Given the primitive side of man, controversial films have and always will appeal to certain movie fanatics. The taboo and terrifying angles of celluloid will always call to those who crave something edgy… something that we’re not supposed to see. That’s curiosity. That’s human nature. That’s the small slice of monster in all of us, crawling to the surface, eager to catch a breath.
It’s also the reason the following 10 films have and may – perhaps – always harvest a different kind of attention. These are the movies that redefine the very thought of the forbidden. These are the movies that force us to question our own decency. These are the films so shocking that we’ll never, ever stop talking about them.
Nekromantik: Necrophilia far surpasses taboo. It’s downright disgusting. Jörg Buttgereit’s disturbing film Nekromantik tackled the topic head on and as a result was immediately banned in more than a single country. The idea of getting frisky with a cold corpse will always send shivers down the spine, which means Nekromantik will never sit comfortably with viewers, though it will always occupy space on the shelves of certain collectors. Nekromatik isn’t a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it is magnetic in its willingness to push the boundaries of morality.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: The most terrifying and unsettling aspect of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is the gritty realism of the flick. It almost feels like a found footage film, it’s so straightforward while completely encrusted. Watching Henry (Michael Rooker) saw away at an expired body invokes genuine chills. The performances and the script in particular – which never hams up the content – instill a sense of disgust. With disgust often comes curiosity, and Henry spawns no shortage of that. This one is the proverbial car crash that demands a gawking session; it’s hard to turn your head to this visceral violence.
Peeping Tom: Peeping Tom damn near murdered director Michael Powell’s career. Although it has gone on to be recognized as a masterpiece of British cinema, it wasn’t exactly embraced upon arrival in 1960. In fact, the flick’s excessive violence (by 1960 standards) had critics and fans turning from the screen in revulsion. The truth is, this is one of the more compelling films to be included in this list, as it delivers both physical and psychological jolts in abundance and plays out as a major piece of foreshadowing, as we’ve now seen similar ideas become something of a trend over the last few decades. While it’s acknowledged as a strong slice of cinema today, it’s easy to understand why this one had audiences revolted some 55 years ago.
The Last House on the Left: The depravity of Wes Craven’s gritty breakout reaches great length. Even today, more than 40 years after release, the film still taps a nerve. It’s a heartbreaking story, and while – for the most part – vengeance is served by the time the credits roll, the impact of seeing a few young women with their entire lives ahead of them brutalized and prematurely ended for no particular reason casts a gloom on the psyche. It’s not a pleasant piece of work by any means. It is, however, one of the most controversial flicks you’re ever going to watch.
A Serbian Film: For my personal money, this is the most unnerving movie to land on this list. As a family man, it burrows under my skin and crawls… endlessly. The movie is about a down and out ex-porn star who agrees to shoot a mysterious movie that will send him spiraling into debauched depths, shattering the life and family that he’s helped to build. It’s tough to talk too much about this one without completely spoiling it, but know this: A Serbian Film is a shocking and sickening movie that you won’t forget once you watch it. Some things simply cannot be unseen. You may be better off skipping this one, especially if family values rank high in your priority list.
Faces of Death: This pseudo-documentary had moviegoers believing it was entirely legit for years. While we now know that not to be the case, it’s hard to deny the impact that Faces of Death had on not just the movie scene, but society in general. The pic, which depicts numerous acts of extreme violence and murder, was banned all over the globe and left those who did see it feeling as filthy as an excited hog in the pen. If you check it out with the idea in your mind that it’s all real, you’ll be completely and utterly stunned. If you watch it knowing that the majority of footage you see is staged, you’re still going to be shaking your head in bewilderment. It’s a disturbing film, no doubt about it, and it’s easily one of the most controversial works the world has ever seen.
I Spit on Your Grave (1978): This misogynistic trek into exploitation won’t leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. While the movie does follow the blueprint of Craven’s The Last House on the Left, the final revenge twist doesn’t do much to make the viewer feel comfortable or cleansed in any way. There’s something about watching about an hour of rape onscreen that thrusts the human mindset into a realm of complete depression. There are no redeeming qualities in this pic, and the degradation of women we see here is nearly unparalleled in cinematic history. It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I can recommend this one to anyone, as it really is a disgusting film worthy of the controversy that’s long surrounded it.
Salo (120 Days of Sodom): Ready to have your mind blown and your stomach turned upside down? If you can say yes, then you’re ready to look into Pier Paolo Pasolini’s sexually exploitative Salo. It’s all about torturing children for an extended period of time, and that idea alone should leave you on edge. When you see what these poor youngsters are subjected to, you’ll know good and well why this one has had audiences repelled for decades. One of the most controversial flicks out there? No effing doubt about it.
Cannibal Holocaust: Cannibal Holocaust will forever be remembered as the first found footage film and as the movie that showcases living animals being slaughtered for the camera. Although there are a number of graphic scenes in the flick, the sounds of the slaughtered animals in their final moments of existence may be the most haunting aspect of the entire film. The pragmatism of those moments is heartbreaking, and animal lovers surely had to battle the urge to vomit (it’s been said that more than a single member of the actual film crew did plenty of off-screen vomiting). Everything about Cannibal Holocaust is shocking. The dark reputation the film immediately garnered was deserved and then some. This movie will still leave your head spinning… for all the wrong reasons.
The Exorcist: What made William Friedkin’s film so controversial? For starters, after dailies began to connect with outside eyeballs, a great number of individuals began to fear for Linda Blair’s safety. And then there were the alarmingly impacting special effects (absolutely groundbreaking at the time of release) and the awe of little Regan’s revolting sexuality in the flick… and then came the big, big kicker: the supposed Satanic subliminal messages sprinkled throughout the movie. Audience members were genuinely concerned they may take a little slice of the devil home with them, and the media picked up on that and ran with it. While The Exorcist is relatively tame when compared to some of the other films on this list, it was unlike most had ever seen in 1973. The controversial stigma has now been essentially detached from the movie (in large part due to some of the other extreme material we’ve seen released over the years), but The Exorcist remains one of history’s most discussed – and now beloved – works.