15 Awesome Films Since 2000 You'll Never Watch Again

Plot:

A true story of a free black man, Soloman Northup, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, before eventually being freed 12 years later.

Why It's Awesome:

Brilliantly acted, superbly directed and overall devastating, this fully deserved the 2014 Best Picture Oscar.

Why You'll Never Watch It Again:

12 Years a Slave is genuinely traumatic. It's even worse than films such as Schindler's List and Hotel Rwanda; those films are ultimately stories of heroism in the face of evil so you could probably just about make it through another viewing, but 12 Years a Slave is nearly unwatchable.

Unlike many films about historical atrocities, there is no heroic arc here and no rescue. It is a relentless display of the horrors of slavery, with numerous scenes showing the appalling mistreatment and abuse of the slaves. Worst of all is a lengthy whipping scene, which is one of the most upsetting scenes in recent memory. Not only is the film continuously brutal and upsetting, but it'll also inspire an intense feeling of shame since so much of the world took part in slavery.

In the end, Soloman is only freed thanks to pure luck. 12 Years a Slave is a film without heroism, hope or human warmth; it is a raw, unflinching look at the horrors of slavery that refuses to provide the viewer with any sort of comfort. It is a journey through one of humanity's darkest hours that is worth taking, but it's simply too upsetting to watch again.