In the annals of film history, there have always been directors who push the envelope. Some filmmakers develop new styles of editing, new camera movements, new ways of composing shots, while others shock and titillate audiences with never-before-seen displays of violence and depravity. If you’re at all interested in the latter group, this list is for you. American filmmakers have certainly done their part for shock cinema, but some of the best examples have come from other, international sources. It’s worth looking closely at the work of these directors, from Lars von Trier to Takashi Miike, to see the controversial impacts their films have had. We’ve done our best to avoid spoiling any of the films below, so as not to ruin any of the surprises they have in store. Here are nine international movies that thrive on shock value.
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Antichrist (2009)
Nordisk Film Distribution
Danish auteur Lars von Trier is no stranger to controversy, whether it stems from his films or from comments made in interviews. Watching his 2009 horror drama Antichrist, it’s plain to see that shocking audiences is part of his M.O. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of movie, centering on a couple who take to a remote forest cabin after the death of their son. Be ready for body mutilation and other grotesqueries.
The Holy Mountain (1973)
ABKCO Films
It’s a little unfair calling The Holy Mountain a shock value film, as Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky seems totally unconcerned with the audience’s response to his work. He’s an artist, through and through, but that doesn’t make The Holy Mountain any less shocking on a first viewing. Its surrealist imagery is beautiful, confusing, and disgusting in turns. Partly funded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the avant-grade art scene of the 1970s.
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
United Artists
A film so shockingly disturbing that it achieved meme status, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, is probably the most out-and-out repulsive movie on this list (per Mel Magazine). Its reputation precedes it, such that the name Salò has become a kind of shorthand for perverted, sadistic brutality in film form. At once a commentary on fascism and a shock-value movie par excellence, we urge you to be sure you know what you’re getting into before watching this one.
Angst (1983)
Les Films Jacques Leitienne
Angst is a horror film that feels like no other horror film. With its dizzying handheld camerawork and its pounding, synth-heavy soundtrack, it’s a frenzied thrill ride that clocks in at under 90 minutes. It’s also a movie that makes the audience feel bad for enjoying what they’re seeing - in this case, a serial killer’s murderous rampage. As it ramps up the shock value, we begin to realize that the film wants us to feel responsible (at least partially) for the brutal violence being shown. This is why the camera never leaves the killer’s side; we must share his perspective.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
United Artists Entertainment
The original found-footage horror film, Cannibal Holocaust is one of the most controversial movies ever made. Due to its “mockumentary” style, it convinced many viewers (the Italian government among them) that the events depicted really happened. If director Ruggero Deodato wanted to shock audiences, he got his wish and then some. There are some truly gruesome instances of body horror, animal abuse, and cannibalism to contend with here, which helps to explain the fact that it was banned in several countries.
Funny Games (1997)
Concorde-Castle
Funny Games is an infamous home invasion thriller from Austrian director Michael Haneke. Its impact earned it an American remake just ten years after the original’s release in 1997. Because it features unknown actors in leading roles, the Austrian version is the more realistic, more shocking version of the two. Though Haneke is always winking at and nudging his audience, this subversion of the horror slasher genre is hardly a fun watch. The torturous games depicted onscreen are torture for viewers, too.
Martyrs (2008)
Wild Bunch
Produced in France, Martyrs is a twist-heavy horror thriller that prompted audience walkouts when it debuted in 2008. Journalist Jonathan Crocker relates that some viewers even collapsed, and that at least one vomited, during screenings of the film. Watching it today, it’s easy to see why. Even the most hardened horror fans may find themselves looking away during its graphic torture sequences. Touching on themes of trauma, child abuse, and the cost of revenge, Martyrs is a film that uses its shock value to prompt reflection.
Audition (1999)
Omega Project
Takashi Miike is a household name when it comes to Japanese horror, and Audition is perhaps his most shocking film. It’s a tense, ultraviolent revenge thriller that starts harmlessly enough. But Miike intentionally avoided placing brutal scenes too early in the film, so that audiences would stay and finish the movie. By surprising viewers with gratuitous violence late in the film, Miike achieves maximum shock value. If you have difficulty stomaching torture scenes, you may want to steer clear of this one.
Oldboy (2003)
CJ Entertainment
In terms of shock value, the South Korean thriller Oldboy has it all: depraved and sadistic torture, extreme ultra-violence, and a horrifying plot twist you won’t see coming. But it has more than just shock factor going for it. The iconic hammer fight sequence alone is worth the price of admission (or rental cost, or streaming service fee). We recommend watching Oldboy with friends, as it’s a film that thrives on audience reactions. Rather than spoil it here, we’ll simply suggest that you go in blind.
