Bleak, bleak cinema please

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by RFK

In a Glass Cage
Affliction
The Plague Dogs
Der Todesking
Witchfinder General
Combat Shock

Not seen these ones, thanks

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

I'm not familiar with all the movies in the OP and I wish I had a larger library of hidden gems in my head, but a few movies I recall that I would certainly classify as bleak (as in they left me devastated for at least a few days) were:

Incendies (most of Denis Villenueve's early work, really)
Grave of the Fireflies
Aftersun
In Cold Blood
Jacob's Ladder

I have seen all those, they are pretty great.

[DR Herbert West]

The Vanishing (1988)

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

The Divide
Frontier(s)
A Serbian Film

Not seen these ones, I'm not overly keen on watching a Serbian Film as I've heard it's too much.

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by Mothravka

A Place in the World (2001)
Demons (1971)
Double Suicide (1969)
Frost (1997)
Ossos (1997)
Satantango (1994)
Utopia (1983)

these ones will do nicely thanks. the others are great too, but seen them.

[scarletlion]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

The Vanishing (1988)

Amazing film that. Have seen but want to rewatch right now it's so good.

[scarletlion]

Building up a damn fine watchlist here, cheers folks.

[RFK]

Originally Posted by scarletlion

Not seen these ones, thanks

In regard to In a Glass Cage, Be careful with this one...it bites.

[bradnoyes]

For me films about loneliness are pretty bleak. A few movies that come to mind with loneliness as a major theme and that got under my skin in different ways are:

Late Spring
Carnival of Souls
Christine (2016)

There are many others, of course, but these are ones that might be slightly more under the radar.

[Walter Kafka]

The Killer Constable

[DR Herbert West]

Resurrection (1999)
King of the Ants
Death Sentence

[Steedeel]

The Last Snows Of Spring (rare and not on DVD)

[White Dang]

A Petal - Jang Sun-Woo 1996

[rewak]

Mysterious Skin (2004)
Love Exposure (2008)
Antiviral (2012)
Under The Skin (2013)
Tale of Tales (2015)
A Cure For Wellness (2016)

[ZeTi]

Originally Posted by scarletlion

Not seen these ones, I'm not overly keen on watching a Serbian Film as I've heard it's too much.

It's very competently shot and acted and not worse (in terms of violence) than any of the french extreme movies like "Martyrs" or "Inside". Give it a shot.

And as for bleak movies my go-to is and always be THREADS. I also think THE TURIN HORSE is extremely bleak.

edit: Oh i almost forgot one my favorites. NATURAL ENEMIES. (1979)

[Guy87]

2021's 'Silent Night' almost ruined our Christmas.

[atlantajoseph]

Bergman excelled in this area:

Cries and Whispers
Hour of the Wolf
Through a Glass Darkly
The Silence
Winter Light
Scenes from a Marriage

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by ZeTi

I also think THE TURIN HORSE is extremely bleak.

Yes, this might be the most perfectly bleak movie I've ever seen. In fact Bela Tarr retired from filmmaking after this one because there was basically nothing left to say.

[Doomhunter]

Visitor to a Museum (1989)
Dead Man's Letters (1986)
On the Silver Globe (1988)
Pulse (2001)

[originalHDphantom]

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