Here is the conclusion to “The Films I’ve Seen From The Disturbing Movie Iceberg Part 1“
Tier 2 – Saw
We’re finally onto the second tier and we’re starting with one that I, and I’m sure many of you, are familiar with, Saw. I’m actually quite a fan of the franchise, even though there are several entries that are…not great, and the first Saw is quite deserving of the success that it earned. The mystery at the heart of the film is engaging with much of the background giving us new insight into the characters. Admittedly, the film isn’t as gory as I would like it to be, something that the sequels quickly dealt with, and there’s one plot hole that does bother me but I look forward to watching it every time I feel in the mood to watch the franchise.
Tier 2 – The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
As anyone who’s familiar with how I discovered horror films will already know, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was one of the earliest, perhaps the earliest, horror films that I saw and the film ended up leaving a deep impact on me. The film has surprisingly little gore but this is more than made up for by the haunting, unsettling atmosphere as well as the impeccable set design and unnerving soundtrack. It’s also worth noting that this film contains one of my favourite chase sequences that I’ve ever seen in a film! Looking at the rest of the films that I’ve seen from tier 2 of the Disturbing Movie Iceberg, I have no hesitation in saying that this film is my personal favourite and the one that I’d most strongly recommend.
Tier 2 – The Hills Have Eyes
I’ll admit that I wasn’t particularly impressed the first time I saw The Hills Have Eyes, the second feature-length film from the legendary Wes Craven, but I did end up enjoying it a lot more on a rewatch. The setting, the barren countryside of Nevada, is excellent for a horror film and there’s enough twists and turns that it does manage to keep me engaged. I admit that I question how the character of Ruby could have morals in the situation she’s in but I did derive some pleasure from someone screaming “NOOOOO!” at the ending when they watched it with me, making me realise how surprisingly effective the end actually is.
Tier 2 – Hostel
The first Hostel film is one that I feel decidedly mixed about. On one hand, the concept of the movie is great and there are some frightening performances from some of the ‘clients’ but it does feel like the first act drags on too long as well as how the main characters are pretty unlikeable. Still, the film did become iconic for a reason and I’ve seen personally the effect that it’s had on people but I’m more of a fan of the second Hostel which features more likeable protagonists, more insight into the background of the organisation and more visceral gore and brutality.
Tier 2 – House of 1000 Corpses
House of 1000 Corpses is special to me for one reason and one reason only, it sets up the events that lead to one of my favourite horror films of all time, The Devil’s Rejects. As for House of 1000 Corpses itself, it’s alright. Several of the characters from The Devil’s Rejects are introduced in this film although some of them are a little different in later depictions (looking at you Otis). Besides that, it’s a goofy and over the top film about people ending up at the house of a demented family. The soundtrack is good and some of the gore is delightful but it also feels messy with so many ideas that many of them feel underdeveloped.
Tier 2 – Midsommar
Midsommar is certainly an experience. I watched the director’s cut which is nearly three hours long and found myself really enjoying it even if there are a few elements that I’m not fond of. Florence Pugh gives a really strong performance of a traumatised young woman looking for direction in her life and the commune they visit is fascinating to explore. There are a few characters that I do think are superfluous and I wouldn’t say that I was entirely satisfied with the conclusion but I did end up liking the film a lot in the end.
Tier 3 – Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom
Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom is not a pleasant film to watch. Perhaps you feel that the other movies I’ve been speaking about up to this point could also be considered that but Salò, and most of the films from this point on, are a dramatic increase in disturbing content compared to the first two tiers. As for Salò itself, the film follows four Italian fascists who spend a period of time, presumably 120 days, living in debauchery as they sexually abuse, torture and indoctrinate teenage boys and girls. It can be a grueling film but it was quite fascinating to watch as the men become more and more depraved in ways that I honestly was not expecting. It’s not a film that I’d be leaping to watch again but I am glad to have seen it.
Tier 3 – Martyrs
As probably the poster child for the New French Extremity, Martyrs is known to be a brutal film that apparently caused people to vomit and faint when it was first shown. I myself didn’t come anywhere close to that but what I did find was an emotionally powerful experience, something that you spend a long time thinking about after watching. The violence of the film is quite remarkable but it’s the psychological suffering of the characters that will probably get under people’s skin as they watch. It also helps that Martyrs has one of the best endings I’ve ever seen in a horror as it is just open-ended enough to leave you pondering while also being satisfying, a rare but sublime combination.
Tier 3 – The House That Jack Built
The first Lars Von Trier film that I ever saw, I was immediately enthused by the psychological examination and philosophising of a serial killer over the course of his career. Sick and depraved but also an intelligent and oddly human man, the film continually catches you off-guard. The brutality of the film is notable although I think the scene that most people will be most horrified by is where he, as a kid, mutilates a duckling. There is also a strangely endearing sense of humour throughout the film that helps make the experience more enjoyable.
Tier 3 – Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Tetsuo: The Iron Man may be the strangest film of all that I’ve seen on this iceberg so far, which is saying something considering Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom and The House That Jack Built. More so than the body horror, which is already pretty gruesome given all of the metallic parts growing out of him, I think it’s the cinematography and editing that really ends up being disturbing as the film does an excellent job of portraying a man struggling to put time back together and having his senses shift so dramatically that it’s hard to interpret. It’s an odd movie but it does what it set out to do, even if many find the lack of clarity when it comes to the narrative frustrating, and I ultimately finished the film befuddled but amused.
Tier 3 – Cannibal Holocaust
Cannibal Holocaust is a fascinating movie that I deeply respect, even if some behind the scenes components are distasteful. The structure of the movie is brilliant, starting out as a traditional film before shifting into found footage in a clever manner. As for the story, it’s one of those films where the second half changes your perspective so much that it gives you a completely new understanding of the events of the first half. The movie also manages to be very intelligent, questioning the grounds of labeling others as savage and pointing out the hypocrisy of modern society. The use of real animal deaths is an infamous and unfortunate aspect but it doesn’t take away from how powerful Cannibal Holocaust truly is.
Any who might’ve been hoping to see films from tier 4 and upwards are going to be disappointed but there are very few films in those tiers that I actually have an interest in seeing. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed reading about my opinions on the films that I’ve seen from the Disturbing Movie Iceberg. Let me know your thoughts on the films of the Disturbing Movie Iceberg, which ones you’ve seen, what you thought about them and any additional information you might have on the topic.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk or amazon.com for all of your needs!