15 Most Disturbing Horror Movies Ever

So this one stands out. On a list featuring countless onscreen depictions of horrific depravity such as murder, rape, necrophilia, and incest, it’s strange to see a reserved, relatively mainstream British horror film make an appearance.

Or at least it seems strange to anyone who hasn’t sat through Matthew Holness’ feature debut Possum from 2019, starring occasional Mission Impossible antagonist Sean Harris as a puppeteer tortured by his past. But anyone who has seen the film can tell you that the flick manages to conjure up an atmosphere of disturbing dread which is as affecting—if not worse—than the shock jock provocations of A Serbian Film or August Underground.

Yes, the film’s eventual reveal is incredibly disturbing and gives new, horrible context to the discomfiting, oppressive tone. But for a film with little onscreen violence, Possum’s superb puppetry and stellar central performance nonetheless make it one of cinema’s most stomach-upsetting, deeply uncomfortable offerings.