7 Disturbing Movies Like Midsommar, Ranked by How Rewatchable They Are

Midsommar was brilliant because of how disturbing it was: there were scenes that people had to look away from.

However, it's not the only genuinely unsettling film out there. We've compiled a list of psychological thrillers, folk horror flicks, grindhouse, and neo-noir movies that are sure to make you feel ill at ease but that you're probably going to keep going back to time and time again.

7. Martyrs (2008)

The plot revolves around two orphans who discover they are being watched by a religious cult obsessed with the Christian concept of divine salvation through physical suffering. Despite intriguing philosophical and theological ideas, detailed graphic scenes, such as one where the protagonist is skinned alive, make Martyrs incredibly difficult to watch.

6. Climax (2018)

Gaspar Noé is one of the most audacious experimental filmmakers working today, delving into the nature of the human psyche and transcendence beyond our physicality. These are challenging topics to digest, and they climax (pun intended) in 2018's Climax, which follows a dance troupe who get bombed out of their skulls on LSD in an isolated mountain chateau.

5. Antichrist (2009)

Lars von Trier is no less daring, with films that do not shy away from graphic content, Antichrist being a prime example. He pulls out all the stops with graphic sex scenes, body harm, and unadulterated insanity. Antichrist may not be as intense, flashy, or fast-paced as Gaspar Noé's Climax, but some scenes can really make you feel physically sick.

5. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

This movie, featuring Vince Vaughn, follows a man imprisoned for drug trafficking whose pregnant wife is kidnapped by the crime organization he worked for. Behind bars, he must do everything he can to save his wife while eliminating gang members in prison using the most savage methods.

4. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

This movie's plot revolves around a mother who notices her son's peculiar behavior but fails to realize that he is on the verge of becoming a brutal killer.

3. The House That Jack Built (2018)

This is another Lars Von Trier masterpiece that follows a serial killer who views murder as art. The most disturbing thing about this movie is that as you watch it, you soon realize you are actually empathizing with and relating to the protagonist as he goes about dispatching his victims. It succeeds at getting you to conclude that if you saw the world through the eyes of a serial killer, you would become one yourself.

2. Kwaidan (1964)

Kwaidan is based on Japanese folk horror stories known as kaidan (the title uses an obsolete spelling). There are no jump scares here, but the oppressive atmosphere, suspense, and cinematography make every encounter with the supernatural incredibly eerie.

1. The Wicker Man (1973)

The classic folk horror film The Wicker Man is probably one of the closest movies on this list to Midsommar. Released 50 years ago, it is no less unsettling. Despite all the horrors happening on the isolated Scottish island, it's a movie that you just can't seem to stop watching and you're bound to revisit it time and time again.