9 Fantastic Movies Too Devastating To Watch More Than Once

Darren Aronofsky's second feature film may very well be the definition of the word uncompromising. The director knew exactly how bleak and hellish he wanted to make this tale of addiction, and he didn't back down from that vision.

More than any other movie on this list, Requiem For a Dream seems to take pride in violating its audience. It's all for the sake of its anti-drug thesis, of course, as it drills the woes of chemical dependency into your head until you're practically begging for mercy right along with the people onscreen.

And somehow, there's actually beauty in it. Mostly due to the fearless performers of its four lead actors,

You have to respect how essentially pointless Aronofsky made his characters' struggles, too. Not every director would have the balls to put an audience through the wringer like this, torturing his characters so relentlessly while forcing them to cling to some small bit of hope, only to have them come out the other end feeling so very desperate and alone.

It's that feeling of despair that sticks with you well after the closing credits more than anything else. Well, that and the shot of Jared Leto's amputated arm.