Ranked by scare profile
The most disturbing horror movies
Some horror is a rollercoaster; this list is the other thing. These are the movies that score highest on The Horror Database's fun-scary↔disturbing spectrum — films whose fear is meant to trouble you, not thrill you. The ranking comes purely from the scare profiles: how disturbing the experience is, never what happens in the plot. If you want horror that leaves a mark and you'd rather not know why in advance, start at the top.
A Serbian Film(2010)
1. A Serbian Film is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Come and See(1985)
2. Come and See is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence)(2011)
3. The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom(1976)
4. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Men Behind the Sun(1988)
5. Men Behind the Sun is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
August Underground(2001)
6. August Underground is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
The Girl Next Door(2007)
7. The Girl Next Door is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Slaughtered Vomit Dolls(2006)
8. Slaughtered Vomit Dolls is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Aftermath(1994)
9. Aftermath is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Begotten(1991)
10. Begotten is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
The Painted Bird(2019)
11. The Painted Bird is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Cannibal Holocaust(1980)
12. Cannibal Holocaust is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Midori(1992)
13. Midori is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Martyrs(2008)
14. Martyrs is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Possession(1981)
15. Possession is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me(1992)
16. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Guinea Pig: Devil's Experiment(1985)
17. Guinea Pig: Devil's Experiment is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 4/5 on THDB's scales.
The House That Jack Built(2018)
18. The House That Jack Built is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
mother!(2017)
19. mother! is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 4/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Climax(2018)
20. Climax is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Guinea Pig Part 2: Flower of Flesh and Blood(1985)
21. Guinea Pig Part 2: Flower of Flesh and Blood is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 5/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Funny Games(2008)
22. Funny Games is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 1/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Funny Games(1997)
23. Funny Games is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.
Day of the Woman(1978)
24. Day of the Woman is slow-burn and genuinely disturbing — intensity 5/5, gore 3/5, lingering effect 5/5 on THDB's scales.