It’s half past two in the morning. She discovers the classic movie “eXistenZ” on Arte. Sleep will not come. With the help of organic umbilical cords, computer games are transmitted directly into the brain in this unreal world. It seems that the plot of the movie eventually unravels, but then you find yourself in a game where your thoughts are dominated by a clear “WTF?”. “eXistenZ” is merely an example of movies whose goal is to intentionally confuse the audience. After the credits roll, however, even big Hollywood productions can reveal themselves to be disturbed. These films can make sense in individual images, but in the overall context, the common thread is missing. “Prometheus” is a good example of this. The title itself suggests that the producer considers his audience to be more intellectually sophisticated. It seems that other films such as “Cloud Atlas” have made no attempt to involve the viewer in the plot. We would like to present a selection of films that can be discussed for hours without reaching a common understanding. You will be left with unsettling impressions and questions from these films that will stay with you long after they have ended.
11 Specialties From Movies That Will Leave You With Disturbing Impressions
Tank Girl
It is the year 2033, when a meteorite impact has turned the earth into a merciless desert. The most important resource, water, is managed by Kesslee (Malcolm McDowell). Rebecca, also known as Tank Girl (Lori Petty), works in one of his labor camps and intends to escape. To achieve this goal, she takes down a battle tank. While on the run, she encounters an unusual group of kangaroo people who help her fight Kesslee’s water monopoly. She also blasts “Rat Face” (Iggy Pop) in a brothel before deciding not to escape Kesslee by sucking the slave’s water. Despite its production budget of around 25 million US dollars and its worldwide takings of just under 7 million US dollars, the film is attractive to collectors of quirky cult films. Tank Girl is an unforgettable mix of anarchic humor, post-apocalyptic chaos and unforgettable characters that made this film a cult classic.
Tank Girl
The Lobster – Lobsters are only human
Only married couples have the right to move and live freely in this strange world. A hotel by the sea offers single people 45 days to find a partner. If they fail to do so, they become an animal of their choosing. After his wife leaves him, David (Colin Farrell) has to move into a hotel. He brings his dog (who is his unsuccessful, already turned brother) with him. He replies that he would like to turn into a lobster in an emergency if asked about his favorite animal transformation. But then the absurd story twists even more… An unusual and intriguing plot is based on absurd rules and social norms presented in the movie. “The Lobster” creates a surreal and humorous mood while uniquely exploring themes of loneliness, love and societal pressures.
The Lobster – Lobsters Are Only Human
Prometheus – Dark Signs
The movie “Prometheus – Dark Signs” by Ridley Scott takes the audience on a journey into the “alien universe” to explore the history of the origin of mankind. There are differences of opinion among critics, as the movie is both fascinating and superficial – a contradictory assessment. Indeed, the film is characterized by impressive visual effects and outstanding acting performances. Nevertheless, there is still much to be desired in the plot, and many situations remain undeveloped. It seems that the characters do not understand their own actions, which often leaves the viewer without any advice. In terms of a coherent plot and comprehensible character decisions, “Prometheus – Dark Signs” leaves some questions unanswered, although it undoubtedly impresses with its visual splendor.
Prometheus – Dark Signs
Interstellar
“Interstellar”, a science fiction film, takes viewers into a world characterized by mysterious phenomena and scientific puzzles. A former astronaut is given a secret NASA base where he conducts experiments with a wormhole near Saturn after an unexplained gravity anomaly occurs in a nursery. Eventually, this astronaut embarks on a space mission that will end in a confusing network of time shifts, quantum effects and black holes. The plot of the movie “Interstellar” is exciting, but it becomes increasingly complex and leaves many viewers puzzled. Questions about the messages and meaning of the movie remain unanswered until the very end, leading to much discussion and interpretation. “Interstellar” is a movie that challenges understanding and takes the audience on a fascinating but opaque adventure.
Interstellar
Oldboy
In the movie “Oldboy”, a disturbing plot takes place in which a man is held in a room for years without any information. After he is suddenly released, he sets out to find the dumplings he was given to eat every day. This takes him back to his former prison. Nevertheless, the answers he receives there are as mysterious as they are disturbing. The fact that this was all planned precisely by an old enemy provides shock and despair for the audience. The revenge and the cruel deeds that the main character is forced to commit are hard to bear. “Oldboy” is a movie that questions and disturbs the audience with its dark and opaque plot, especially with regard to the moral abysses it reveals.
Oldboy
Solaris
There is no doubt that the 1972 film “Solaris” by Andrei Tarkovsky is a visual masterpiece with impressive images, creative ideas and an outstanding musical score. For many viewers, however, the plot is still completely opaque. However, this is not accidental, but results from the nature of the subject matter itself. The movie sends Kris Kelvin, a psychologist, to the orbiting space station to investigate the planet Solaris. There he encounters strange events, such as the apparition of his deceased wife, who is constantly dying and resurrecting herself. It is obvious that the planet is capable of changing memories into living forms. In the end, Kelvin encounters a perfect replica of his childhood home and even sees his deceased father on an island on Earth. The film “Solaris” deliberately challenges the boundaries of comprehensibility and takes the viewer into a surreal and enigmatic world in which reality and memories become blurred. This enhances the film’s appeal and at the same time emphasizes its opacity.
Solaris
Donnie Darko
The movie “Donnie Darko” is about the life of a 16-year-old schoolboy with the same name. He suffers from psychological problems and therefore takes drugs. These drugs always cause Donnie to have strange perceptions. One of his strangest encounters is with a dead man in a scary rabbit costume who predicts the impending end of the world in 28 days, six hours, 42 minutes and twelve seconds. An “official interpretation” by director Richard Kelly allows for many possible interpretations. It is interesting to note that Kelly also accepts alternative interpretations of the film. Unfortunately, the film’s official website no longer exists, but it is accessible in the online archive. Therefore, “Donnie Darko” is still a fascinating and enigmatic work. It stimulates the viewer’s imagination and leaves room for different interpretations.
Donnie Darko
Inception
The movie “Inception” blurs the boundaries between reality and the dream world and presents the audience with a complex plot. This movie shows characters who not only manipulate their own thoughts, but also those of others. This creates a multitude of levels and layers of reality that make it difficult to see what is going on. The well-known scene with the spinning top at the end of the movie caused great confusion among viewers and led to incessant discussions. Many struggled to determine whether the events depicted were real or whether they were part of a dream by moving the spinning top. However, it should be considered that “Inception” is ultimately a movie that stimulates the imagination and takes the audience into the world of dreams and reality. A testament to the profound impact and complex themes that the film deals with is the fascination and endless discussions that “Inception” has generated. In the end, the question of reality or dream is part of the film’s magic and encourages the audience to reflect.
Inception
Zardoz
Sean Connery has a strange role in the 1974 dystopian science fiction film “Zardoz”. The rich live in immortal communities in a distant future, in the year 2293, while the so-called savages who are manipulated by a flying head called Zardoz. Connery’s character, who wears a red diaper and long boots, is part of the savages and kills people. When Connery’s character sneaks into the immortals’ protective dome and questions their supposed immortality, the movie takes an unconventional turn. Surprisingly, it turns out that the name “Zardoz” was derived from the “Wizard of Oz” and the supposedly immortal beings were actually mortal. “Zardoz” is a famous science fiction film with an unconventional plot and an unusual visual design.
Zardoz
Melancholia
Kirsten Dunst plays the role of the depressed bride Justine in Lars von Trier’s latest film “Melancholia”. As the planet Melancholia is on a collision course with Earth, her wedding party at a castle turns into a catastrophic event, and to make matters worse, her honeymoon is also on the rocks. Strange visions, quarrels and bizarre dialog pile up in the meantime. The dark mood of an impending catastrophe is masterfully portrayed in the film, which also deals with the psychological burdens of the characters. Kirsten Dunst’s portrayal of Justine, who is depressed, receives frequent accolades and gives the movie a haunting intensity. “Melancholia” is an impressive work of art that takes viewers into the depths of human existence and asks them existential questions.
Melancholia
Boxing Helena
In her film “Boxing Helena”, Jennifer Lynch, the daughter of respected director David Lynch, took on some of her father’s disturbing elements. The movie is about a surgeon who develops a pathological obsession with a young woman. First he amputates her legs, then he holds her down in his madness. When she tries to resist, he even pulls off her arms. “Boxing Helena” is characterized by dark and disturbing plot lines that take the reader into an unsettling world. The fact that it all turns out to be a dream in the end leaves the audience with a divided feeling and emphasizes the surreal nature of the film. Undoubtedly, Jennifer Lynch created a controversial and unsettling narrative with this work, recalling the surreal qualities of her father.
