In the same way that playing blues music can serve as a balm for a troubled soul, immersing yourself in a deeply unhappy movie can be the best thing to give you a sense of catharsis. After all, everyone likes to gloat from time to time, and in an age of highly calculated blockbusters designed not to offend anyone, it’s strangely comforting to watch a movie that’s not afraid to make you feel bad.
However, it takes more than just an unfortunate ending to join the ranks of the most miserable movies of all time. These 30 films foster a pervasive sense of existential sadness, whether they draw attention to the plight of other people facing unimaginable realities. -Life circumstances, or simply invite us to explore a diversity of feelings that the Avengers can’t channel.
In the 1960s, a Czech immigrant and factory worker loses her sight and desperately tries to raise the money needed to ensure that her son undergoes an operation that will save him from the same fate. Despite the musical numbers that follow Selma (Björk) and her more productive intentions, fate and the greed of those she trusts conspire to bring her to a tragic end. The musical interludes are spectacular, but the contrast between Selma’s dreamlike worlds and the instances of her genuine life only heightens the sense of tragedy and injustice. On the plus side: This is a vintage article, and we know that the U. S. physical care formula is not the same. The U. S. government may never force anyone to fall into such a terrible scenario today.
Where to Stream: Digital Rental
Following the troubled master of joy, Lars von Trier, it’s hard to argue that you don’t get exactly what it says on the box when you go to see a movie called Melancholia. (No refunds. ) Here, von Trier adds a sci-fi twist to a fashionable malaise story. The titular rogue planet is on a collision course with Earth, and two sisters deal with that fate in very different ways. The result is a series of depressive episodes, infidelities and suicides that everyone rejects. the hope that we can make some kind of prudent peace with death.
Where to stream: Netflix, Hulu, The Roku Channel
A symphonic ode to the anguish of addiction, Darren Aronofsky’s second feature is presented as an X-edition of the anti-drug movies you watched in the best school. Over the course of two grueling, elegantly filmed and artistically edited hours, we observe lives. Out of 4 characters fall apart as they try to use drugs, from heroin to nutrition pills, to fill the empty spaces inside. It doesn’t work: Jared Leto gets gangrene at the inflamed injection site, Jennifer Connelly turns to prostitution to get money for herself. Marlon Wayans ends up in jail, abused by the guards. And then there’s Ellen Burstyn, who starts the film as a red-haired, feisty retiree and ends it as an amphetamine addict with empty, ashen eyes in a seedy nursing home. . Drugs are bad, mmmk?
Where to stream: Paramount
I understand that horror videos are meant to be scary, but there are also some that are less scary than relentlessly dark. What is distressing otherwise? Either way, this Danish film from 2022 is as dark as it gets. A young family member who meets a great couple and their son on a trip and accepts an invitation to stay at their home. Telling them what will happen next would be a huge spoiler, but at most it would spare them the heartache of living through it. Needless to say, only bad things happen, and in the harshest way imaginable, that add up to young children. Bad emotions all over and one of the most desperate endings of all time. For some reason, there will be a Hollywood remake starring James. MacAvoy?
Where to stream: Shdder, AMC
In flashbacks after the war, we are told the story of Sophie (Meryl Streep), a Holocaust survivor, who, during those years, was forced to decide which of her children would live and which would die. As with William Styron’s novel on which the film is based, it’s a hard-boiled, objective narrative that, unfortunately, has become something of a shortcut to any tricky decision.
Where to stream: Hulu, Peacock, Tubi, Crackle, The Criterion Channel
Director Elem Klimov fought Soviet censorship for nearly a decade to release his film, a truly moving look at the horrors of war seen through the eyes of a Belarusian teenager who joins the anti-Nazi resistance after his village is invaded. As the profession continues, even Flyora’s survival becomes a curse; The accumulated horrors (including the planned burning of a church with dozens of people inside, an occasion that did take place) make Come and See one of the most productive war videos ever made, because all the most important war videos are, of course, fact, anti. -war.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel
Nicholas Cage won an Oscar for betting on a suicidal alcoholic who travels to Las Vegas with a trunk full of alcohol and intent on oblivion in this horribly dark and critically acclaimed film from writer-director Mike Figgis, which adapts the semi-autobiographical novel by John O’Brien (who committed suicide shortly after promoting the rights to the film). I saw it once more than a decade ago, and as far back as I can remember, it’s about two hours watching Cage drink hard liquor in a seedy hotel room while crying, interspersed with scenes of a sex worker (Elisabeth Shue, also an Oscar nominee) being the victim of a horrific sexual assault. I’m possibly wrong about some of the details, but it will still be a while before you can watch it again to check it out.
Where to stream: Maximum
The titular fog (not to be with The Fog) settles over a city in this nihilistic adaptation of Stephen King, putting an organization of locals down their throats after getting trapped in a grocery store on the other side of the world. Frank Darabont’s film makes it clear that there is no external evil that can remotely rival the ignorance, worry, and devout extremism we face on a daily basis. Once this is transparent, the film goes 10 steps further and ends on a note that either perfectly sums up its message or is unbearably cruel. It’s probably both.
Where to stream: Freevee, Starz
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s serial killer drama looks a bit like Seven at first, but becomes more philosophical and esoteric as it progresses, despite maintaining a bloodless detachment from all the murders it portrays. Police detective Kenichi Takabe is on the hunt for a killer, even as his own family life implodes. After all we learn, the killer is not a killer at all, but someone who knows how to manipulate others into doing their homework for him. The film plays with the concept that there might be something otherworldly at play, but it’s less horrific than the fact that we, each of us, are capable of committing incredibly dark acts, as long as we’re given enough of a push.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel
An anonymous man and his son wander through a dark and desolate post-apocalyptic America in search of a safe haven near the coast. While other stories of this kind invite us to laugh at the concept that we might be wise enough to (and occasionally upload zombies just in case), The Road (as with the Cormac McCarthy it’s based on) makes it clear that there’s unlikely to be much to enjoy about the collapse of civilization.
Where to stream: Starz
Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men suggests that we are no more than five years away from the collapse of civilization after an era of war, natural disaster, and economic depression. The idea that we still have five years to go for all of this is encouraging. But otherwise, the world described here – in which infertility has become an epidemic – is a world of deep depression and utter hopelessness. Like any film here, and thanks to Cuarón’s good look as a director, the feeling of a world in bankruptcy The Point of the Abyss is provided in each and every shot.
Where to stream: Starz
While the first two Alien movies weren’t a burst of laughter, David Fincher’s (troubled) sequel is, in fact, the most audaciously unsettling franchise entry in the history of Hollywood sequels. The film begins with the death of at least all of the survivors from the previous film. (and the gruesome autopsy of a beloved character) before leaving Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in a penal colony where the most sympathetic character (Charles S. Dutton) is a convicted serial rapist and murderer. Be as innocent as possible, I’m a big fan of his risk-taking, but, wow, it’s dark.
Where to stream: Starz
A torturous film that at first looks like a slasher movie at sea, but temporarily turns into something much more disturbing. Jess goes on a boat with friends, providing a somewhat vague explanation for the absence of her autistic son, who was supposed to sign. for them. A sudden typhoon prompts the organization to seek a safe haven near a strangely empty, empty ocean liner unless it’s for the user who continues to kill everyone. The film temporarily evolved into a time-loop sci-fi thriller, before being revealed. to be a punishment of mythological proportions.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Peacock, Tubi, The Roku Channel, AMC, Crackle, Freevee
Another sci-fi puzzle involving gambling with time, this Spanish mystery follows the tragic temporal fate of Hector (Karra Elejalde) and his wife Clara (Candela Fernandez). Hector sees a woman in the woods, naked and unconscious. He investigates, and is attacked by a mysterious guy covered in bloody bandages. As he flees, he finds himself in the midst of a strange experience in time, an experience that sends him back in time and into an afterlife that only gets worse. And then it gets even worse. And again. Nacho Vigalondo’s devilishly intelligent film suggests that neither our highest productive intentions nor all the time in the world can erase our greatest egocentric mistakes.
Where to stream: Hoopla
Many films manipulate audiences because of our willingness to sink into the horrors of the screen (see Rear Window for a happier example). The Belgian mockumentary Man Bites Dog puts us to the test by putting us in the shoes of a film crew that follows a ruthless serial killer. There’s a slightly ironic taste here, which in no way diminishes the effect of the film crew’s growing sympathy for the killer, who ends up becoming complicit in their actions. The Man Bites the Dog asks deeply uncomfortable questions about not only our tolerance for on-screen violence, but also the degree to which we will stay away from the horrors of the real world, or even join them with the right incentives.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel
Heather Matarazzo made a brilliant debut in Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse, Dawn Weiner, a hugely unpopular high school student whose life becomes a series of rejections, assaults, intimidation, and disappointments. While the character is charming, it’s not a movie about a brave maverick who defies all odds, it’s about the mental trauma faced by those who don’t have compatibility and the terrible choice between staying true to yourself and accepting the resulting abuse, or hiding your light in a bushel in hopes of finding some peace.
Where to stream: Tubi
Gabourey Sidibe’s 16-year-old daughter Precious reads or writes and, at the beginning of the film, is pregnant for the second time after a series of rapes committed by her father, although her distant mother subjects her to physical and verbal violence. regularly. Unlike many of the characters in those films, there is a glimmer of hope for Precious: a transfer to a new school; In the care of a well-meaning teacher, however, the path that leads (perhaps) to a higher position is obscure and riddled with pitfalls.
Where to stream: Tubi
The horror of Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road lies in the conformism of the white picket fence of the 1950s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite after Titanic in a story in which the walls end with a young couple looking to get ahead in a suffocating world. before their efforts to escape into something more spiritually fulfilling threaten their dates and, ultimately, their lives. The bright, empty streets of the title’s Revolutionary Road seem as dystopian as those of any other movie’s apocalypse.
Where to stream: Paramount
Federico Fellini was known for his films full of color and fantasy imagery, and there’s a bit of that in his story of the goofy Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), bought through the widower and street artist Zampanò (Anthony Quinn), formerly married. Gelsomina’s brilliant brain and intelligent center are gradually destroyed through the ruthless treatment of her new husband; When he discovers another street performer (a clown, in this case) as a partner, Zampanò’s jealousy leads to tragedy, although the strong guy doesn’t bother to show any affection for his wife. It’s a lovely and moving film.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel
Snitter (John Hurt) and Rowf (Christopher Benjamin) escape from a ruthless animal testing lab in this adult animated film adapted from Richard Adams’ novel Watership Down. I will overlook the main points of the experiments to which the two were subjected, unless I say that they are completely ruthless and also completely reflect genuine animal testing practices. Unfortunately, the world at large isn’t much kinder to the two runaway dogs than their former criminal. It’s charming, in its own way, and superbly lively. . . . But animal lovers, in particular, will find it difficult. That is the question.
Where to stream: Tubi, Freevee, Shout Factory TV
Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his portrayal of Anthony, the titular father, at the end of his life and living with severe dementia. It’s a brilliant feature in a film that tells its story entirely from Anthony’s point of view, and his disorientation unfolds so horribly. Disjointed moments in a life that wastes all connective tissue. By prioritizing the patient’s point of view rather than that of the circle of family members or caregivers, the film is intensely human, but it doesn’t satisfy the experience and there are few comforts to be found.
Where to stream: Starz
A romantic ghost story on the surface, All of Us Strangers follows reclusive screenwriter Adam (Andrew Scott) as he begins a date with his mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), the only citizens of a large new building. it takes Adam back home to his relatives, where he finds his parents supposedly alive and healthy, despite having died decades earlier. Without providing too many spoilers beyond that, the film will take very dark directions from there, a strong reminder. that loss is an inevitable component of life, yes, but also that the only genuine convenience is to move on.
Where to Stream: Hulu
A particularly effective edit of the nuclear war genre is bad in the early to mid-1980s (see also: Testament and The Day After), this British film takes a chilling, mockumentary technique all the way. A young Sheffield couple are about to start a life and a circle of family in combination when war breaks out between the United States and the Soviet Union, with a nuclear attack on a NATO base about 20 miles from the city. The two are separated, and this is just the beginning of the horrors facing Karen Meagher’s Ruth Beckett. The focus is on the collapse of law and the resulting social order, with a final shot that is a real punch to the gut.
Where to stream: Tubi, The Criterion Channel, Shudder, Mubi
There are moments of light in Manchester across the sea, and they don’t lead to a completely overwhelming ending. . . But there’s a lot of pain and anger along the way. Casey Affleck plays Lee, who is shocked to learn that he has been given custody of his deceased brother’s son. The situation forces him to confront his afterlife in the titular city, and as we understand why the surly, alcoholic Lee can survive gently for a day, it becomes transparent why his afterlife remains. He came back and I’ll continue to do so (it’s so bad).
Where to Stream: Prime Video
Initially and on the surface, Aftersun is a brilliant and captivating look at a reasonable hotel vacation in Turkey involving a divorced father (Paul Mescal, who we’ve already talked about) and daughter (Frankie Corio) who doesn’t really get enough of it. But there are troubling elements from the start, and a growing unease creeps into us as an audience. We temporarily perceive that what we see is a memory, an adult woman’s attempts to perceive her father’s life and death with memories alone. of a child to paint with. This fun adventure temporarily turns into something melancholy and deeply moving.
Where to stream: Paramount
Robert Bresson’s film begins with the gift of a donkey named Balthasar to a susceptible farmer, Marie. The two are separated in the wake of a family tragedy, and the once-beloved workhorse becomes nothing more than a pack animal for a family. that she doesn’t care about him beyond his ability to do the job. Meanwhile, Mary finds herself in a deeply abusive relationship, and fate reconnects the woman and the donkey in normal periods over the years, neither having a particularly beautiful life and neither ending. in a particularly satisfying ending. It’s a captivating film, in many ways, but it’s definitely a success in the miserable animal tale genre (and maybe the donkey is meant to be a metaphor, but let’s take a look so we don’t think about it too much). ).
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel
While I would never describe Ingmar Bergman as a sentimentalist, I’m sure his most productive films, while masterpieces of acting, directing, and screenwriting, are deeply depressing, if not downright pessimistic. Here, Agnes (Harriet Andersson) slowly dies of cancer, while her sisters struggle with their own disorders and insecurities, finding themselves unable to provide the necessary support. The smart work and honest care of the housekeeper, Anna, further exacerbates the sense of inadequacy that prevents the family from connecting when needed. maximum necessary.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel
A young swinger (it’s 1991, back in the days when such terms were still used) played by Mimi Rogers becomes a born-again Christian after a cult convinces her that kidnapping is imminent. Her newfound piety is put to the test when her husband is murdered, and her desperation leads her to consider committing suicide with her own daughter (to get her to heaven faster, naturally). And that’s not even what’s depressing. He fearlessly describes his character’s passage from hedonism to fanaticism to the With unimaginable desperation, Rogers gave the most productive performance of his career; Too bad it’s in a movie that definitely only has to be seen once.
Where to Stream: Digital Rental
In compiling this list, I had a hard time determining how many films about the Holocaust to include; There are many, enough to fill an even longer list than this one. For better or worse, I’ll let Roman Polanski’s The Pianist make up the whole, and in fact it’s one of the most ruthless in its depictions of this specific ancient horror. Based on the memoirs of Polish Jewish musician Władysław Szpilman (played by Oscar winner Adrian Brody), the film takes us through the entire war; As things take a turn for the worse for Polish Jews, Szpilman loses everything, adding a love of music, which is his only lifeline. Although his legacy is tarnished by the fact that he conducted through Polanski, The Pianist remains an astonishing achievement in the astute interpretation of the worst. Of humanity.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Tubi
Any movie can be sad, but it takes a special flavor of cinematic desperation for the government to ban a movie because it’s too depressing. Yet that’s precisely what happened to this story of an old Italian (Carlo Battisti) struggling to keep a roof over his head after his eviction; When this proves too ambitious, he decides to find a home for his beloved dog before ending his life. Performed through a cast composed mostly of non-actors, the dark realism of Umberto D. it turned out to be too much for the Italian government, which felt it had painted too bleak a picture of the country’s state after World War II, and “banned the export of films deemed unflattering to Italian society,” according to Peter Becker, a film historian and president of Criterion. Channel.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel
Former child star turned dog owner.