)

Director: Lars von Trier

Charlotte Gainsbourg & Willem Dafoe, Antichrist
Image via IFC Films

Antichrist is an experimental psychological horror film, made in 2009, and shunned for its beyond graphic content. Transgressions rule the plot, where unnamed characters known as He (Willem Dafoe) and She (Charlotte Gainsbourg) descend into madness following the death of their child (Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm), leading to scenes filled with sex, violence, and sadomasochism. Director Lars von Trier would soon make a name for himself for his shocking and challenging films that go against social norms, with Antichrist being the most prominent example.

Believing that all women are evil, She subjects He to constant torture, which is also ensured by the harsh forest they stay in. The film's direct and unrestricted showcasing of a number of violent, hypersexual, and highly shocking images didn't go over well when the film was shown off at film festivals. When showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, Antichrist elicited gasps of disbelief and boos, being deemed as an unwatchable, unnecessary film.

Antichrist
NR

Release Date
May 20, 2009
Director
Lars von Trier
Cast
Willem Dafoe , Charlotte Gainsbourg , Storm Acheche Sahlstrøm
Runtime
108

Watch on Tubi

4 'The Painted Bird' (2019)

Director: Václav Marhoul

Petr Kotlár as Joska in The Painted Bird
Image via Bioscop

The Interslavic-speaking film The Painted Bird is a war drama film that delves into extreme violence. Set somewhere in Eastern Europe during World War II, a young orphan boy (Petr Kotlár) traverses through hostile villages in search of a place to stay. The Painted Bird has an uncanny and powerful ability to leave audiences traumatized and haunted well after the credits roll. This legacy and controversial stature that the film holds is special in its modern release date, as it shows that society can still be shocked and dumbfounded by horrifying filmmaking.

He encounters many along the way, who hinder rather than help, leading to some brutal scenes that receive equal amounts of praise and criticism. The 2019 Venice Film Festival did not receive the film well, and half of the auditorium exited before the film concluded. The Painted Bird encapsulates the worst of humanity through one of the darkest times in history and is a savagely symbolic film that never shies away from its subject.

The Painted Bird
Release Date
September 12, 2019
Director
Václav Marhoul
Cast
Stellan Skarsgård , Harvey Keitel , Barry Pepper , Julian Sands , Udo Kier , Aleksey Kravchenko
Runtime
169

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3 'Terrifier 2' (2022)

Director: Damien Leone

David Howard Thornton in Terrifier 2 (2022)
Image via Bloody Disgusting

Terrifier 2 continues the nightmarish and bloodthirsty onslaught by serial killer Art the Clown, as he is resurrected by a sinister entity and returns to Miles County for another round of carnage and wrath. As he focuses his sights on a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night, the duo attempts to escape his onslaught as they uncover the true nature and possibilities of Art's evil intent. The first Terrifier film was already controversial for its egregious usage of violence and gore, with the second film ramping up the scale and achieving notable consequences.

It's surprising to see modern horror movie audiences getting shocked and aghast by gore and violence, as the genre has gone a long way since the very beginning of its inception. However, Terrifier 2 was still so shocking and disgusting to watch for some audiences that there were numerous reports of people vomiting and fainting during screenings of the film. With this level of visceral reaction surrounding a movie being very rare in the modern era, Terrifier 2 saw a massive boost at the box office, as its shocking content made it even more of a draw for horror movie fans. – Rob Lee

Terrifier 2
NR

Release Date
October 6, 2022
Director
Damien Leone
Cast
Felissa Rose , David Howard Thornton , Samantha Scaffidi , Griffin Santopietro , Tamara Glynn , Lauren LaVera
Runtime
138

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2 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004)

Director: Mel Gibson

Jesus wearing a crown of thorns with 3 crosses in the background

Arguably the most renowned biblical film, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ embeds the most important theological event in Christianity with intense, intimate brutality that shocked viewers to the core. The film follows Jesus’ (Jim Caviezel) last hours as he demonstrates divinity and sacrifice when Judas (Luca Lionello) betrays him to the Roman Empire, leading to his gory torment and eventual crucifixion.

Whipped skin, blood trickling, and the ghastly sight of nails hammered into the hands and feet of Jesus - the film does not avert from violence. Its centrality in the Christian religious event of death and resurrection makes it harrowing and meaningful in the teaching of Jesus, and for non-religious viewers, it is a bloodbath film of suffering. Instead of spiritually uplifting, The Passion of the Christ left viewers distressed at the violent depictions of the New Testament, making it one of the most controversial movies of all time.

The Passion of the Christ
R
Release Date
February 25, 2004
Director
Mel Gibson
Cast
James Caviezel , Maia Morgenstern , Christo Jivkov , Francesco De Vito , Monica Bellucci , Mattia Sbragia
Runtime
127

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1 'The Exorcist' (1973)

Director: William Friedkin

Possessed young girl Regan
Image via Warner Bros. 

Regarded as one of the scariest films of all time despite being made in 1973, The Exorcist utilized film techniques that terrified audience members. It was so terrifying that a study was conducted for a psychological journal, citing that The Exorcist caused a phenomenon known as cinematic neurosis. The film was so groundbreakingly terrifying and scare-inducing for audiences that The Exorcist was even banned in the United Kingdom. While the film may be on par with shocking horror films of the modern era, The Exorcist was the first of its kind, and terrified audiences like never seen before or since.

The film is loosely based on a true story, depicting Regan (Linda Blair), a twelve-year-old girl who behaves abnormally after playing with a Ouija board, to the point where doctors cannot help. Her mother (Ellen Burstyn) orders priests Father Karras (Jason Miller) and Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow) to orchestrate an exorcism to rid Regan of her illness. The terrifying sense of realism in the film chilled audiences when first released, and continues to do so now. The Exorcist has been preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historic, and aesthetic significance in the film industry, and is the horror film audiences must see.

The Exorcist
R

When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.

Release Date
December 26, 1973
Director
William Friedkin
Cast
Ellen Burstyn , Max Von Sydow , Linda Blair , Lee J. Cobb
Runtime
122 minutes

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