Seeking recommendations for movies that feel like a nightmare?

[NI-Gunner]

Basically I'm looking for movies that feel like one long, surreal nightmare that's mostly told through symbolism and visuals. The more abstract and weird the better. Preferably movies where the main character is on a 'descent into hell' sort of journey, going from one thing to the next and struggling to make sense of it all. Suspiria, Alice in Wonderland and Videodrome are some examples of the type of narrative I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance.

[BladeRunner2007]

Inferno by Dario Argento.

[The Debts]

The Lighthouse if you want the nautical variant.

[Gacivory]

Possession (1981)

[John1701D]

Jacob's Ladder

[stvn1974]

Lost Highway
Mulholland Drive

[John1701D]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Lost Highway
Mulholland Drive

You missed an opportunity to say any Christopher Nolan movie.

[Foggy]

Kieth Lemon: The Film

[slumcat]

Rosemary's Baby
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise
Get Out
Funny Games (one of my favorites)
Enter The Void

I would echo

The Lighthouse
Mulholland Drive

[redxrebellion]

Any Michael Bay movie

[RYJAPE21]

Eraserhead
Begotten
In the Mouth of Madness
Silent Hill

[vector72]

Stay
Flatliners (original)

[witheygull]

Originally Posted by NI-Gunner

Basically I'm looking for movies that feel like one long, surreal nightmare that's mostly told through symbolism and visuals. The more abstract and weird the better. Preferably movies where the main character is on a 'descent into hell' sort of journey, going from one thing to the next and struggling to make sense of it all. Suspiria, Alice in Wonderland and Videodrome are some examples of the type of narrative I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance.

David Lynch is definitely a gold mine for movies of this sort; I second the recommendation of his films that have already been mentioned and would encourage you to seek out specifically Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Inland Empire.

Alejandro Jodorowsky is another director with an arresting visual sensibility, with my favorites from him being El Topo and The Holy Mountain.

If you like Alice in Wonderland, then you would be very well-served to track down Alice from the legendary Czech animator Jan Švankmajer.

[Doomhunter]

Originally Posted by NI-Gunner

Basically I'm looking for movies that feel like one long, surreal nightmare that's mostly told through symbolism and visuals. The more abstract and weird the better. Preferably movies where the main character is on a 'descent into hell' sort of journey, going from one thing to the next and struggling to make sense of it all. Suspiria, Alice in Wonderland and Videodrome are some examples of the type of narrative I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance.

An exact example of this is Visitor to a Museum, though you’ll probably only find it on dvd on eBay (which is where I bought it) or possibly online.

Looks like the DVDs are about $12 on eBay

Of course, there is The Hourglass Sanitorium as well

[L.J.]

Only God Forgives
8MM
Drive

[Doomhunter]

I’m even tempted to suggest semi stop-motion animated films such as Pied Piper (Krysar) and Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1992)

[AKORIS]

always felt this played like a nightmare--- scary stuff happening and it makes no sense at all....

[TripleHBK]

Incident in a Ghostland

and if you just want a bunch of odd surrealism at the expense of coherence (and a good film)... Mirror Mask

[DR Herbert West]

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Dust Devil
Hellraiser
Brain Dead (1990)
Bad Dreams

[CreasyBear]