As somebody who loves watching movies and blogs about it, I really enjoy the freedom to pick and choose the movies that I get to watch. A lot of professional critics don’t get that freedom, so I’m kind of grateful that I do. I watch all sorts of movies. Like most people, I tend to gravitate towards genres and movie-types that align with my interests. I love science fiction, action, horror, drama, musicals, and some comedies. Every once in a while, I do branch out and check out different kinds of movies that are recommended by YouTubers and other critics. Sometimes, I feel rewarded by my efforts and other times not. I rarely regret watching certain kinds of movies. It’s often a learning experience about how far I’m willing to push myself for my craft. While I tend to watch a lot of films that can be approached by almost anybody, I have seen things that aren’t as accessible. It’s not necessarily the actual availability of the film, but rather the content of the film that provides the barrier to entry. For this particular list, I’m going to go over some films that I feel are absolutely fantastic, but not easily recommendable because the content can be rather grueling or controversial. Let’s begin, shall we?
The Nightingale
I reviewed this one very recently, so it’s still fresh in my mind. Wow. This is definitely a brutal film, especially the first twenty minutes. The level of violence and brutality on display here is enough to shake even the toughest film-goer. The brutality is not just there for the sake of brutality, but to show a reality that convicts and the aboriginal people of 1825 Tasmania had to deal with from the British Empire. It’s handled in a way that doesn’t feel exploitative like I Spit on Your Grave. This is far more realistic and the historical context makes it have more of an impact. If you can stomach the brutality, you have a film here that explores the natures of violence and revenge and how one constantly feeds the other. The performances here are absolutely fantastic. Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, and Baykali Ganambarr all deliver performances that deserve recognition. I think The Nightingale is a great film, but you have to sit through some pretty harsh material in order to see what the film is going for.
The Passion of the Christ
I honestly don’t consider myself a religious person or a believer, but I do appreciate some films that deal with certain religious themes and characters. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is one of those films. This was a very controversial film when it was released because of the level of violence in the film and how it portrayed certain Jewish characters as villains. The thing is, if you read the stories about Jesus, he was betrayed by his own people. However, he knew it was going to happen, and he allowed it to happen. This is an emotionally grueling film that has some pretty harsh violence, but the brutal honesty of what Mel Gibson was trying to convey here was lost in the controversy surrounding not only the film, but Gibson’s own personal demons. This is a tough movie, but it’s a movie with a message about forgiveness that is sadly lacking in today’s society. Jim Caviezel’s performance as Jesus is absolutely astounding, even though his personal career took a major hit. I think this film is incredibly underrated. Is it the best film about Jesus? That can be debated forever, but it is certainly a very compelling one.
12 Years A Slave
If Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale was a look into one of the darkest moments in Australian history, then 12 Years A Slave is a look into one of America’s darkest moments. Oddly enough, both films take place in almost the same time period, only separated by about 16 years. Slavery was one of the worst atrocities that was committed on American soil, and Solomon Northup’s story was one of thousands. It’s a tragic film about one man’s struggle to survive so he can escape back to his family. Like the previous films on this list, 12 Years A Slave pulls no punches. You see Northup being captured, sold and beaten over the 12 years that he spent in captivity. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance is absolutely incredible and it’s definitely the one that keeps us watching.
I Saw The Devil
Never let it be said that Westerners have a monopoly on making brutal and hard-hitting films. I Saw The Devil is an outstanding Korean revenge thriller that follows a detective hunting down a serial killer that brutally murdered his wife. This movie is incredibly savage. I saw this one years ago, and I haven’t seen it since. It’s a haunting movie. The violence is absolutely grisly and brutal, but it does serve a purpose. The detective’s acts of revenge against his wife’s murder escalate to the point where he himself becomes a monster. The film is pretty heavy-handed on the nature of revenge and how truly destructive it can be. It’s a great movie with awesome performances, but it’s one that I am in no hurry to watch again. I have to give it to South Korea, they really know how to craft a powerful and intense thriller.
The Hate U Give
The first, and most likely only PG-13 film on this list, The Hate U Give is based on a young adult novel of the same name. It follows young Starr Carter as she struggles to deal with being caught in the middle of a police shooting that killed her friend. While this film is the most accessible of the films I’ve already listed, don’t let the PG-13 rating fool you. This is a film that deals with a very real problem in today’s world: The systemic racism that’s a part of our so-called justice system. Starr’s attempts to come to terms with a broken system leads her to find her voice against said system that failed her community. While the film isn’t graphically violent or anything like that, it does offer a fairly honest look into a problem that’s affecting the African American community. Like I said, the PG-13 allows more people to actually see this, but it’s not the easiest film to sit through, because of how emotionally powerful it is. This is a film that will make you angry, and it should. Films have power, and the fact that this one didn’t get as much attention as it deserved is criminal, in my opinion.
Joker
Joker is one of the more accessible films on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not uncomfortable to watch. Everything from the cinematography, sets, and costumes to the performances and direction gives this “origin” story a more realistic vibe than you’re used to seeing from a character like this. Joaquin Phoenix’s award-winning performance is one for the record books. But the situation that Arthur Fleck is in combined with the fact that he’s been abused, not just by his mother, but also by a broken system and society that doesn’t care about him. While Fleck suffers from some pretty severe forms of mental illness, it’s handled in such a way that makes him more sympathetic. Yet, audiences are uncomfortable with the idea of humanizing a character that would become the future Clown Prince of Crime in Gotham City. That’s the point, though. This is a study of a character that’s been failed by everything and everyone around him and when he breaks, it’s all the more tragic.
Silence
Talk about a soul-crushing experience. Martin Scorsese directs Silence, a film that follows two Jesuit priests who sail to Japan to find their lost mentor. When they arrive, they are greeted by several Japanese converts, but they are also hunted down by the local government, aimed at stamping out Christianity. As I said above, I’m not a believer, but seeing people of faith being crushed under the heels of an oppressive government is a hard thing to watch. It’s definitely violent at times, although not overly graphic, but the way the Japanese soldiers treat the Christians is incredibly brutal. You don’t have to be a believer to understand the suffering and brutality that’s being shown. This is all based on actual events during the 17th century in Edo-era Japan. It’s definitely worth watching at least once. It’s an experience.
Those were my picks for some of the toughest movies to sit through. Movies don’t always have to be entertaining to make an impact. Sometimes, movies need to go to some really dark places to get their point across. At the same time, sometimes an audience needs to get slapped in the face with some ugly truths about human nature. The films that I brought up are absolutely incredible in nearly every way. They’re not perfect by any means, but they are exceptionally well-crafted and performed. Do I recommend these films? Yes, but with a caveat: Some of these movies feature some pretty brutal imagery and if you have an aversion to such imagery, I would advise you to look elsewhere. For those that are brave enough to sail these waters, you’ll find films that can be rewarding in different ways.