10 Movies That Totally Destroyed You

4. We Need to Talk About Kevin

We Need To Talk About Kevin
Artificial Eye

If you're currently enjoying any of Ezra Miller's work in the big blockbuster franchises he's now part of, you have Lynne Ramsay's explosive adaptation of We Need To Talk About Kevin to thank for bringing him to everyone's attention.

Miller plays the titular Kevin, a "troubled" teenager whose darkness turns out to be considerably more profound than it initially appears as we see the story of how he came to commit a high-school massacre. It's essentially like watching a horror movie origin story as Kevin's behaviour (particularly towards his mother) steadily gets worse and builds a map of his evil.

The true genius of the film is that we watch it all through his mother's eye (those of Tilda Swinton, who is as incredible as Miller), who struggles with him but also loves him even as she suspects he killed his sister's guinea pig and blinded her in jealousy. Eventually, the awful climax - which knocks the air out of you - reveals that he killed some of his schoolmates with a bow and arrow, as well as his father and younger sister. It's a hell of a thing to watch and not one you'd rush back to quickly.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.

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WhatCulture's former COO, veteran writer and editor.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.