9 Fantastic Movies Too Devastating To Watch More Than Once

There are certain films that a person just has to watch. And although that must-see moniker gets bandied around quite a lot for movies that definitely don't deserve it - sorry Boondock Saints fans, but no one's life is going to be significantly changed after watching that - The Passion of Joan of Arc qualifies for the elusive tag.

Even those who find it difficult to sit through films from the silent era won't have much trouble getting sucked in by Maria Falconetti's incredibly expressive face. Simply looking into her soulful eyes as she endures seemingly endless torment from her captors is enough to stir up every emotion in the book. Chief among them? Pain. Lots and lots of pain.

What really makes this movie such a challenging experience is that director Carl Dreyer shot the whole thing using only closeups and medium shots, and switches between perspectives at the drop of a hat. It's disorienting and intense. And it makes the viewer constantly question everything about each scene, without ever letting you feel like you have a strong grasp of the situation.

All of that would seem to suggest this is the ideal film to watch over and over, as it seems like a cinephile's paradise. But that would be a dangerous game, since a person could easily drive themselves mad trying to identify with any of the characters. Which was exactly the intention.

Don't go down that rabbit hole. All that awaits you is more pain.