10 Surprisingly Disturbing Non-Horror Films

Requiem for a Dream. The Machinist. Parasite. And more recently, Shiva Baby. These are just a few examples of films that might not be marketed as horror films but still bear the tropes of classic horror, be it with atmospheric tension or psychological terror.

In some of these cases, the film’s editing and premise might be so stress-inducing that the viewing experience would easily match that of an average horror. Such instances only show that horror as an emotion can be used in different ways to disturb viewers, regardless of the genre.

Content Warning: Mentions of violence.

10 Requiem For A Dream (2000)

As is evident from his filmography, Darren Aronofsky has had a habit of playing around with psychological tension and darkly realistic storylines. In his sophomore feature film, he explores the lives of four individuals who are addicted to one drug or the other.

Requiem for a Dream takes a deeper dive into the human psyche as well as the physical changes that one’s body might go through after heavy drug usage. The iconic jump cuts focusing on the dilation of the protagonist’s pupil convey such transitions in a hauntingly beautiful manner. Along with the focus on addiction, the tragic storyline further provides some extremely grim after-effects.

9 Watership Down (1978)

Even though this 1978 animated classic has been rated PG by the MPAA, the adventure drama is still capable of traumatizing younger viewers. The film is essentially a survival tale of a group of rabbits trying to escape the construction activities of humans. To achieve their freedom, the rabbits resort to surprisingly violent means.

All through Watership Down, either the rabbits unleash severe violence or face it themselves. Audiences that are put off with on-screen animal cruelty might have to avoid watching it altogether as it features several scenes of animals getting choked, shot, scarred, and even dismembered. The bleakness is carried on with a scene in which the rabbits even get gassed underground.

8 The Father (2020)

Anthony Hopkins plays the titular character in The Father, a psychological drama involving an aged man who grapples with the fear of his ongoing dementia.

Rather than relying on formulaic shock value, debutant director Florian Zeller utilized a minimal setting (the protagonist’s home) to show the extent to which his medical condition can reach. The bouts of memory loss and irritation are definitely uncomfortable to watch and are bound to instill the fear of aging amongst a younger audience. As for Hopkins’ performance, his dramatic prowess is fully explored to the point where it is difficult to even guess whether he’s acting or not.

7 A Clockwork Orange (1971)

This dystopian classic by Stanley Kubrick by Stanley Kubrick doesn’t hold back in its display of psychologically disturbing content. Like the titular novel it’s based on, A Clockwork Orange finds young Alex (Malcolm McDowell) unleashing an anarchic fit of rage and violence all around him. The very fact that he engages in heinous crimes for the thrill of it makes his character scarier.

While there might be other films with such excessive violence and nudity, A Clockwork Orange‘s execution is what sets it apart. Loud orchestral music and close-up shots of the villainous juvenile delinquent adds to the sense of uneasiness that a viewer might experience while watching this crime drama.

6 Parasite (2019)

Parasite is a great example of perfectly balanced tonal shifts. With clear allusions to social inequality, the thriller drama plays out as a satirical attack on the elite class. However, as the central working-class family struggles to make their living through the deceit of lies, new secrets are unearthed. Hence, midway through the film, the tone grows darker and the viewers’ mind is steered towards unanticipated directions.

The film’s third act will continue to be memorable for the chaotic energy that is unleashed. With the right pacing and shock value, writer/director Bong Joon-ho succeeds in building a nail-biting plot that’s reminiscent of his early feature Memories of Murder.

5 Mean Creek (2004)

The crux of Mean Creek lies in a horrific crime that happens in the middle of the film. More than the nature of the crime, what’s terrifying is how young and immature teenagers are the perpetrators. When it comes to themes of loss of innocence, Mean Creek remains to be an underrated (and unsettling) gem.

The film begins with a minor skirmish between two young boys. When one of the boys’ brothers decides to teach the other one a lesson, matters take an ugly turn and a cycle of bullying and brutality is set in motion. Rory Culkin and Josh Peck’s lead performances add depth to the premise while making it all the more believable.

4 V For Vendetta

V For Vendetta starts off in a totalitarian regime in Britain of the future. A vigilante named V (played Hugo Weaving) sets out to wreak havoc against the state while Evey (Natalie Portman) ends up helping the anarchist in his mission. Somewhere in the middle, Evey is abducted by state officials and mentally tortured to a point where she considers death as an escape option.

Her only solace turns out to be a note written by a woman prosecuted by the government for being a lesbian. The note and the entire torture sequence is already disturbing. However, V reveals that even though the note was real, the abduction was entirely staged to test her mental capabilities. This reveal might definitely come off as an unexpected twist for many, adding to the discomforting atmosphere of the film.

3 Shame (2011)

Be it pornography or sexual addiction, Shame‘s protagonist Brandon Sullivan (played by Michael Fassbender) is a troubled man who faces a severe case of sexual addiction. Rather than using this condition as a gimmick, the film sensitively handles the internal turmoil of the hero as he struggles to preserve his secret in front of his sister (played by Carey Mulligan) who pays him a visit for a few days.

The subsequent self-destruction that takes place adds to some highly impactful cinema. Fassbender’s committed performance seems rooted in reality and that’s what makes his character feel all the more uncomfortable. In this process, Shame just attempts to show his turmoil rather than offering any straightforward answers.

2 Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler has the thrills of neo-noir and the scares of an urban thriller. But it is Jake Gyllenhaal’s lead performance as photojournalist Lou Bloom that turns the film into a spine-chilling descent towards madness.

In his pursuit to record brutal crimes in the night, Bloom’s profession turns him into a nocturnal sociopath as he all traces of human empathy. Apart from the graphic footage that is covered, Gyllenhaal’s aforementioned performance involves sinister glances and smiles along with sudden moments of rage and self-harm. Even the non-verbal cues tend to make Bloom a particularly macabre and intimidating lead.

1 Shiva Baby (2021)

On the surface, Shiva Baby is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that takes place in the course of one chaotic family luncheon. The story revolves around Rachel Sennott’s Danielle, an aimless girl who happens to meet her ex-girlfriend (plays by Molly Gordon) as well as her sugar daddy (played by Danny Deferrari) in the same event. As she struggles to make amends with both parties, family members bombard her with questions and judgment.

The result is an anxiety-filled trip that’s bolstered by Ariel Marx’s haunting score. In fact, Shiva Baby‘s fast-paced chain of chaotic events easily turns it into a real-life horror.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(727 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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