Scarred for Life

This is my first (and probably last) list post. It stems from a need to talk about the severe psychological scarring I recently received after watching a series of movies suggested by a "friend" after I mentioned my boredom in a lament to him. I have subsequently promised myself to punch him in the face when I get home.

These movies are all deeply unsettling, but brilliant in the comment they deliver on psychology and humanity. Despite their brilliance, I would never, ever want to subject myself to them again. But I'm not saying you shouldn't watch them.

All the movies on this list have been banned somewhere in the world and will require a few hours of unwinding after watching them. This list contains spoilers, is in no particular order, and is entirely my personal opinion.

Another thing: Some of the links to videos and photos in this post are very graphic. Don't say I didn't warn you.

No. 1 - Trainspotting

Trainspotting Theatrical Tailor. Photo: Sourced

One of two addict movies on this list, Trainspotting focuses on the lives of a group of Scottish heroine addicts as they deal with their addictions and attempts to get clean. While the movie itself isn't that bad, there is a sequence which really gets under your skin.

There is a scene where Sick Boy (played by the amazing Johnny Lee Miller) is having a nightmare involving his infant daughter who has died of neglect. Can't really get worse than that right? Right? Wrong. In the nightmare, the infant is crawling along the walls of the bedroom and eventually finds its way to the ceiling. Upon reaching the spot on the roof directly above the screaming Sick Boy, the infant proceeds to do an Exorcist-like head spin. Looks something like this.

While this one scene is a bit unsettling (especially if you already have a mild (ir)rational fear of babies, the rest of the movie is brilliant, but why is a post for another day.

No. 2 - Soylent Green

Soylent Green Theatrical Poster. Photo: Sourced

So bare with me real quick. For this one, we have to go back to go forward. Lost? What if I told you this movie was made in 1973 and centres around a dystopian  2022 society where there are 40 million people in New York City alone? Better? Good.

In this movie, food rations have become increasingly limited due to the overpopulation crisis. All food is now compressed into colour-coded post-it note sized wafers. These rations are produced by the Soylent Corporation, and the mad scientists (literally) have developed a new wafer made out of plankton, aptly called Soylent Green. Soylent Green is very popular, as it is more nutritious than the other wafers, and soon there is a shortage which leads to rioting. All is well until a murder occurs in the upper echelon of the corporation and a policeman is called in to investigate. After some investigation, the policeman realises that Soylent Green is not made out of plankton (which has incidentally not grown for a long time - shocker). So what is Soylent Green made of? Well...

This movie disturbed me for a number of reasons, besides the obvious. The overpopulation epidemic is not as big a stretch as it was in the 70's, and with resources dwindling fast, one has to wonder if this is as far-fetched as we think it is. Secondly, 2022 is only 9 years away. Scary in itself. Lastly, I find myself wondering what the world's reaction would have been. Would people still have fought to get their rations of Soylent Green once they knew what it was really made of? I kind of think so. Society nowadays has become increasingly individualistic and will do whatever is necessary to survive, even if that means turning to cannibalism. Scary and unsettling. For me anyway.

No. 3 - A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange Theatrical Poster. Photo: Sourced

In this instance, the tagline says it all. This movie caused so much related violence that Stanley Kubrick himself withdrew the film in England and Australia, and it is still banned in various countries. It features various graphic scenes such as the brutal beating of a homeless man, two explicit rape scenes and various other wrongdoings by Alex DeLarge and his fellow miscreants who call themselves "droogs". After being arrested, an attempt is made to "cure" Alex using various psychological techniques such as the "Ludovico Technique".

Initially, the reformation appears to be a success, with Alex becoming physically sick at the sight of violent acts, but after hearing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony he throws himself out a window, injuring himself. Upon awaking in hospital, he discovers he no longer has an aversion to violence  and we are left to wonder how he spends the rest of his life.

While the violent scenes are disturbing in their own right, what really freaked me out about this movie was the Ludovico thing. I wish I could tell you why though. On a deeper level, the film brings the whole "human conditioning" thing into real question with regard to its effectiveness and humaneness. A good movie if you feel like criticising the practice of psychology, much like I did after my Psych 1 November exam.

No. 4 - Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream Theatrical Poster. Photo: Sourced

A movie I believe everyone needs to see once in their lives (purely because once is all you will be able to stomach), it centres around four drug addicts played by Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Ellen Burstyn and Jennifer Connelly. The movie explores the lengths addicts will go to for a hit and the depths of their increasing psychosis. This movie does not have a happy ending, as Leto's character loses his left arm, Wayans's character is arrested and locked up, Burstyn's character is committed and subjected to shock therapy and Connelly's character is forced to participate in orgies and sexual acts for her fix.

While the whole movie is terrifying and depressing at the same time, it asks some rather deep questions. There are also various deeply disturbing images (such as Leto's rotting arm, hallucinations of fridge demons eating people and Connelly's sex scenes) that are hinted at in the theatrical trailer and shown in a countdown video I found on YouTube. Again, I recommend watching it at least once. If you have a strong stomach.

No. 5 - Cannibal Holocaust

Cannibal Holocaust Theatrical Poster. Photo: Sourced

"The controversial movie ever made." I concur.

Taking the form of the found footage genre immortalised by the Paranormal Activity franchise, this movie is, in my personal view, the epitome of horror. It is by far the most violent, gruesome and horrific movie on this list.

Banned in over 50 countries (according to the theatrical trailer), this movie centres around a group of film makers shooting a documentary about cannibalistic tribes in South America. Initially, the crew is thought to be held captive by the tribe, a rescue attempt is made, but all that's found in the location are their cameras.

Before even reviewing the footage themselves, a broadcasting company decides to exploit the tapes and make a nice profit by broadcasting the footage as a documentary, but when they actually watch the footage, they change their minds on a dime.

With a name like Cannibal Holocaust you are already not expecting sunshine and daisies, but you will definitely not be prepared for what you see. I have specifically left this one for last, purely because I've been trying to find words to describe it, but I just can't. Its just that bad. The poster should give you some idea. Basically, everyone dies in some horrific way as revenge for their gang-rape and murder of a young tribeswoman. The girlfriend of the director is raped and beheaded, a cameraman is struck with a spear (and shot by the director so they can film how the natives mutilate corpses), and the last two crew members are killed off camera. The found-footage ends with the director's bloody face.

What gets me about this movie is that by the end of the movie, the film crew become just as savage as the people of the tribe they are documenting. They become captivated by the impaled corpses and partake in animal cruelty, and the eventual gang-rape. It shows how, despite the constant effort on our part, we are all innately savage. The final line of the movie echoes this disturbing realisation all too accurately.

"I wonder who the real cannibals are?"

I hope I have sparked your interest a bit. If I have only succeeded in scarring you, let me know so I can punch my friend for you, too. Have a good one.