15 Most Disturbing Horror Movies Ever

If John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer were a steak, Fred Vogel’s August Underground would be a burger which fell behind the grill. Grimier, nastier, and undeniably more “real” feeling, the film has little to recommend about it other than its boundary-pushing depictions of horrific torture, molestation, necrophilia, and murder.

The shot-on-video aesthetic, along with the unknown cast, make the film feel almost indiscernible from a genuine snuff film, and few viewers find themselves able to endure the disgusting sadism onscreen until the closing credits.

August Underground produced a pair of sequels, each attempting to outdo the last in terms of shocking content, and whilst none of the series has much to offer in the way of cinematic achievement, the film does unavoidably belong on a list of the genre’s most disturbing offerings solely by virtue of its astounding make up effects work and the production’s impressive commitment to the faux-snuff aesthetic.