6. The War Zone (1999)
Tim Roth's directorial debut, The War Zone is bleak and disturbing in equal measures - nothing good ever arose from incest. We start off with a family isolated in the countryside. There is dad, mum (and baby - she has recently given birth), an older teenage girl Jessie and a younger teenage brother Tom. The brother witnesses the father having sex with his sister and this obviously turns his world upside down as well as being a total headf**k. The film concentrates upon familial interactions and Tom's utter bewilderment at what is happening to his sister. With a scene of anal sex between father and daughter, many people would be utterly revolted at the idea of watching The War Zone, knowing that this is what they are going to have to witness. Roth resists the temptation to make the father (a difficult role played by Ray Winstone) a total monster. He just comes across as a regular guy. The whole film has a bleak and grim atmosphere with the English countryside looking rather wild and foreboding. The title of the film - The War Zone - suggests a lot more active film than what Roth delivers - there is little violence, just anguished emotions with some awesome acting - particularly the two teenage leads. If you are willing/eager to get your paws on some disturbing and bleak sexual aberrations, look no further than The War Zone. Another case where the casual viewer will probably projectile vomit in disgust.