Films that are hard to watch..

the purple tin

Tyrannosaur. Written and directed by Paddy Considine, excellent film but grim AF. It makes Nil By Mouth look like Summer Holiday.

Whatsisname

Seen it mentioned a few times already but I'd agree with Manchester By The Sea. The acting is so incredibly good that it just feels like you're watching real life at times. The emotion on show from pretty much every character is so raw.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is another film that gives me a similar feeling of emptiness.

While these films left me feeling hollow, the ending of Marley & Me made me crumble. I balled like a baby watching that, I'll never watch it again.

igCorcaigh

KurtVon wrote: »

Good thread with some interesting selections. I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this one already, but “Precious “ (2009) is a good film, but harrowing to watch.

One of my favourites, the acting by that kid was unreal, and the mother... Is there any other social realist film from the US?

igCorcaigh

the purple tin wrote: »

Tyrannosaur. Written and directed by Paddy Considine, excellent film but grim AF. It makes Nil By Mouth look like Summer Holiday.

I love it. There is lightness in there too, but the way it unexpectedly descends is astounding.

Amazing debut at direction from one of my favourite actors.

Acosta

Wake In Fright

TaSeThat

Probably already mentioned but:

The Woodsman - especially that park bench scene with the girl

Irreversible - even the constant noise in it is supposed to make you feel uncomfortable

These are the only two films I've watched that I just could not look away but felt uncomfortable watching. There are plenty of movies that made you feel sad or had uncomfortable scenes but these two movies I was constantly fidgeting/squirming in my seat when watching them.

igCorcaigh

TaSeThat wrote: »

The Woodsman - especially that park bench scene with the girl

This one, from 2014?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361127/

Got good reviews, will add it to the list, thanks.


Must watch Irreversible again, only half watched it years ago, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

The one thing I must say though, is that the gratuitous, made to be "hard to watch" films, such as A Serbian Film, The Human Centipede 2, etc. leave me cold and unimpressed. I don't even experience much of an emotional reaction to them, they are too contrived and alien for me.

I find the likes of Tyrannosaur, Precious, We Need to Talk About Kevin and Still Alice far more affecting, and "hard to watch".

wfdrun

the purple tin wrote: »

Kes.
It's tough up north.

Is it

Grim up north

sporina

the purple tin wrote: »

Tyrannosaur. Written and directed by Paddy Considine, excellent film but grim AF. It makes Nil By Mouth look like Summer Holiday.

Must try watch this sometime.. love Olivia Coleman

Tony EH

sporina wrote: »

Must try watch this sometime.. love Olivia Coleman

It's a very good film and when I watched it Coleman was a bit of a revelation, as I never saw her as anything but a comedienne.

I don't know whether I would consider it hard to watch though.

sporina

Just finished Sound of Metal.. I found is v hard to watch in way.. but wow - fantastic piece of work.. the lead actor was A1.. I highly recommend it as a movie

the purple tin

sporina wrote: »

Must try watch this sometime.. love Olivia Coleman

She is excellent in it. If there is any justice in the world they would have been throwing awards at her for her role.

the purple tin

sporina wrote: »

Must try watch this sometime.. love Olivia Coleman

I meant to say- Tyrannosaur is available to watch on All4 atm but they will be taking it down in 7 days time.

sporina

the purple tin wrote: »

I meant to say- Tyrannosaur is available to watch on All4 atm but they will be taking it down in 7 days time.

thanks a mil - i'll try give it a go before its gone.. (hope its not too ekk for me)

rdhma

Ran

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Biutiful

The Wrestler

Gaza

A Separation

For Sama

The Blue Kite

Breaking the Waves

22 July

Ratcatcher

Ace in the Hole

5 Broken Cameras

Lilya_4_Ever

rdhma

Nanjing

Back to 1942

The Wind that shakes the Barley

Peeping Tom

The Whisperers

Dogtooth

Still Life

The Elephant Man

Larbre34

12 Years a Slave.

I also find the original 'Alfie' a difficult watch, a thread a deep sadness and despair in it. But a superb bit of cinema.

Midnight Cowboy for the same reason.

W0LFMAN

Grave of the Fireflies

purifol0

I'm pretty sure I've got you all beat

Scum 1983

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scum_(film)

A brilliant, brilliant film. Utterly compelling, so so tragic, based of course on true events. And some scenes still haunt me. Mary Whitehouse sued against its release, the BBC decided against broadcasting it. Critics...praised it.

Probably the only movie I'd recommend even if I knew people would rather have never seen it.

Unlike other films listed on thread, this one has no Hollywood sheen ( ala Leaving Las Vegas) and is not unrelentingly grim (Layla 4 ever) just to lay it on thick. But say if you find The Wrestler a tough watch then it really isn't for you.

Unicorn Milk Latte

Eraserhead


Un Chien Andalou

Quantum Erasure

Anything with Adam Sandler in it

spookwoman

Splice
The Visit. That scene under the house playing hide and seek is messed up.
Naked Lunch
Human Centipede
Last Exit to Brooklyn

thehairygrape

purifol0 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I've got you all beat

Scum 1983

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scum_(film)

A brilliant, brilliant film. Utterly compelling, so so tragic, based of course on true events. And some scenes still haunt me. Mary Whitehouse sued against its release, the BBC decided against broadcasting it. Critics...praised it.

Probably the only movie I'd recommend even if I knew people would rather have never seen it.

Unlike other films listed on thread, this one has no Hollywood sheen ( ala Leaving Las Vegas) and is not unrelentingly grim (Layla 4 ever) just to lay it on thick. But say if you find The Wrestler a tough watch then it really isn't for you.

Good call. Saw it in the cinema when it came out. Tough watch. Great film.

Capt'n Midnight

rdhma wrote: »

Ran

Most of the non-action scenes would make nice paintings. If like me you are tired of modern films with realistic muddy colouring making it difficult to distinguish people and groups then this is the exact opposite. Beautifully coloured costumes.

And if you stop the film a little while before the end you could have just said "and they all lived happily ever after" . But it's King Lear set in the Warring States Period of Japan directed by the guy who brought you Throne Of Blood.

igCorcaigh

rdhma wrote: »

Breaking the Waves

Loved it.
Amazing debut from Lars von Trier.

Hard to watch?
I suppose.

Fantastic acting, as goes for all of von Trier.

Nymphomaniac; would that be considered hard to watch?

igCorcaigh

rdhma wrote: »

Ran

Is this difficult to watch, not in an emotional sense, but is it comprehensible to someone like me who's not familiar at all with that type of film?
It does seem fairly obscure. I'm not even familiar with the story of King Lear.

Tony EH

'Ran' isn't difficult to watch at all. In fact it's a beautifully made film, with a fantastic central battle sequence. It's certainly not a film that I would place on a "difficult to watch" list.

o1s1n

purifol0 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I've got you all beat

Scum 1983

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scum_(film)

A brilliant, brilliant film. Utterly compelling, so so tragic, based of course on true events. And some scenes still haunt me. Mary Whitehouse sued against its release, the BBC decided against broadcasting it. Critics...praised it.

Probably the only movie I'd recommend even if I knew people would rather have never seen it.

Unlike other films listed on thread, this one has no Hollywood sheen ( ala Leaving Las Vegas) and is not unrelentingly grim (Layla 4 ever) just to lay it on thick. But say if you find The Wrestler a tough watch then it really isn't for you.

I've an even harder one to watch for you which also has Ray Winstone in it, The War Zone.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Zone

spookwoman

Ichi The Killer. Japanese movie banned in a few countries for over the top gore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichi_the_Killer_(film)

igCorcaigh

o1s1n wrote: »

I've an even harder one to watch for you which also has Ray Winstone in it, The War Zone.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Zone

How have I not heard of this? I love Ray Winstone.

*added* Thank you!