What makes a truly brutal, disturbing horror movie?
 

Me and my horror addicted buddies were discussing this. We all agreed that its not OTT gore that makes something truly disturbing. What is your opinion on this?

the atmosphere and powerful direction.

I would agree that OTT Gore does not make a disturbing film. Many factors do make a disturbing horror film. For example: settings, actors/actress, sound, music. Gore used properly with good timing can add to the effect but there is a lot to it and I am only a mere film watcher lol I guess I have too many points that I think make a disturbing horror film.

This should be an interesting discussion. Looking forward to hearing other points so I can get mine in line lol.

Mothman you always have the words im looking for lol.

GOOD topic... Subject matter weighs very heavily. A lot fo the power in Man on Fire was the fear that the little girl was dead. on top of that, the fear that something bad had happened, the kinds of things no little kid should ever have to endure.

Suggestion is often more powerful than showing. The end of se7en would have been cheesy if they had shown what was in thie box, but was SO much more effective just seeing the look of horror on Morgan Freeman's face, and Brad Pitt's breakdown.

I think the main villiain has a very big part in it. I always find relentless sadism very disturbing, which is why I was genuinely effected by Wolf Creek, where the main villian is nothing short of vile.

I definatly agree there. Its all about the atmosphere (thanks mothman hehe) of the film, you can feel that something truely terrible is happening/ about to happen but it holds back just a little to leave you, well scare to know what is being held back. (I hope im putting this across right lol).

However I would say gore used at times really puts the message across just how brutal the killer is. You can go the whole film hearing and knowing the killer is bad but just one good gore scene and you have the visual knowing and you are disturbed.

Im not good with writing what I mean lol I hope you can all understand.

Yes I would agree with this also. The actor/actress playing the villian is important. However it is up to the rest of the film to portray this also.

suffering and pleading bothers me. like the scenes in Hellraiser where the hammer vitims plead for their life and just get smashed anyways.

My thoughts exactly.

Well written, well acted characters play the most important part...Devil's Rejects comes straight to mind.