20 TERRIFYING Scenes In Non Horror Movies

6. The Military Confrontation - Civil War

Somewhat ironically, one of the most disturbing moments in Alex Garland's filmography isn't from one of his horror films such as Annihilation or Men, but his dystopian war thriller Civil War.

Midway through the movie, the photojournalist protagonists find themselves waylaid by a ultranationalist paramilitary group who are busy burying civilians in a mass grave.

The leader of this group, Wyatt (a phenomenal Jesse Plemons), holds the journalists at gunpoint as he questions "what kind of American" they are, his racism apparent before he swiftly executes the two Asian members of the group.

Though Joel (Wagner Moura) and Jessie (Cailee Spaeny) are eventually rescued from the situation, Garland drags the hostage scenario out for maximum suspense, elevated entirely by a brilliantly chilling performance from Jesse Plemons.

It's all the more impressive considering that Plemons was a last-minute replacement for another actor, being suggested to Garland by the film's star Kirsten Dunst, who is of course also Plemons' wife.