10 Horror Movies So Sad You Can Only Watch Them Once

9. The Killing Of A Sacred Deer

speak no evil
A24

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer centres around a surgeon, Steven Murphy, who befriends teenager Martin after he failed to save his father on the operating table. Martin is noticeably eccentric, but seems to deeply care for Steven.

But as he tries to force his way into Steven's family, it's evident Martin blames him for his father's death. After Steven cuts Martin out of his life, his family inexplicably lose the use of their legs. When he confronts Martin, he reveals he's placed a spell on Steven's family. To lift the curse, Steven must sacrifice a loved one.

Left with no choice, Steven places his wife and kids in a circle, twirls on the spot while brandishing a rifle, and fires three random shots. The third bullet kills Steven's youngest child, Bob, which reverses the spell.

Because of its surreal and intriguing narrative, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer feels like the type of feature you can watch over and over. But after witnessing the unforgivable act Steven if forced to commit and live with, you'll have little incentive to watch this film ever again.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows