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Altered
States (1980) |
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| Audition
(1999) Recommended by Musidora: "...starts off like a touching romance and then skews off in the final half-hour into total nightmare territory. I won't say too much because it's so off-the-wall and surprising, but be warned - it's not for the faint of heart or stomach." However, Judy cautions: "Watch out, it's a very slow movie, especially when there's only one part you want to see and even then it's not whats all cracked up to be. I hated Dawn of the Dead too and Audition made it look good." But Lindsay insists: "When I finally got my hands on a copy of The Audition, I had already heard great things and was expecting the unexpected. Now only is this a great story with well rounded characters and complex plot, it also contains some of the most disturbing torture scenes I have ever watched. It starts out as a romantic movie about a lonely middle aged man and slowly turns into a nightmare. The direction is excellent, never giving too much, always throwing in the unexpected. The story draws you in slowly by unraveling the murky past of a beautiful, demur girl. Just like the main character, by the time you know the whole story, you're already in hell." |
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| Bad
Boys II (2003) Recommended by Pants: "I have a movie recommendation. Though some might think I'm crazy (and I would not disagree) I found that Bad Boys 2 had a lot of morbidity in it. Subtle and not, there were so many morbid things in that movie, that along with the comedic duo of Smith and Lawrence, that I was laughing and 'ooh, ahhing' from start to finish. From bodies exploding to gory gun scenes, to a scene in a morgue and cadaver's heads popping off and dead bodies falling out of a speeding vehicle... well. I think it's one of the better recent action movies." |
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| Basket
Case (1983) Recommended by Jim: "In brief, the plot line is that a child is born with a head attached to his side. The father has the head amputated and tossed into a trash bin. The head survives and later on it and its' 'twin brother' reunite. They go on a rampage against society in general and the father in particular. In one of the sequels they find refuge in a conclave of similar freikazoids. I have all three movies on tape but haven't looked at them in at least 10 years, so my memory of the details may not be 100% accurate. Definitely worth checking out by you and all your morbid fans." Basket Case 2 (1990) Basket Case 3 (1992) |
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| Battle
Royale (2002) Recommended by Jothan: "Battle Royale is an excellent movie, from director Kinji Fukasaku. While this director is more known for his violent yakuza gangster movies than anything horror per se, Battle Royale is pretty conceptually freaky. I don't want to give too much away, but the premise is that every year japan takes a class of school children, puts them on a deserted island, gives them a random assortment of weapons, and tells them the last person left standing is the only one who will be able to leave the island. It was a huge hit overseas when it first came out, but I think it was just too much for the censors to handle state side." Also recommended by Dale: "Might I highly reccomend Battle Royale? It's about a group of 9th-grade students who are sent to an island with the purpose of killing each other. Very interesting, and gruesome as well." |
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| Battle
Royale 2 (2003) Recommended by Lex: "It's three years after the events of the original Battle Royale, and Shuya Nanahara is now an internationally-known terrorist determined to bring down the government. His terrorist group, Wild Seven, stages an attack that levels several buildings in Tokyo on Christmas Day, killing 8000 people. "Exactly one year afterward, the government enacts the "New Century Terrorist Counter-Measure Alternative" program, a.k.a. the BRII act, and sends the forty-two students of Shikanotoride Junior High Class 3-B to hunt Nanahara and his cohorts down in their island stronghold. Shiori Kitano, the daughter of the late headmaster of Nanahara's Battle Royale, signs up for the program, to avenge her father. "In order for the government to study the benefits of 'teamwork,' the new students work in pairs, with their collars electronically linked so that if one of them is killed, the other dies as well. They must kill Nanahara in three days--or die." |
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| Black
Robe (1991) Recommended by anonymous: "It's about jesuit missionaries and features scenes of torture. It's an eerie film and worth watching just for the incredible lonely scenery: trees and trees and trees." |
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The
Boondock Saints (2000) |
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| Brotherhood
of the Wolf (2002) Recommended by Brando Commando: "There is a French film recently released called 'Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups)' and it is an incredibly stunning film. I'm not sure how morbidity will rank, but there is a great scene where a woman's entrails are being pecked at by crows after having a huge bite taken out of her side by a wolf-like creature. Witchcraft, the occult, a love story, a lust story, and action are all packed into this movie. Even if it is not morbid, it is a very good movie to watch." |
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| The
Butcher Boy (1998) Recommended by jesusjack: "One of my all-time favorite sick & twisted films is 'The Butcher Boy.' This 1997 Irish film follows the misadventures of young Francie Brady, a schizophrenic Irish boy who can't seem to distinguish between his visions of pigs and atomic holocaust and his real life. By the end of the film, neither can we..." |
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| By
Brakhage (2003) Recommended by Mike: "A new collection of short films by the recently and dearly departed filmmaker Stan Brakhage has just been released on Criterion. In the collection is his film The Act of Seeing With One's Own Eyes. It is comprised of 31 minutes and 50 seconds of unflinching autopsy footage.Yet somehow, it's something more than a leering look at the grisly business of deconstructing human beings. Brakhage shoots with compassion and dignity, and that must be remembered when viewing the film. Highly recommended." |
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| Cannibal
Holocaust (1980) Recommended by Evilpresly: "This movie is a Blair Witch style romp through the jungle that looks like it was filmed in the 70's. several youths film their violent exploits as they rape and murder their way through uncivilization. It, of course, depicts the natives quite terribly. But then, this was a terrible movie. What is the purpose of all this? I don't know. This movie was shown at a bar I went to with the sound off, which made it even more puzzling. But there is quite a lot of actual animal death (the part that turns my stomach, poor animals) and overall, i'd say this movie was borderline snuff." |
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| Cemetery
Man (1996) Recommended by jesusjack: "I highly recommend 'Cemetery Man,' a French-Italian dark comedy. This movie has been in my collection for years, and I've enjoyed it many times." Also recommended by Sunni: "It's a very odd Italian film with British actors (including Rupert Everett, woohoo). The lovely Italian title is Dellamorte Dellamore (of death of love, I think), and the comparatively horrid American title is Cemetery Man. Everett is the caretaker of a graveyard where sometimes the dead rise as zombies with a taste for human flesh, bla bla bla. But about halfway through it gets interesting. The only thing I can tell you without spoiling it is that it explores the duality of love and death in a way that is horrifying and funny at the same time. It also has some incredible camera work, especially for such a low-budget film. If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out." Amos Quito recommends: "I have a better idea: seek out the original (titled 'Delamorte Delamore') Italian version (with subtitles); uncut and much nastier, but still funny! I have an excellent-quality vhs copy that I bought from an online pirate years ago." |
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| Chaos
(2005) Recommended by Becky: "I am a big Kevin Gage fan and recently read on an unofficial fan site that the movie CHAOS is finally being released to a limited number of theaters in August. Here is a synopsis of the film from http://www.kevingage.net: 'Kevin Gage plays the title role in this graphically violent exploitation film. "It's based on true events about two girls who try to score the drug ecstasy at a rave party from some people they don't know," explains director David DeFalco, "which basically puts them in a world of hell. They are exposed to the most evil, sadistic, brutal people on the planet, and they are basically obliterated by this one monster of a human being, nicknamed 'Chaos.' The end of the movie has the parents confronting the killers."' "DeFalco makes some effort to justify the film as a warning to young people. The official Chaos web site states that each year, 100 youth are abducted and murdered by strangers. In an interview on the site, he claims that 'We had a female DA at the Cineramadome screening of CHAOS who, after seeing the movie, said it should be shown in all schools.' "More from DeFalco: 'The most common question I get asked regarding CHAOS from people is "What's the purpose of making a movie like this?" My answer to that question is because it is a very real and unfortunate part of life that is as fascinating as it is disturbing.' "The working title for Chaos was The House in the Middle of Nowhere." |
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| Citizen
X (1995) Recommended by Carolyn: "I have a morbid read/movie for ya! The book and the movie is called Citizen X. It is about the worst Russian serial killer in history (killing, raping and mutilating over 70 people over a 30 year span.) The book has many morbid details and Donald Sutherland does a fine job in the movie. Worth checking out!" Also recommended by Sandy: "It is really good and really creepy. Personally I think they cast the killer wrong though. Because Andre Chikatilo was one of those really CREEPY looking guys and they cast a non creepy guy. Do you remember seeing the photos of him in the cage he sat in for trial? He looked positively scary/creepy/insane. When you look up 'stranger danger' he is the picture next to the phrase. I also highly recommend it - it's great!" |
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| The
Company Of Wolves (1985) Recommended by Amber: "Based on a story by Angela Carter and directed by Neil Jordan, this is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, with werewolves!! There is loads of beautiful visual symbolism and the transformations require lots of gore <yey!>" Also recommended by Louise: "You have to see the movie "The Company of Wolves". It's a film by Neil Jordan and Angela Carter. It is a strange version of Little Red Riding Hood. More sci-fi than horror, but it's good, and hard to find. But if you happen to come across it, you must watch it..." |
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| Crash
(1997) Recommended by Wendy: "The ultimate in morbid fetishes...people who get off on horrible car crashes. James Spader and Holly Hunter head the cast. This one is sort of like a crash...you know you should look away, but just can't do it." |
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| Cube
(1997) Recommended by Lady Despair: "If you haven't seen it, you must. It has some excellent scenes with people ending up in.... well, let's just call it one hell of a sushi-machine. [insert evil cackle here]" Also recommended by Nightmaresghost: "The 'Cube' series is all very good. The first, in my opinion, was kind of slow. The second Cube: Hypercube was a slightly faster paced and more gorey version of the first. I would say it is a far better made film, save that it has entirely too much cgi. Obviously they played off of the cult success of the original. The lesser known third movie, though, is by far the best. Cube Zero is a fantastically gorey film. In my opinion, any movie that starts with a man getting an acid wash and scratching his flesh off is a real winner. If you haven't seen any of these films, I would suggest watching them. They're all very wonderfully done, and mostly low budget. For being shot in a rather repetitive scenery, the whole series is wonderful." |
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| Curdled
(1996) Recommended by Achille 68: "I've got a movie to recommend to you. It's a comedy. one of those black comedies my folks have finally labeled as "one of those movies our daughter would like". It's called "Curdled" and its got a Baldwin in it (don't ask which one, i get them all confused). Basically, a young girl becomes obsessed with death and cuts out numerous clippings from papers and eventually grows up into this lovely woman who quits her job at a bakery to work as a maid... cleaning up after crime scenes! And of course Baldwin is this rampant serial killer... I'm not saying the acting is stellar but I laughed my head off and learned something too: after it sets, blood does not come off hard wood floors. ;)" |
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| Darkness
(2004) Recommended by Carolyn: "While there is no real gore to speak of except for a scene or two at the end it is a very disturbing story and it does a wonderful job of making you jump by just using the lighting. The ending was certainly not what I was expecting either and makes me wonder if there will be a sequel. At any rate it's worth a watch." |
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| Day
Of The Dead (1985) Recommended by jesusjack: "I was surprised to see that you have listed 'Night of the Living Dead' and 'Dawn of the Dead,' but not Mr. Romero's greatest film, 'Day of the Dead.' The characters in this last episode of Romero's Living Dead series are so real, they rise from the screen 'and bite off your ass!'" |
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| The
Day After (1983) Recommended by George: "I just saw a movie I had to tell you about. It was called The Day After, from the 80's. It didn't have much of a great story, was a little slow starting and had some cheesy acting... I mean it starred Steve Guttenburg and John Lithgow. But it was about the nation right before, during, and after Russia beaned us with bombs... It had some wonderfully morbid scenes, with people suffering from radiation sickness, dead animals and bodies everywhere, and was realistic enough or possible enough that it made you think. Was worth watching anyways... I think my roomate bought it in the cheap 5.50 bin at WalMart..." Dad has a comment on this one too: "I saw this when it was originally broadcast on I think ABC. The important part I believe was left out was the fact they presented it as a news story. They had people sitting at a 'news' desk talking as if it really happened. Stephen and John played the 'every day guy' roles. After it was over -- both my wife (of 21+ years now) and I both looked out our window to make sure it was all there!! It was good for the time special effect wise!!" |
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| Dead
Man (1996) Recommended by Dorothy: "Not sure if you’ve seen the movie 'Dead Man' with Johnny Depp — but it is a greatly morbid account of one man’s travels from Cleveland west by train to the 'end of the line' in Machine (from the scenery in the movie, I suspect this was probably by my home in Reno, NV) where he was to work at an metalworking shop. The movie is done in black and white and the entire flick reeks with a gritty authenticity. Cannibalism, graphic violence, and darkly comic quips by Depp and others make this movie a must-have for anyone who enjoys the bizarre. Check it out!" Also recommended by Steve: "Not just bizarre but brilliant... And not just for the eerie Neil Young music... It is a modern retelling of Dante's Inferno..." |
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| Dead
Or Alive (2000) Recommended by Musidora: "Dead or Alive fatures a first ten minutes of sheer exhilarating virtuosity (and violence) followed by scenes in which a woman drowns in a paddling pool full of excrement (yuck), someone's hand gets tempura-ed in a deep-fat frier and a showdown which ends... no I can't tell you, you have to see it with your own eyes." |
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| The
Dentist (1996) Recommended by barb: "The all-time nasty dentist movie has to be 'The Dentist' starring Corben Bensen. Since I saw that disturbing movie, I am very wary of all dentists!" Jasmine adds: "It's Corbin Bernsen. And the movie is not so good." |
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The
Devils (1971) |
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| Dog
Soldiers (2002) Recommended by Ryan Joe: "Werewolves, very bloody, lots of viscera." All you need to know, I guess! |
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| Dreamcatcher
(2003) Recommended by Panda Thief: "Dreamcatcher is a pretty weird movie. In order to watch this movie, you kind of have to know ahead of time what you’re getting into. SK once said that he keeps his fingers out of the pies that moviemakers build from his stories: he understands that it is a separate art, and he feels he put enough work into the written story, that he is exempt from putting forth any more effort. He’s already said what he has to say. I think this is why SK movies are kind of 50/50: half of them are good, half of them are rotten pieces of stuff. The Shining: classic. The Mangler: I want my five dollars back. (Yeah, back then, a movie ticket cost five dollars. Why you need a mortgage to go to the movies these days is beyond my understanding. Then again, our society pays people millions a year to play sports, and then sits back and takes it when they go on strike for more money.) "So, Dreamcatcher is pretty strange. All five of the main characters are psychic, and rather than spelling it out, you’re expected to pick up on it. That’s because there’s too much else going on to waste time with details. For example, the sixth main character is a mentally retarded super-psychic who knew at the age of maybe 15 that in twenty years, the earth will be invaded by alien psychic vampires—and not for the first time—and this time, there is an excellent chance our species won’t survive. So, he sets up the other five with psychic powers, and later tricks one guy into walking out in front of traffic because the guy needs to have his heart stop twice so the Evil Boss Alien (Mr. Gray) can inhabit him without fully possessing him. "I said it was a weird movie. "I can’t really describe the movie any further without trying to write it out, but if you are 'in to' SK and you like taking chances with movie rentals, this one’s a good bet. "'I… DUDDITS!'" |
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| Ed
Gein (2001) Recommended by Achille 68: "All in all, a good movie. I'm not too sure how much was real and how much was Hollywood, but the actions of Gein in the film were terrific. Seriously, it got me considering becoming a vegetarian if it's that difficult for someone to distinguish between the taste of human flesh and the taste of deer meat. My favorite part [was] when the actor playing Gein laid a dead woman he had just violated back into her coffin and said: 'I'm sorry to have disturbed you, that was wrong.' For a gorehound like me though, there just wasn't enough detail. I always enjoy learning little things like how they sewed it together, etc etc etc." |
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| The
Exorcist (1973) Recommended by Wayne |
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| The
Eye (2001) Recommended by Chris: "Highly recommended!" This looks like a good one! Here's the Amazon synopsis: "A blind girl gets a cornea transplant so that she would be able to see again. However, she got more than what she bargained for when she realised she could even see ghosts. And some of these ghosts are down right unfriendly. So she embarks on a journey to find the origins of her cornea and to reveal the history of the previous dead owner..." Also recommended by Jodie: "It's about a blind girl who gets a cornea transplant and as she gains her sight she also gains the second sight that her donor possessed. She can see ghosts, both those who must painfully re enact whatever it was that keeps their spirits from resting, as well as those who have just died and are being escorted to the spirit world. Even if I ithought the ending was a bit of a cop out the rest of it had enough creep out factor to make up for it." Also recommended by Laurie: "I have to second that recommendation!!! That's actually one of my most favorite movies of all time." |
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| Eyes
Of Fire (1984) "This unjustly overlooked movie, the first directed by Avery Crounse, ranks along with Pumpkinhead as one of the best examples of dark fantasy rooted in pure American culture. A period piece, it's set in the mid-18th century in the American colonies, before there was a United States, and is the tale of settlers encountering the supernatural in the form of a previously unexplored forest's resident evil spirit." - Amazon Review Jen also likes this one: "I also can strongly recommend Eyes of Fire. As a Witch, I have a tendency to track down 'witchy' movies, and this was one of them. I first saw it many, many years ago, and I now own a VHS copy. Don't ask me where I got it, though, because I don't remember. LOL! The movie is fantastic and surreal and well-written, but for some I admit, it does move a little slowly in the middle." |
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| Frailty
(2002) Recommended by Karin: "I have to recommend a great gothic horror movie of all time: Frailty. It just came out on video/DVD. It has a great cast and the story and acting are just fantastic. You have to check it out!!" |
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| Gates
Of Heaven (1978) Recommended by Stephen O'Rourke: "Errol (Mr. Death) Morris' first documentary, about California pet cemetaries and the people who make their living running them." One of the greatest films ever made, according to Roger Ebert, and others. |
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| Ghost
Ship (2001) Recommended by Jools: "I don't know if you've seen Ghost Ship, but it is a definite must. The first 10 minutes alone are worth the price of the rental, but the rest of the movie is great, too." Peggy agrees: "I agree 100% with this. The first 10 minutes of this movie will stay with you forever. But you will want to buy it so you can watch it again." |
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Ghost
Story (1981) 1)
Female breasts are fun because they are squishy So the next time you're doing things with a pair of breasts, make sure that they're attached to a vengeful spirit! :D" Oh, I wouldn't have it any other way!! However...
CooLTaTToO disagrees vehemently with SN: |
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| Ginger
Snaps (2000) Recommended by -kokoro shiki- heart mode: "It's the only werewolf movie I like. Ginger Snaps is an odd and unique interpretation of getting your first period and lycanthropy. If for nothing else, see it for some truly amazing staged death photography shots in the beginning and some stunning gore effects." |
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| Ginger
Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004) Recommended by Katchaya: "I saw an awesome movie on IFC last night called 'Ginger Snaps 2'... Now I want to see 1 and 3... Not only is the story great (about teenage girls turning into werewolves) But the one I saw last night takes place in an old state hospital." |
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| Happy
Tree Friends: Overkill (2005) Recommended by J.P.: "I'd like to recommend the Overkill box set of Happy Tree Friends. It contains over 7 hours of mind-numbing goodness, plenty of gore in hand for any morbidity fan! This is a must-buy!" |
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| Hellraiser
(1987) Recommended by Linz: "It's definitely not for everyone, but there's no denying that it's become a semi-classic of modern horror." Also Recommended: Hellbound: Hellraiser II |
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| Henry:
Portrait Of A Serial Killer (1990) Recommended by ryan Amazon.Com says: "The power of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is its chilling placement in the mundane existence of everyday life. Michael Rooker plays Henry not as a raving psychopath but as the frumpy guy next door, a drifter who takes out his frustrations on random victims and escalates his body count after teaming up with the violent ex-con Otis (Tom Towles). Though not exceedingly gory in light of the excesses of such fantasy horrors as the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street series, director John McNaughton's straightforward presentation and documentary-like style creates a chilling realism that many viewers will find hard to watch. McNaughton neither comments on nor flinches at the brutal violence, which reaches its apex in a disturbing camcorder-eye view of a particularly sadistic murder of a middle-class couple, with Henry and Otis smiling through the deed as they record it for their continued pleasure. Henry straddles the line between True Crime (though fictional, the story was inspired by the confessions of real life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas) and horror, a bleak, brutal kind of terror for a generation deadened by the escalating outrageousness of movie murders and nightly news crime scene clips." |
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| The
Hills Have Eyes (1977) Recommended by Diana: "Wes Craven's movie 'The Hills Have Eyes' is loosely based on the Sawney Beane case. Craven has said in interviews that he had read a book with their story in it and that inspired the movie." |
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| The
Iceman Interviews (1991) Recommended by B: "Richard Kuklinski was a hit man for the mob. One of the most prolific, claiming to have killed over 200 people in a variety of different ways. Some he killed for no apparent reason. Some he tied up and watched then be killed and eaten by rats as he filmed the whole thing. There is truly a bone chilling moment in the documentary after he tells of shooting to death a number of guys in Georgia that he thought were trying to run him off the road. I don't want to give away too many details. But [if you rent this programme] I promise you won't be disappointed." |
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| I'll
Bury You Tomorrow (2002) Recommended by Jenn: "I've got a movie I'd like to recommend for those of us sick enough to stomach it. It's called, 'I'll Bury You Tomorrow,' and although it's B-List and full of unattractive and unknown actors/actresses, it's perfect if you're a twisted mind such as myself. Murder, mayhem, blood, guts and a little necrophilia all make this movie-go-round. Check it out :D" |
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| In
The Mouth Of Madness (1995) Recommended by Mister Coma: "John Trent (Sam Neill), an insurance investigator recently fitted for a straightjacket, tells his story to a psychiatrist. Hired to track down the missing pop-horror phenomena Sutter Cane, a Stephen King-like author whose fans are literally made for his books, Trent finds the supposedly fictional Hobb's End. He watches the town collapse into madness, murder, and monstrous transformations: the fantastic horrors of Cane's novels played out in front of his eyes. "Reality isn't what it used to be," deadpans one zombielike townsperson. In fact, it is how Cane writes it--but is he Devil, dark oracle, or simply a preacher in the service of an evil that grows stronger with every soul his books convert? The script never quite gets a grip on the blurry relationship between fact and fiction, but those details fade in the face of Carpenter's demented imagery, shiver-inducing twists, and dark wit. It's more eerie mind game than straight-out horror, a portrait of a world gone mad, and Carpenter relishes every hallucinatory moment." - Amazon.Com |
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| Invader
ZIM (2001) Recommended by b.: "Darkly hilarious." |
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| Izo
(2004) Recommended by Stephen: "I found a Japanese-made 'shock' movie at Walmart that I thought I'd NEVER see there: 'IZO'. It is about a samurai who is too evil to enter Heaven, and too good to enter Hell, so he must walk the Earth for eternity. He eventually tires of this, and decides to kill enough people to get into Hell, and he kills so many (oh, the BLOOD!), that he finally gets his wish. For a mere $9.99, it's a good gore-fest, and even has a pretty good anti-establishment (kill all those in charge) plot to go with it, if you're into that." |
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| The
Kingdom (1995) Recommended by Stephen Muir: "Given your addition of 'Dancer in the Dark' to the [film] list, you may want to take a look at one of Lars Von Trier's earlier films: 'The Kingdom' (aka 'Riget', c 1995). Shot on location in Denmark's largest and most thoroughly modern (and allegedly haunted) hospital, 'The Kingdom' is a sprawling television miniseries (weighing in at 265 minutes) that follows the various hospital inhabitants as they go about their business. From a cinematic point of view, it stands as an example of developement of the famous Dogme `95 Danish film aesthetic. Film-school arthouse snobbery aside, the series stands as a landmark in the horror genre, alternating between terrifying and hilariously satirical. Although reading over four hours of subtitles is a lot to ask of anyone, anyone to whom I've shown this gem has been hooked after the first ten minutes. Incidentally, there is a sequel that picks up right where the original leaves off. However, I've had a hard time finding it on DVD in Canada. Fortunately, I happened to catch it during its brief theatrical run. So, if you find yourself desparate to learn the fate of the mutant half-demon (on his father's side) gigantic baby, as well as Dr. Bondo and his shiny new liver tumor, there's still hope." |
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| Kissed
(1997) Recommended by Paul: "Have you seen this movie? This must rank very high on the morbid list! This film must be the reason behind its star, Molly Parker, being cast as the Rabbi on Six Feet Under! Anyway, I happened to catch it on one of the Showtime channels ('Showtime Showcase') Apparently, it was the talk of the Toronto and Sundance film festivals a few years back. I'd never heard of it, but perhaps you have." Actually, I haven't, but I'll definitely be hunting it down! Here's the plot synopsis: "Over the years, a child's romantic ideals about death blossom into necrophilia, the study of embalming and the most profound relationship of her life." Sounds like our kind of film, eh? Also recommended by ameehan: "A rather interesting portrait of a young necrophiliac (Molly Parker) shown in a more sympathetic light----it focuses on the trouble she has connecting on an emotional level with the living, and has a rather morbid consequences for her would-be suitor. Awesome flick." |
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| Lady
Vengeance (2005) Recommended by Penny: "You absolutely, positively, *MUST* see 'Lady Vengeance'. It's a foreign film, so those who enjoy Asian cinema will love it. And it is the most shocking, out-there, creepy 'do-these-people-know-they're-psychotic?" kind of storyline. I don't want to tell you too much, as it will spoil the plot twist. It starts out kind of slow... even I got frustrated with the plot progression, but OH MY GOD, did my patience pay off!!!!! Basically, this girl was sent to prison when she was nineteen for kidnapping and murdering a five-year-old boy. She was beautiful and kind-hearted, so it was a scandal when she was convicted. She spent nine years in prison, and when she is released, she makes up for lost time by making her 'amends' with the people involved in the whole sordid affair. I'm afraid if I say too much more, I'll ruin it for you. Please, please, please go out and get this movie right away. I swear to you, you won't be disappointed!" |
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| Last
Exit To Brooklyn (1990) Recommended by J: Based on the book by the masterful bummer author Hubert J. Selby (who also wrote Requiem For A Dream): "Check it out!" I saw this film at the time of its release and don't remember that much about it except that it was one of the most intensely disturbing films I ever saw. I think that, in itself, is reason enough to rent it! Currently not available on DVD, unfortunately. |
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| Last
House on the Left (1972) Recommended by Ilvmayes: "I have to add a really great morbid and disturbing movie. It is 'Last House on the Left' Its from the 70's and was written by Wes Craven. Don't let the fact that it's from the 70's deter you. It left ME feeling violated. This movie caused quite a bit of controversy and even without the deleted scenes it's disturbing, but if you buy it on DVD you get to see what they cut out. I can only imagine how people of that time were disturbed, but even now it has the same effect. All I'll say is that it really puts you in a position to experience for yourself what it would be like to be a victim of psychopaths and have no way out and what it's like to be left for dead." Also recommended by FJCancel: "I saw The Last House on the Left in the 70's at a drive in and it scared me good and I have never forgotten it." |
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| The
Madness of Henry VIII (2006) Recommended by Elsbeth: "Among other morbid but interesting facts were the open ulcerated sores on Henry's leg that oozed puss and just would Not be healed. I think, because of the leg, his activity levels were severely curtailed. This caused him to gain so much weight that he eventually weighed in at 350 pounds, and hat a 57 inch waist line. When he died, he weighed so much that he cracked the boards of his coffin. His blood dripped out and was licked up by the dogs. One of the wierder aspects of this, is that this was predicted sometime before Henry's death. I think by a disgruntled bishop, but don't hold me to that one." |
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| Man
Bites Dog (1993) Recommended by ali: "If your into ultra violence you must see the film 'Man Bites Dog.' This film is a pseudo-documentary that follows a serial killer as he hunts and kills his victims. It was made in Belgium, so there is none of that Hollywood glitz that ruins most serial killer films. It is a definite must see. It is very graphic and extremely disturbing, and wonderful." |
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| May
(2002) Recommended by Janice: "... it has an insane twist at the end. It was about a girl who had a lazy eye and wore a patch, and therefore got teased and never had any friends except this doll. Well, she grows up and kills her ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend and her lover, and two semi-random for certain body parts in order to create a zombie-like rag doll, but the doll doesn't have eyes yet........... It was awesome." Also recommended by Nightmaresghost: "I have found an AWESOME movie. This is one of the most morbid movies I've seen since Ichi the Killer. The movie of course is May. I don't know if you've heard of it, but I saw the preview on the House of 1000 Corpses DVD, so I checked it out. The basics of it are this: "A girl, May, is born with a lazy eye, and because of that she has to wear an eye patch. This patch, the cause of her misfortune, set her apart from the world as a child until one birthday, May's mother gave her her first riend. This friend was a doll which she could not touch. Her constant companion through life, the doll becomes her source of solace in a world where she is a freak. Then, one day, she finds herself looking into the eyes and hands of a young mechanic. Soon her life is turned upside down when the friends she meets soon start changing on her and she decides that Mommy was right, 'the only good friends are the ones you make.' It's a 5 star classic in my books. I hope, if you haven't seen it already, that you check it out." Also also recommended by Mesbeth: "I have just watched a movie called 'May' and it is a definite must see for the morbid! It is about a strange young lass by the name of May who seems to have a few oddities about her such as her way of 'making friends'. I found it to be funny in places, my husband said I was sick.... Some people just don't understand." DAYna likes this one as well: "Needless to say this is a great flick and I encourage everyone to go rent it!" |
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| Motel
Hell (1980) Recommended by Jim: "One of my all-time favorite movies. I highly recommend it. It's morbid but the plot is so ridiculous that it's funny." |
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| Neon
Genesis Evangelion (1995) Recommended by ThePretender: "I just wanted to make sure you had seen Neon Genesis Evangelion. If not, it's a life changer. The series in mindblowing, and the movie is one of the achievements of the century (the only thing that comes close in levels of fucked up is 2001)." |
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| Night
Of The Living Dead (1968) Recommended by Linz: "George Romero's classic 1968 zombie-fest (shot in black and white) offers some disturbing images, even decades later." |
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Novocaine
(2001) Jen
begs to differ! |
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Paradise
Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills (1996) |
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| Pet
Shop Of Horrors (2000) Recommended by Romelle: "There's a short anime series, called 'Pet Shop of Horrors' that is very good. Only four episodes have been translated into English, but they are all four worth watching. The story is about a Chinese pet shop owner, a rather good looking male who wears makeup and oriental kimonos and loves pastries. At least he looks Chinese, but he seems rather demonic and has a cute, but unusual pet which looks like a cross between a mouse and a bat. He sells regular pets but also exotic ones like flesh-eating rabbits, mermaids, gorgons, and Ki-Rins, however whether or not the fantasy pets are really as they appear or not is controversial. When he sells exotic pets, he makes the buyer sign a contract stating they will follow the rules, but of course the rules get broken, that's what the stories are about. It gets pretty gruesome at times. The fact that there is only four episodes is a pain, but they are excellent. I highly recommend you check this out." |
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| The
Pledge (2001) Recommended by Carolyn T.: "Something you might want added to your movie list is The Pledge starring Jack Nicholson. It is a movie about a retired cop who is determined to solve the case of a murdered child. There are some pretty cool police photos of the children that were killed and a nice scene of the charred remains of the killer. Then of course there is the added bonus of Jack going nuts in the end. Check it out it you get the chance." |
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| Punch-Drunk
Love (2002) Recommended by Nikki: "I saw the movie 'Punch Drunk Love' this weekend. It's not exactly 'morbid' but it certainly was creepy and I LOVED it. It really puts you into the mind of a utterly horrifying bi-polar person. It's disjointed and the speed of the movie fluctuates so frequently, it leaves you a little on edge. "Throughout the entire movie there's some form of music or noise in the background. Sometimes it grows so loud you can barely hear the actors. The music really adds to the delirium of the movie. I had an awful feeling of uneasiness through the whole movie, which I believe was the point. I really enjoyed how this movie focused on really putting you in the mind of the main character, instead of just letting your glimpse at the outside of them. "Adam Sandler is not an actor I enjoy much, but his performance in this movie was definitely not bad. He did well portraying someone who seems disturbed to a point no one could understand. He plays a range of emotions, from Forrest Gump-like simplicity to completely over the edge insane rage. "If you enjoy a movie that makes you feel edgy or uneasy, and really puts you into the mind of a psychotic, this is a great movie. If you want a movie with continuity and flow, this might not be the best movie for you." Also recommended by David: "I second that recommendation. It's a love story. But so was Taxi driver. I didn't think Adam Sandlers' character was psychotic, but after looking up the definition, I think I agree. He certainly says some strange things, particularly in the love scene. He's actually, to the actors credit, the same character he plays in Happy Gilmore, but without the humour. So he comes across a bit scary. As is Philip Seymour Hoffman. As for the music, it plays a big part in the film. There is a harmonium in the film, which is a character in itself. The film is a bit of an art film... it's one of my favourite films, and I don't normally like Adam Sandler films." |
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| Salò
(1975) Recommended by ryan: I can't believe I'd never heard of this one before - it sounds amazing. Here's what Amazon.Com had to say about it: "A loose adaptation of the Marquis de Sade's The 120 Days of Sodom, Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salò is perhaps the most disturbing and disgusting film ever made. It is also one of the most important, offering a blistering critique of fascism and idealism that suggests moral redemption may be nothing but a myth. Criterion presents Salò in its uncut, uncensored version." |
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| Santa
Sangre (1990) Recommended by Amber: "A movie by Jodorowsky. It's really bizarre (kinda artsy, but it does have a plot)... The movie starts out with the son of the owner of the Cirque de Gringo (the Gringo throws knives as flirtation) watching his father shamelessly cheat on his mother (who is the head of a christian cult which worships a little girl whose arms were cut off as some men raped her), with the tattooed lady, who's daughter (a tightrope walker and mime) has a crush on our young boy (also a magician). There is a huge violent tragedy, our little boy goes insane and many years later his armless mother comes to get him from the asylum so that he can stand behind her and function as her arms. She is very very jealous, however. Murderously jealous, which poses a problem for our hot young man, especially since she can take control of his arms at any time." Amos Quito agrees: "I must concur. Track down anything you can find by Alessandro Jodorowsky. Two other films by him that are absolutely necessary for all to see are El Topo and Holy Mountain." |
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Series
7 (2001) Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't have this one for sale, although I know it has been available on DVD, since it's on my Netflix queue right now. But I've linked to the Amazon reviews page if you want to read more about it. |
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| Shadow
Of The Vampire (2001) Recommended by Baron Semedi: "I wanted to offer a 'review' (if you want to grace it with that word) of the movie 'Shadow of the Vampire.' I didn't see one, and I was kind of surprised; the movie's a little obscure--in the sense that it didn't really catch on--but I think it suits the flavor of your site. "'Shadow of the Vampire' has a few major stars in its cast--John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Udo Kier, Cary Elwes--but I kind of had the impression from the few ads I saw that it wouldn't do well. Remember the movie 'Alive,' about the plane that crashes in the snowy mountains and the survivors have to eat the dead to live? The ads presented the movie from two angles: the nobility of human survival, and the horror of cannibalism. It was almost like there were two different movies about the same thing. "Anyway, a lot of people have a hard time 'getting' 'Shadow of the Vampire.' The premise is simple: Doctor (of film-making) F.W. Murnau is trying to make the movie 'Nosferatu' in the early 1920s, and being your stereotypical German zealot nutbar, he goes out and finds himself a real vampire to play the role. The good doctor is obsessed with realism, to the point where Count Orlock (the vampire, in case your brain is sitting in a jar) is not allowed to wear makeup, Murnau tricks an actor into cutting himself during filming so the vampire's blood-thirst will fuel the character's believability, and the vampire's compensation for performing in the film will be the life of the beautiful lead actress. "Yeah, OK; nothing special. Vampire movie, right? We've seen enough that we can't even be bothered to remember the titles anymore: vampires are immortal and powerful, so the movie's just gonna be some eye candy about how sexy/inhumanly strong/tragic the vampire is. "Uh-uh. "The movie has more depth than that. Count Orlock is less an immortal monster than a crusty old man who remembers a much better life than the rodent's existence his senility forces him to live. His recent re-introduction to the world of mortals is very refreshing to him, but it also reminds him of what he hates about his endless life. He is invulnerable to harm (except for the sun), but he is forced to feed on rodents and sneak about the hotel the actors are staying in trying to find a bedroom door that isn't locked. He knows that Murnau is merely a fanatic who views his fellow artists with the same casual contempt a scientist shows for the bacteria growing in his little palettes of agar. And rather than spending his on-screen time blindly killing or trying to seduce unsuspecting victims, Count Orlock enjoys his new-found connection with the humanity he once enjoyed enough to sit down with the producer and the chief assistant for a drink. "Chief Assistant: When were you born? WERE you born? Orlock: I can't recall. Producer: Dammit, Max (the supposed name of the "actor"), this isn't funny anymore! Count Dracula wouldn't say he couldn't remember. Orlock: I read that book. Murnau gave it to me. CA: Well, this is a golden opportunity! Speaking as a vampire, what did you make of the book's... technical merits? Orlock: It made me sad. Producer: Why... sad? Orlock: Because Dracula had no servants. Dracula hasn't had servants in four hundred years. And yet, one day, a man appears on his doorstep, and he must convince him that he... is like the man. How can he prepare a meal, when Dracula himself hasn't eaten in four centuries? Can he remember how to buy food, how to select cheese and wine? Can he even remember how to buy bread? And, then, it all comes back to him: his past glory; his armies, his retainers; and what he is reduced to. The loneliest part of the book comes when the man accidentally catches Dracula setting his own table. Producer: Well... if you're so lonely, why don't you make more... vampires? Orlock: I can't. I'm too old. Although, I seem to recall, I was never able to. Producer: Then, how did you become a vampire? Orlock: It was woman. CA: Ah! Now, we're getting somewhere. Orlock: We were together in the night, and then she was gone. At first I had a relief of her in marble, and then a painting of her on wood, and then I had a picture in my mind. And now I no longer even have that. "The movie is kind of slow at first, and filled with the sort of trite premonitions one would expect from your typical vampire movie. But if you can sit through this, it turns out excellent. It took me three or four viewings to understand a scene towards the end where Murnau takes off his director's goggles and still sees the tableau before him in terms of light levels and artistic composition, despite the presence of the hungering vampire a few feet away. "And, when, eventually, the vampire dies, we are not subjected to a typical scene of fire and turning-to-dust, but instead the vision of film caught in a projector and burning away. "That is my review. Peace out." |
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| Shikoku
(1999) Recommended by Sam: "Last weekend I had the chance to see a movie that I found quite interesting. It details the return of a woman, Hinako, to her hometown in Shikoku (it's like a Japanese equivalent of the southern United States-- it's a boring place, believe me). From then on she and the rest of the town residents are visited by the ghosts of dead relatives. Including Hinako's best friend, Sayuri. Not too much, right? Until we find out that Sayuri's mother, who is an exorcist, has gone so insane with grief over the death of her daughter that she is trying to raise the dead. And succeeds. "It's a Japanese movie with English subtitles. "Culture note: the original name of the island uses the characters for 'four' and 'country' (Žl‘), but in the movie title use the characters for 'death' and 'country' (Ž€‘). Also, there are buildings (especially hospitals) in Japan that don't have an official fourth floor because of the similar pronounciation for 'four' and 'death' -- both pronounced "shi." |
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Snow
White: A Tale Of Terror (1997) |
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| The
St. Francisville Experiment (2000) Recommended by Kurtis Lee: "What you mentioned in today's Morbid Fact (3-15-02) seemed strangely familiar. It reminded me of a movie I saw once called the St. Francisville Experiment. I assume you have probably seen it, but if you haven't, then I'd like to say that it reminds me very much of your facts. The film is very much a Blair Witch Project ripoff that is about a group of people forced to spend a night in a haunted mansion in St. Francisville, Louisiana. (I'm unsure if it is mentioned as the LaLaurie mansion). By the end of the film, it's quite obvious that the thing is staged but what intrigued me most of all is the beginning as they go through the legend of the house including a girl who's limbs have been broken and then her joints were reset at odd angles so 'she looked more like a crab.'If you haven't seen it and still enjoy learning about the LaLaurie house, I suggest you check it out ." Obligatory Warning: This film has also been listed as one of the worst ever by other sources, so you're taking a chance with this one... |
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| Suicide
Club (2002) Recommended by Taboo: "[This is] a film written and directed by Sion Sono, a man usually noted for his porn movies. Released in Japan as 'Jisatsu Sakaru,' it's been subtitled in English and titled 'Suicide Circle,' or 'Suicide Club.' In this delightful festival of morbidity, school children all over the country are jumping to their death in bizarre suicide crimes. Detective Kuroda (played by well-respected actor Ryo Ishibashi) begins to investigate, only to find his own children are involved in the plot. the police, however, get a lead from an anonymous ally calling herself 'Koumori' ('the Bat') who discovers the suicide cult's website and is in close contact with them. Until, of course, she is kidnapped by the Suicide Club, led by Bowie-esque glam-rocker Genesis (played by the real-life Bowie-esque glam-rocker Rolly). ...but this isn't the end of the suicides. J-pop sensation Dessert is sweeping the nation, and what may very well be the single most beautiful montage in film history, innumerable adults are seen committing suicide to a perky, upbeat Dessert song. Detective Kuroda too has fallen victim to the suicides after a call from the *real* suicide cult and it is up to Mitsuko, the girlfriend of a suicide victim, to make the final connection. --It has all you could ask for in Japanese cult flick: blood, guts, scary kids, a roll of human skin, and fifty-four schoolgirls jumping to their death in front of a train. My favourite ever." Also recommended by Alien Kid: "Summary: Beginning with one of the most unforgettably outrageous scenes in recent cinema, as 54 smiling high-school girls join hands and then cheerfully jump off a subway platform to be crushed by an oncoming train, The Suicide Club is a remarkably bold and bizarre film which becomes stranger and more surreal as it progresses. A wicked social critique in the form of a creepy and enigmatic detective mystery, the film examines the despair of disaffected Japanese youth and the influence of pop culture with fantastic style and perceptive wit. "After the subway suicides, police detective Kuroda (Audition’s Ryo Ishibashi) receives a tip from a mysterious girl calling herself 'The Bat' who alerts the police to a website which cryptically chronicles the rash of suicides in Tokyo — before they even happen. Kuroda investigates further, while the plague of self-inflicted deaths increases throughout the city, with young bodies plummeting from the sky on a regular basis. Are the jumpers part of a cult? How can the police explain a chain of human flesh found in a bag at the subway? And what is the connection between the suicide wave and the megahit Japanese teen-girl pop combo Desert?" |
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| Suspiria
(1977) Recommended by Taboo: "[One of my all-time favorite films is] the Italian art-horror film by Dario Agento, 'Suspiria.' Between the perspective of the scenery, the wallpapers that seem to blend the rooms into little more than a confusion of lines and space, and the ever-changing lighting that colours the rooms and sets the stage for a number of eerie happenings, the entire thing seems like one bad acid trip. Pair this with a soundtrack by Goblin (which seems to be a synth, a drumset, and a few people whispering and screaming in the background) and what Entertainment Weekly called 'the most vicious murder scene ever flimed,' and you have something more haunting than any American flick you've ever rented. The tale tells of a young woman moving to Germany in pursuit of her career in d | |