Most horror enthusiasts love being scared and grossed out, that's a significant part of the genre's appeal, after all. But some of us enjoy occasionally testing our limits. There are sub-sections of horror out there meant for only those with the strongest of stomachs. Films that push boundaries and court controversy. Not your average slasher, but stuff like Human Centipede and French extremity movies.
Surprisingly, Peacock is home to several darkly disturbing horror films, stuff like the original Cannibal Holocaust and Darren Aronofsky's Mother!. Anyone wanting to push themselves outside their comfort zone will find the following list up to the task with movies so scary—and occasionally vile—you won't ever forget what you see on-screen.
For the following article, we've compiled a list of five incredibly disturbing horror films currently available to stream on Peacock.
Bliss (2019)
There is a lot happening at all times in this trippy and visually striking horror film about an artist takes a hallucinogenic drug and finds herself craving blood. Bliss takes the concept of a vampire horror movie and twists it into psychological warfare, creating a movie that makes you feel like you're going along for a psychedelic ride alongside its lead character Dezzy (Dora Madison).
As if having a bad trip on an unknown drug isn't dangerous enough, Dezzy's latest foray into the world of substance abuse has her unable to control her new violent desires for blood. What starts as a way for Dezzy to unlock her creativity results in a blood-soaked splatterpunk nightmare.
Audition (2000)
Based on the novel of the same name by Ryu Murakami, Audition is often hailed as one of the most influential Japanese horror movies ever made, with directors like Rob Zombie and Eli Roth counting it among their favorites. Shigeharu Aoyama is a widower in mourning over his late wife, but when his friend encourages him to begin dating again, they work together to create a mock-up series of auditions to find him a new wife.
Shigeharu is quite taken with former ballerina Asami Yamazaki, but meeting her turns his life down a dark and unprecedented path. Audition is known for its somewhat unorthodox method of storytelling and its many scenes of grisly disturbing content. There are several scenes in this movie that will be burned in your brain forevermore, such as one involving a lot of needles.
Mother! (2017)
Darren Aronofsky is the king of creating dark mind-bending movies. He's the filmmaker behind hits like Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, so you'll probably have an idea of what to expect going into Mother! but it won't prepare you for just how sinister and distressing this movie really is.
It features Jennifer Lawrence in one of her finest performances to date, playing a young woman living in a palatial country home with her husband (Javier Bardem) who seems to care little for his wife's comfort. A mysterious couple arrives at the house, leading to more visitors and Mother's eternal discomfort as things ramp up and become increasingly destructive and sinister. All the build-up culminates in an explosive and horrific climax with one of the most horrific acts of violence ever put to screen.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
It's hard to believe that Tobe Hooper's 1974 film was an indie project. Nowadays, we consider this film one of the classics and its influence on the genre as a whole is unparalleled. Given the title of the film and the intense gore in later movies, you probably think you know why this film is considered disturbing, but the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre had minimal bloodshed and still managed to create an unnerving viewing experience.
The film revolves around a cannibalistic family deep in rural Texas and the group of unsuspecting teenagers who stumble upon them and fall victim to the menacing, chainsaw-weilding killer Leatherface. The movie's grit and grime is a big part of what makes it so scary, that coupled with the creepiness of the villains and the overall ambiance of including a slaughterhouse and all that entails.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Cannibal Holocaust is an infamous 1980 cannibal film from director Ruggero Deodato. Odds are, even if you haven't seen this movie already, you've likely heard of it in some shape or form. Released during the height of Italian exploitation cinema, Cannibal Holocaust was plagued by all sorts of wild rumors upon its release, mainly because the filmmakers used realistic marketing and filmmaking as much as possible to make the movie seem "real."
This led to rumors that the film was actually a secret snuff film, especially because its graphic violence was unparalleled for the time. Although the movie isn't a snuff film, it did include actual violence toward animals, which has caused several country's to ban the movie. It is considered one of the most controversial films ever made and you should be wary if you're sensitive to animal cruelty as several animals were really killed on-screen.