Recommendation for dark/gritty/depressing films

Chaosut

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Apr 8, 2009
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I was wondering if anybody could recommend me a film that they could be described as dark, gritty or depressing. I'm not entirely sure why but i tend to gravitate towards these sorts of films and I wanted to see if there's any i'd missed. The only real requirement is that it can't be too stylized or unbelievable. Also, anyone else who's into these types of flicks might find some gems too. Thanks in advance ;).
Anyway, here as some films that i've seen and are an example of what i'm looking for;

Animal Kingdom [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1313092/] - An Australian crime film showing the life of a young man after his mother dies and is brought into the world of crime unwillingly.

A Prophet [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235166/] - A crime film following the life of a new and vulnerable prisoner who is forced to join a group of mobsters.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292963/] - A crime drama that is highly cynical and told in a non-linear style.

Body of Lies [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758774/] - A thriller/spy film by Ridley Scott about a CIA officer in Iraq.

Boys Don't Cry [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171804/] The story of a non-operative transgender person who becomes friends with two ex-convincts as well as two of their friends, and is based on the life and death of the real life Brandon Teena.

Cell 211 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242422/] - A Spanish prison film about a man who goes undercover as a prisoner who tries to adapt to the harsher lifestyle and the troubles that also happen outside the prison.

The Chaser [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190539/] - Korean crim thriller about a serial killer.

The Class (Klass) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068646/] - A Estoniandrama film about the an entire class that turns on a single student, and another member in the class decides to defend in. It's a very harsh looks at the relities and effects of physical and mental bullying.

Cube Trilogy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123755/] - A trilogy of thriller/horror films in which a group of people wake up in rooms and rooms full of deadly traps and with no little memory of the past or of why they are there.

Cross Of Iron [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074695/] - A Sam Peckinpah World War 2 film, set in the Eastern Front and follows a disgruntled and un-patriotic German soldier.
8mm [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134273/] - A thriller about illegal snuff films and the seedy side of human nature.

Funny Games [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808279/] - An intelligent thriller the deconstructs the torture porn genre and plays with the audiences expectations. Also had an American remake.

Happiness [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147612/] - A disturbing black comedy that covers a number of controversial topics.

Hardy Candy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424136/] - An intelligent thriller about a seemingly innocent young girl whom tortures and plays mind games with a pedofile. Don't let the desciprtion turn you off, it's a really good film.

House of Sand and Fog [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315983/] A drama film about a women who is forced to evict her home, and after an Immigrant Iranian family moves in she fights to recover what she feels is rightly hers.

Leaving Las Vegas [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113627/] - Drama film about a alchoholic, washed-up screenwriter who goes to Las Vegas with the plan to 'drink himself to death'.

Lilya 4-Ever [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/] - A deeply cynical and depressing Swedish film about a girl who is abadoned by her mother and forced into sex slavery.

Midnight Cowboy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064665/] - Drama film about an idealistic man who moves to New York to become a hustler whom eventually meets up with a physically unhealthy con artist. The two join together and try to endure through poverty in a uncaring city.

Munich [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408306/] - A Steven Spielberg film about the Munich Massacres and a group of assassins given the duty to take revenge.

Narc [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272207/] - A cold, cynical crime film about narcotics police work and corruption in a poverty striken area.

1984 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087803/] - Based on the George Orwell novel.

Noise [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0809931/] - A largelt unknown Australia crime film about a cop with tinnitus who sent to a small town after two potentially related murderers.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073486/]

Pi [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/]

Platoon [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091763/] - A much loved Vietnam War film by Oliver Stone that shows many of the ambiguities and controversial aspects of war.

Pusher Trilogy [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117407/] - A trilogy of Danish crime films mostly focusing on small-time criminals (with perhaps the exception of the third) and the harsh realities of the crime underworld.

Requiem for a Dream [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/] A drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky about the lives of four people and their drastic effects that drug addiction has in their life over three seasons.

The Road [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/] - A post-apocolyptic drama based on the novel that has a father and son trying to survive in a deslote and hostile world.

Romper Stomper [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105275/] An Australian film that takes an uncompromising look at a skinhead gang in Melbourne.

The Salton Sea [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235737/] - A taratino-esque film that follows the story of an drug addict working for two corrupt cops. I won't say much more because i don't want to spoil anything.

Snowtown [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1680114/] - An Australian crime film about the Snowtown murders and similarly to Animal Kingdom focuses on a young man unwillingly brought into the world of crime.

Spartan [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360009/] - A moody and atmospheric thriller written and directed by David Mamet.

Taxi Driver [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/] - A well known and much loved Martin Scorsese film about an Taxi Driver unable to deal with feelings of isolation and loneliness and disgusted by the world he see's around him.

When Trumpets Fade [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135706/] - A WW2 film set during the Battle of Hurtgen that lacks the patriotism and idealism you see in a lot of war films.

Wonderland [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335563/] A crime film based on the Wonderland Murders that goes Rashomon style with it's different perspectives on the events of the murders.
 

Vault101

I'm in your mind fuzz
Sep 26, 2010
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requiem for a dream?

actually if you want somthing really depressing you should watch "Boys dont cry" while It isnt really gritty it captures that "boring/depressing/desolite" feeling of living in a small shithole town very well
 

Lionsfan

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Jan 29, 2010
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Vault101 said:
requiem for a dream?
Ninja'd. Also, I'm pretty sure you've just ended the thread. This is like the most depressing movie ever....of all time
 

Chaosut

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Apr 8, 2009
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Vault101 said:
requiem for a dream?

actually if you want somthing really depressing you should watch "Boys dont cry" while It isnt really gritty it captures that "boring/depressing/desolite" feeling of living in a small shithole town very well
Thanks for those, i've actually seen them before so i'll add them to the list.

Sexual Harassment Panda said:
Chaosut said:
Heh, I was going to recommend Before the Devil knows you're dead. Good stuff.

I guess I would recommend both Tyrannosaur and Super to you. Oh, and 13 Assassins, and Unleashed.
Awesome, thanks for the recommendations. I haven't seen any of the ones you mentioned so i look forward to checking them out :).
 

DoPo

"You're not cleared for that."
Jan 30, 2012
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Pi - dark-ish, gritty-ish, depressing...ish(?). A mathematician with mental issues, who is on his way to find pretty much the cheat code for the universe.

Let the Right One In (that's the English title) - a Norwegian film that features love and vampires. In a way it could be said that it's the complete opposite of Twilight, if they could be compared at all. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it a nice breath of fresh air compared to the Hollywood stuff we've been swamped with.

Underground - a Serbian film by Emir Kusturica. Again, may not be everyone's cup of tea. It says it's a comedy (among other genres like drama) but it does get fairly depressing.

And, erm, Damnatus. It's a fan made movie set in the Warhammer 40k universe. I myself, thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it was low budget. It was really satisfying to see what they came up without massive funding. And dark/gritty/depressing? That would be a step up from the default in WH40k, Damnatus goes downhill from there pretty fast (or at least "at reasonable pace").

Oh God, the Cube movies. Although I had loved the first two, only recently did I watch the last one (Cube Zero. I don;t know why I waited so long). Oh God!
 

kurupt87

Fuhuhzucking hellcocks I'm good
Mar 17, 2010
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Two films I've recently seen probably fit this category.

Melancholia and Perfect Sense.
 

uzo

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Betty Blue (French film - not sure if the French title is different). It's like a train wreck ... it just gets worse ... and worse .... and worse ..... excellent and horrific portrayal of a psychotic descent.


Dead Island preview movie. That shit still chokes me up.
 

Hashime

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The Machinist, AI, to a large degree the original Nikita, especially when Jean Reno does something with acid.
 

GoaThief

Reinventing the Spiel
Feb 2, 2012
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DoPo said:
Let the Right One In (that's the English title) - a Norwegian film that features love and vampires. In a way it could be said that it's the complete opposite of Twilight, if they could be compared at all. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it a nice breath of fresh air compared to the Hollywood stuff we've been swamped with.
This.

There is an American remake called "Let Me In", it will upset purists and Europhiles but I thought it was pretty good. Captures the mood you're after perfectly.

As the OP's selections are quite broad I'll throw some in you might otherwise miss;

Valhalla Rising - Very arthouseish, more a mood piece than anything. Not for everyone though.

The Proposition - Period outlaws done right set in Australia. Lots of British/European actors and dark.

Irreversible - One of my favourites, don't want to give too much away but it's told in reverse-chronological order. Just watch it and thank me later!

Don't want to take up too much of the thread as it's tempting to get carried away, so I'll spam some more another time. :p
 

Connor Lonske

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Everyone knows fight club, but Edward Norton was also in another dark film, called 25th hour.

He played a white drug dealer who has one last day before going to jail for 7 years. He has a very very shitty last day of freedom, and the movie is very very depressing.
 

Just_A_Glitch

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I've got a list of movies that, should I ever want to kill myself (I don't, its all in jest), I plan on watching beforehand.

"The Wrestler", to make me cry. (Darren Aronofsky)
"Black Swan", to make me numb. (Darren Aronofsky)
"Moon", to lose all hope. (Duncan Jones)

In fact, I refuse to ever watch "Moon" again. I loved it, but it took such a toll on me that I just don't think I can handle it a second time.
 

doggie135

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Can I recommend "Irreversible", a French art-film told in reverse chronological order, and "Antichrist"? Both are fair films in my opinion.
 

rabidmidget

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"The Diving Bell And The Butterfly" could be both seen as depressing or inspiring. It's based on a true story about a man who suffers a stroke and his only form of communication with the world is blinking his left eye (his right one got sewn shut).

Oh and also "Grave Of The Fireflies", it's animated, but it makes grown men cry.
 

Chaosut

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Apr 8, 2009
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Thanks for the recommendations everyone, some really cool stuff that i had no idea existed

DoPo said:
Pi - dark-ish, gritty-ish, depressing...ish(?). A mathematician with mental issues, who is on his way to find pretty much the cheat code for the universe.

Let the Right One In (that's the English title) - a Norwegian film that features love and vampires. In a way it could be said that it's the complete opposite of Twilight, if they could be compared at all. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it a nice breath of fresh air compared to the Hollywood stuff we've been swamped with.

Underground - a Serbian film by Emir Kusturica. Again, may not be everyone's cup of tea. It says it's a comedy (among other genres like drama) but it does get fairly depressing.

And, erm, Damnatus. It's a fan made movie set in the Warhammer 40k universe. I myself, thoroughly enjoyed the fact that it was low budget. It was really satisfying to see what they came up without massive funding. And dark/gritty/depressing? That would be a step up from the default in WH40k, Damnatus goes downhill from there pretty fast (or at least "at reasonable pace").

Oh God, the Cube movies. Although I had loved the first two, only recently did I watch the last one (Cube Zero. I don;t know why I waited so long). Oh God!
I saw pie a while ago and i remember it draining me of energy and enthusiasm, but in a good way. Thanks, i'll chuck that one onto the list. The cube films are awesome aren't they. Though I didn't get as much out of the third one as i did the first two.

GoaThief said:
DoPo said:
Let the Right One In (that's the English title) - a Norwegian film that features love and vampires. In a way it could be said that it's the complete opposite of Twilight, if they could be compared at all. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it a nice breath of fresh air compared to the Hollywood stuff we've been swamped with.
This.

There is an American remake called "Let Me In", it will upset purists and Europhiles but I thought it was pretty good. Captures the mood you're after perfectly.

As the OP's selections are quite broad I'll throw some in you might otherwise miss;

Valhalla Rising - Very arthouseish, more a mood piece than anything. Not for everyone though.

The Proposition - Period outlaws done right set in Australia. Lots of British/European actors and dark.

Irreversible - One of my favourites, don't want to give too much away but it's told in reverse-chronological order. Just watch it and thank me later!

Don't want to take up too much of the thread as it's tempting to get carried away, so I'll spam some more another time. :p
Thanks for the recommendations. Yeah I probably left the guidelines a little bit too broad. I was initially thinking of just doing gritty/realistic crime films but thought that might be too specific. Don't worry about getting carried away, i'm always keen to hear more :).

Just_A_Glitch said:
I've got a list of movies that, should I ever want to kill myself (I don't, its all in jest), I plan on watching beforehand.

"The Wrestler", to make me cry. (Darren Aronofsky)
"Black Swan", to make me numb. (Darren Aronofsky)
"Moon", to lose all hope. (Duncan Jones)

In fact, I refuse to ever watch "Moon" again. I loved it, but it took such a toll on me that I just don't think I can handle it a second time.
Thanks, sounds like a pretty good line-up if such a thing ever occurs (which hopefully it won't). I love Moon, but i actually found it a little bit uplifting at the end.
 

sheogoraththemad

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Feb 6, 2010
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Maybe Eraserhead, for me it was a dark and very depressing film.

Connor Lonske said:
Everyone knows fight club, but Edward Norton was also in another dark film, called 25th hour.

He played a white drug dealer who has one last day before going to jail for 7 years. He has a very very shitty last day of freedom, and the movie is very very depressing.
I second this,