I’ve always liked movies that make me feel like total shit. I’m not entirely sure where this appreciation of miserable cinema stems from, either. Maybe it is a ‘pushing-boundaries’ thing, maybe it is from experiencing a vast array of garbage in my personal life. Regardless of the cause, this morbid adoration has always been there and I never thought it to be peculiar until one summer afternoon. I was out walking my dog when I was randomly stopped by a man who had been reading a book on a park bench. He had noticed my Maniac (1980) tattoo, and asked about what it was. I gave a (very) brief description, bathed in the overly enthusiastic tone I naturally possess. He said he was going to go home and watch it, and thanked me for my time.
Images of Joe Spinell drenched in sweat as he scalped helpless prostitutes began to flash before my eyes the instant we parted. In that moment I knew this stranger’s experience was destined to go one of two ways – He will either think I’m really cool, or really fucked up. I’m not entirely sure what the verdict is myself, so I’ve decided to piece together a short list of films that cause me to ponder it.
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT (2018)
I rented The House That Jack Built a week ago, and I’ve spent every waking moment thinking about it since. All I knew going in was that it was a serial killer film starring Matt Dillon, directed by Lars von Trier. The only von Trier flick I had consumed prior to this was Antichrist (2009), which permanently burned very vivid images of genital mutilation into my brain, so naturally I was curious.
I had also heard folks were walking out of screenings, which further piqued my curiosity. I mean, how the hell do you elicit that kind of response in modern times? Literally every fucked up thing under the sun has been captured on film by now. Well, after having watched the director’s cut (no half-assed viewings on my watch!), I can totally see why. This movie is extremely difficult to watch. Jack kills literally everything, including children, and you see it all. Add the fact that he has no real modus operandi, a strong case of obsessive compulsive disorder, and an unmatched desire to experiment with his ‘craft’, you’ve got one gruesome picture painted here.
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986)
Speaking of serial killer movies, this should always be the first that comes to mind. I’ve seen it once, and likely will never watch it again. I’m not joking – Back when Joe Bob Briggs included this flick as the second feature on an episode of The Last Drive-In I promptly turned it off. I just can’t handle it, though I do believe it is one of the most chilling horror films ever made and more than deserving of praise.
It just feels… dirty. I’m talking the thickest emotional grime possible, like you’ll definitely want to shower immediately after watching. I’ve seen folks complain about how bleak the content is, namely the ending. Dude, were you really expecting an upbeat payoff? It is loosely based on Henry Lee Lucas, not Mr. Rogers. And man, does Michael Rooker ever nail his performance as him. No joke, I think about Rooker as Henry far more than anyone likely should. Y’all want to succeed in an acting career? Watch this movie and take notes.
FUNNY GAMES (2007)
This movie makes me question my sanity more-so than the others I’ve included because I’ve watched it roughly four times in the last 16 months. Being the good friend that I am, I’ve also forced it on more than my fair share of folks. None of them were as enthusiastic about their introduction as I had been with mine, and I shouldn’t be surprised by this yet here I am, displaying how disgusting I likely am for enjoying pure filth.
Funny Games is a home invasion flick that will make folks look at preppy college boys the same way Jaws (1975) made folks look at the ocean. It doesn’t have a happy ending, and it even breaks the fourth wall in the midst of all the chaos to let the audience know that safety will never be within reach. I don’t know why I dig this film so much. I guess I haven’t seen anything like it, really. Am I a terrible person? I don’t know anymore.
THE STRANGERS (2008)
Whenever I try to persuade folks to watch this one, they always question my sincerity in how disturbing it truly is. I’m not sure if it was the timing of the release, but most don’t realize how dark this movie is until they’ve experienced it firsthand. The garbage-y sequel that came out a couple years back totally taints the brand, so if that is the cause of doubt, I get it. But y’all are wrong, and this shit is bleak as hell.
The Strangers is another home invasion movie, and sure – They’re a dime a dozen at this point. That being said, what sets this one aside is the complete lack of motive and extensive ‘creepy-crawling’ by the killers in the background. What I mean by that is you just see them lurking in the background, watching… waiting. It is so unsettling, like pure Manson Family kind of shit. No payoff here, either, which I think makes all the difference in the grand scheme of things.
MAY (2002)
This was the movie cover that haunted me from the horror aisle in Blockbuster when I was a kid. Something about that pale face freaked me out extremely hard, despite not having a single clue what the film was about until watching it nearly a decade later.
May is a socially awkward woman who doesn’t know how to flirt for shit, also known as me in a nutshell. She has no friends, no companionship, and her loneliness inevitably drives her to commit horrifically disturbing acts to remedy it. She is seriously deranged, and the third act of this film is nothing short of grotesque. A very unique grittiness surrounds the entire film to boot, which leaves a lasting impression of encompassing dread. That being said, I cannot recommend it enough.