It is ironic that when a Horror movie Is truly effective in producing fear, I never want to see it again. Although there are some incredible horrors, like Stanley Kubrick’s The ShiningWhich I will gladly re-watch several times, noticing something new with each viewing, other horrors told me everything I needed to know in a single viewing, and although I enjoyed them the first time, I have no desire to Look up. In fact, some were so bone-chillingly awful that the thought of experiencing them a second time actually gives me anxiety.
There are many great movies that are so brutal that I can only watch them once, and this is especially true for horror films. It could be that The excessive depiction of violence in this movie is just too much for me to takeBut in other circumstances, it is not the literal imagery that makes for difficult viewing, but the psychological intensity of its story. There are many reasons I would avoid rewatching a horror movie, as sometimes one viewing is more than enough for me.
10
The Centipede Man (First Sequence) (2009)
Directed by Tom Six
Based on his concept alone, it was clear that the writer and director Tom Six aimed to get a visceral reaction from me and every other audience member when he performed The Centipede Man (First Sequence). Like a truly disturbing horror that saw a deranged German surgeon kidnapping tourists and conjoining them together mouth to anus to create the titular human centipede, at times, it felt like the movie was crassness for crassness’ sake. Not only was it a terrifying concept, but it was also so excruciatingly disgusting that I never needed to see the movie again.
The human centipede was a prime example of how just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. There is something interesting about the idea of ​​a horror movie that pushes so far past the realm of normal acceptability that it has become a cultural phenomenon, but it also feels too provocative and, at times, unfair. Six managed to get a boost from me watching the film, and the fact that not just one but two sequels have been showcased, there’s something strangely engaging about The human centipedeBut that’s no reason for me to revisit it.
9
Ringo (1998)
Directed by Hideo Nakata
The 2002 American remake The ring was the first horror movie I can remember seeing, and I still remember my terror as a young child, far too young to have watched the movie, when the phone rang shortly after the credits rolled. This sparked a lifelong love of horror, because there is something simultaneously scary and enjoyable thrilling about watching supernatural stories of imminent death. I knew that too The ring is based on a Japanese horror film, but it took many years before I finally saw the original Hideo Nakata movie which I heard was scary many times.
Finally watching the original RingoI was not prepared for how terrifying it was, how it perfectly showcases how much better to produce scares the Asian market was. Mixing the TV nightmares of Poltergeist with the inevitable doom of The omen, Ringo Felt like it mixed Eastern and Western movies to produce a truly demented film. Wildly effective and rugged enough to keep even the bravest movie fan awake at night, Ringo Was a movie I’m glad I saw, but the thought of revisiting it sends shivers down my spine.
8
The House That Jack Built (2018)
Directed by Lars von Trier
Danish director Lars von Trier has made a career out of creating deeply moving stories that stick with viewers long after they first witness them. Although I, for one, am a big fan of von Trier’s work in the horror genre and other psychologically probing dramas, he is also a director whose movies I am happy to leave in one single viewing. One prime example of this was The house that Jack builtA deeply troubling account of a serial killer told over the course of 12 years during the 1970s and 1980s.
Although Matt Dillion gives an exceptional performance as Jack, The graphic depiction of violence in The house that Jack built Meant this was a very hard movie to watch again. The film was wildly divisive when it was first released, as some criticized its excessive violence while others called it one of von Trier’s best works. I stood firmly in the middle, able to appreciate its provocative beauty and simultaneously was quite happy to never see it again.
7
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Directed by Tobe Hopper
As perhaps the definitive slasher movie, I would need to revoke my horror movie credentials if I didn’t watch it. The Texas chain saw massacre. As a truly revolutionary film that spawned countless imitators, the terrifying story of the deranged skin-wearing, chainsaw-wielding killer Leatherface became all the more chilling knowing it was inspired by the real-life serial killer Ed Gein. As a cult favorite and major commercial success, The Texas chain saw massacre Led to the development of a major horror franchise Complete with sequels, prequels, remakes and video games.
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I can appreciate The Texas chain saw massacre As one of the most important horror movies ever made, but it is also so intensely chilling that I have no desire to rewatch it. The thought of an almost unstoppable killer coming to kill me with a power tool is enough to make me tremble in my boots, and I’d rather not relive that particular cinematic experience again. Director Tobe Hooper certainly made something special with The Texas chain saw massacreAnd while I’m fascinated by how it reveals the dark underbelly of American society, one viewing is enough.
6
Threads (1984)
Directed by Mick Jackson
The apocalyptic British war drama Threads Wasn’t a traditional horror movie, but the sci-fi tale of mutually assured destruction left me so utterly depressed that I never needed to see it again. I watched first Threads As a teenager still hearing future Black mirror Creator Charlie Brooker discusses the terrifying effect it had on him as a child (via How TV Ruined Your Life). Hear brokers describe Threads like “Possibly the most horrific drama broadcast on British television” I mean I had to look it up, but I really wasn’t prepared for what I’d find.
As a graphic depiction of how a nuclear bomb could destroy society and how the catastrophic after-effects could leave civilization in ruins, it felt terrifying as it had its basis in reality. While Threads was formed in the midst of serious Cold War anxietyWatching it in the 21st century amid conflict in the Middle East, Vladimir Putin, and North Korea, I was hyper-aware that the potential for nuclear warfare had never really gone away. In a world where the 24-hour news cycle brought the same kind of anxiety explored in ThreadsI had no desire to review it.
5
Antichrist (2009)
Directed by Lars von Trier
of the emotional devastation of Breaking the waves Right by to be absurdly angry return to TV with The Kingdom: ExodusDanish director Lars von Trier has always been able to get a reaction out of me. However, one movie stands above the rest when it comes to pure fear, and this is it Antichrist. staring William Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg In a shocking exploration of trauma and sadomasochism, Antichrist was a Von Trier movie that I could only endure for one single viewing.
Not only was Antichrist Packed with grotesque imagery, but it was also so unabashedly crude that I can’t imagine anyone willingly deciding to watch it again. Antichrist was arthouse horror in its purest form, and it is easy to appreciate von Trier’s desire to push through the boundaries of acceptability. However, just because I understand why von Trier does what he does, it doesn’t mean that I want to constantly relive the terrible cinematic worlds he creates.
4
born (1991)
Directed by Elias Merhige
The experimental silent horror Born Was a viewing experience I will never forget. Full of intense imagery and unnerving visuals, this avant-garde depiction of a divine figure’s suicide resulted in the creation of Mother Earth and Son of Earth in a story that drew heavily from Christian mythology and pagan beliefs. Initially conceived as a work of experimental theater, it is clear that Born Wasn’t made with mainstream success in mind, as its disconcerting nature made for challenging viewing.
The uncomfortable and unconventional aesthetic of Born Meant it was unlike any horror movie I’ve ever seen. With graphic depictions of violence that come in terrifying waves throughout its brisk 72-minute runtime, Born is produced in a manner that has aspects of looking like it was made in the 1920s, but, honestly, also like something completely out of any era. Born was a troubling but highly rewarding visual showcaseYet its challenging nature, brutal violence, and surreal style made me happy to let it remain a one-time experience.
3
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Directed by Ruggero Deodato
I’ve always been a big fan of the found-footage genre, because it can create an incredibly immersive experience that makes horror movies feel even more terrifying. While this style is used to create effective movies like The Blair Witch Project And Paranormal activityNothing could have prepared me for this The unnerving nature of Cannibal destruction. As the story of a lost documentary crew and a rescue mission in the Amazon rainforest, Cannibal destruction Became a truly terrifying experience when they encountered a local cannibalistic tribe.
I was well aware of the controversies around Cannibal destruction Before I watched it, as the film was so realistic that it became the subject of an absentee trial after it was released. Cannibal destruction It felt so realistic that the actors actually had to appear in court to prove that they weren’t actually eaten as depicted on screen (via Comic Book Resources). While I was fully aware that it was all fictional while watching, the experience was so profound that I made a vow to myself never to see it again.
2
Martyrs (2008)
Directed by Pascal Laugier
matrix is truly one of the scariest horror movies I’ve ever seen, and its intense nature and ultra-violent narrative meant I could endure one viewing. As the story of a young woman determined to take revenge against those who tortured her child, even explaining the story is chilling enough without having to endure what was depicted on the screen. From the French director Pascal Laugier, Mortars Was part of the New Extremity film movementwhich embrace movies packed with over-the-top violence and depraved sexual imagery.
I knew Martis It would be hard to watch when I first saw it, as I read reports of viewers collapsing and even vomiting during screenings ( via Full film). The controversy was so great that it even led to the documentary Martyrs against censorshipThat addressed the brutality of the film and its reception around the world. As a really hard-to-bear movie, I was curious to watch MortarsBut that doesn’t mean I’d be subject to repeated viewings.
1
The Exorcist (1973)
Directed by William Friedkin
I can vividly remember sneaking downstairs after my parents were fast asleep to watch a TV show. The Exorcist Around ten years old. Even as a small child, I knew that the film had a special place in popular culture, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. This may have been a bad decision, because the supernatural story of occultism, evil spirits and religious rituals left an undeniable mark on my subconscious, and I had nightmares for weeks.
Watch as these 12-year-old Regan McNeil (Linda Blair) became possessed by an evil demon is just too much for a young child to bear, and while I’ve enjoyed the sequels and spin-offs of the franchise, and even since reading William Peter Blatty’s original novel, I’ve never been able to bring myself to watch the movie in its Complete. There’s just something about that particular movie that was imprinted on my brain, and even all these years later, I can still remember that scared child wishing I’d listened to my parents and just stayed in bed.
Sources: How TV Ruined Your Life, Comic Book Resources, Full film