Disturbing Movies On Netflix

Updated May 1, 2024

When it comes to Disturbing Movies On Netflix, there is no limit to the films exploring this idea. We put together 25 of our favorites.

Oldboy (2003)

★★★★

3.4 out of 4 stars

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Rated R

Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean mystery thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. It tells the story of Oh Dae-su, a man who is inexplicably imprisoned in a strange, private prison for 15 years without knowing his captor or the reason for his imprisonment. After his sudden release, he embarks on a journey to discover the identity of his captor and to seek revenge. Along his journey, he discovers hidden secrets and ultimately finds out the truth. The film is a tragedy of revenge and redemption, as Dae-su must confront the dark nature of his own identity in the process of his search for the truth.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Rated R

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky. It follows four characters, Harry, Marion, Sara, and Tyrone, as they suffer from their respective addictions. Harry and Tyrone become involved in a dangerous drug-dealing business, while Marion and Sara, Harry's mother and girlfriend respectively, become addicted to diet pills in order to lose weight. As their addictions begin to spiral out of control, the lives of all four characters become increasingly desperate and destructive. Eventually all four characters succumb to their respective addictions, leading to tragic consequences. The film emphasizes the psychological and physical effects of addiction, and highlights the dangers of drug abuse.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

★★★★

3.3 out of 4 stars

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Rated R

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film follows the story of Alex DeLarge, a charismatic, sociopathic delinquent whose pleasures are classical music, rape, and ultra-violence. After Alex is arrested for murder, he is subjected to an experimental Ludovico treatment, which removes his free will and changes him into a model citizen. Although his transformation is successful, the state has deprived him of the ability to choose right from wrong. The film ultimately questions the morality of using psychological manipulation to control individuals. Themes of youth culture, social control, and government misconduct are explored throughout the film.

The Exorcist (1973)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb
Rated R

The Exorcist is a 1973 horror film directed by William Friedkin and written by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a young girl, Regan MacNeil, who is possessed by a demonic entity. When medical science fails to provide a solution, her desperate mother enlists two priests to attempt an exorcism. The priests struggle with their faith as they confront the powerful, frightening and seemingly unstoppable force. The Exorcist is widely considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all time. It has been praised for its detailed depiction of the exorcism, its performances, and its atmosphere and is widely regarded as one of the scariest films ever made. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won two, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound Mixing.

I Saw the Devil (2010)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Jee-woon Kim, starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Ho-jin Chun
Rated Not Rated

"I Saw The Devil" is a 2010 South Korean psychological horror-thriller film written, co-produced, and directed by Kim Jee-woon. The story follows a secret agent on a mission to exact revenge on a serial killer who murdered his fiancé. The agent, Soo-hyun (played by Byung-hun Lee), is determined to track down the killer and make him suffer for his crime. The killer, Kyung-chul (played by Min-sik Choi), is a psychopath who enjoys torturing and killing his victims. Soo-hyun engages in a dangerous game of cat and mouse as he attempts to outwit and outmaneuver the killer. The film is a tense and intense exploration of revenge and justice and features some intense and graphic violence.

Happiness (1998)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Todd Solondz, starring Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker
Rated NC-17

Happiness is an American black comedy-drama film directed by Todd Solondz and released in 1998. It follows the life of three sisters and their families, exploring themes of darkness, despair, and human suffering while examining the relationships between family members. The movie follows the three sisters, Trish, Helen, and Joy, who are all dealing with the various struggles in their lives. Trish is dealing with her husband’s infidelity; Helen is dealing with her best friend’s suicide; and Joy is a struggling writer who is dealing with feelings of loneliness and emptiness. Each of the sisters also has a brother, who are all dealing with their own issues. Through the course of the movie, the audience is shown the struggles each of the characters face, as well as the various ways in which they try to cope with their problems. The movie is noted for its dark and disturbing subject matter, as well as its comedic moments.

Mysterious Skin (2004)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is a 2004 independent drama film directed by Gregg Araki, based on Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name. It tells the story of two pre-adolescent boys who are sexually abused by their Little League coach. Eight years later, one of the boys, Neil, is a promiscuous male prostitute, and the other, Brian, is a withdrawn, obsessive compulsive shut-in who believes he was abducted by aliens. As their paths cross again, the two boys begin to uncover the truth of what happened to them. The film follows the two boys as they attempt to come to terms with their traumatic pasts and their confusing present. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet, and also features Michelle Trachtenberg, Billy Drago, and Elisabeth Shue.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Pedro Almodóvar, starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet, Marisa Paredes
Rated R

The Skin I Live In is a psychological thriller directed by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. It stars Antonio Banderas as Dr. Robert Ledgard, a plastic surgeon who has been experimenting with artificial skin. He has been focused on creating a type of synthetic skin that is resistant to burns and other damage, determined to use it to help his daughter, who was burned in a car crash. Dr. Ledgard has also been secretly experimenting on a young woman named Vera Cruz, who he has kept locked up in his mansion. It is eventually revealed that Vera is the biological daughter of Ledgard’s wife, who was killed in the car crash. In an effort to change her identity, he has been using his synthetic skin to turn her into a replica of his dead wife. The film follows Dr. Ledgard as he attempts to keep his dark secrets hidden, while Vera attempts to escape the mansion and reclaim her identity. As the story progresses, the audience is left with a chilling and captivating story of identity, revenge, and obsession.

Funny Games (1997)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Michael Haneke, starring Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering
Rated Not Rated

Funny Games is a 1997 Austrian psychological thriller film written and directed by Michael Haneke. The movie follows a young family, Georg, Anna, and their son Georgie, who are on vacation at their lakeside home. While they are out on the lake, two young men in white overalls, Peter and Paul, arrive at their home and ask to borrow eggs. Despite Anna's doubts, Georg allows them to stay for the night. Later that night, the family realizes that the two men are actually there to terrorize them and hold them hostage in their own home. Peter and Paul force the family to engage in a series of sadistic games, in which the consequences of failure are dire. Over the course of the film the family tries desperately to survive the ordeal, but ultimately it is up to Georg to save his family from the two young men. By the end of the film, it is unclear whether the family or the two men will emerge victorious.