Not only horror movie that can cause horror and trauma to the audience, these non-horror movies can also traumatize and frighten after watching them.
Horror movies are an ideal choice for those who enjoy thrilling moments, disturbing visuals, and all things scary. While many fans are already familiar with the tricks of the genre, there are also movies outside the horror category that offer high creativity with dark themes.
Even if they don’t have horror elements, these movies are not the kind you can watch casually. Make sure you read all the disclaimers and audience warnings before pressing play.
The Best Non-Horror Movie that are Traumatizing
1. The Revenant (2015)
The Revenant may seem like a pretentious movie that finally brought Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar, but there are many surprising moments in this movie. This western drama loosely tells the story of the life struggles of a 19th-century explorer named Hugh Glass after he is left for dead following a severe bear attack.
While The Revenant features many disturbing moments, the famous grizzly bear attack scene is the most shocking.
In this scene, a giant mother bear brutally lunges at and injures Glass after he accidentally encounters her cubs. The injuries that Glass suffers are so severe that it’s hard to imagine that there are still more than two hours left in the movie.
2. Prisoners (2013)
The next traumatizing non-horror movie is Prisoners. Prisoners follows the emotional journey of a father who can’t accept the fact that the man he suspects of kidnapping his daughter is free.
Her instincts convinced her that the man was the real culprit, and she went to great lengths to kidnap and torture him. However, all these efforts did not bring her any peace of mind or answers about her daughter’s whereabouts. The search became even more difficult as new clues and suspects emerged.
This movie is an intense type of movie, making the audience feel uncomfortable and curious. Apart from the storyline, cinematography also plays an important role in this movie.
3. 127 Hours (2010)
Next non-horror movie is an adrenaline-filled survival movie about mountain climbing, 127 Hours. The story is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, a climber who was trapped in a canyon while adventuring alone, with a large boulder blocking his arm, and unable to move without taking extreme measures.
By now, many people may already know the movie’s most tense scene, but the build-up before the scene, as well as the courage to make the whole story feel uncomfortable and real, also worked very well.
This is an example of a movie that is not recommended for the impressionable, and even viewers who survive the first 90% of the movie may want to close their eyes at the sight of the infamous (yet highly influential) final scene.
4. Buried (2010)
Ryan Reynolds, who is best known for his roles in blockbuster movies, participated in a wonderful indie project by a Spanish director called Buried. In the movie, he played an American citizen who was kidnapped by Iraqi militants and they buried him alive in a crate.
He only has two items that he hopes will help him call for help: a lighter and a cell phone with a low battery. For those of you who have a fear of tight spaces, you should not watch this movie.
5. Schindler’s List (1995)
The next traumatizing non-horror movie is set in World War II. From Stephen Spielberg’s brilliant mind and Poldek Pfefferberg’s experience as a Holocaust survivor, one of the most iconic films about the Holocaust was created. Schindler’s List tells the story of Oscar Schindler who managed to save hundreds of Jewish lives from oppression.
One of the most recognized things about Schindler’s List is its ability to show the real reason behind Schindler’s actions in saving the lives of innocent people, which is for the sake of his business survival.
As time passes, he begins to realize the gravity of the moral decisions he must face. This complex movie rooted in dark history also features many disturbing moments, including the liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto. Despite its heavy subject matter, Schindler’s List is a historical drama that you should watch at least once in your lifetime.
6. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Next, still set in the World War II era, is the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas tells the story of some of the most heartbreaking realities of World War II through the eyes of an innocent child.
The title also reflects the tragically erroneous view that children have of something as horrific as the Holocaust.
It is this innocence that ultimately makes The Boy in the Striped Pajamas so terrifying. When a boy named Bruno meets Shmuel, a peer trapped in a concentration camp, he is unaware of the atrocities committed by his father. In the end, his father must face the consequences.
7. Irreversible (2002)
Rated R (restricted), which means it can only be watched by mature audiences, Irreversible is indeed a very traumatic movie. One of the scenes that the audience is reminded to pay attention to is when the main character is attacked in a tunnel.
The film’s director, Gaspar Noe, is known for his experimental and unique approach. It’s best to avoid watching if you don’t want to be trapped in prolonged fear.
8. Beginning (2020)
Similar fears can also be found in the Georgian movie Beginning. The movie depicts the threats and fears experienced by minorities in a conservative society.
The protagonist is the wife of a Jehovah’s Christian pastor in Georgia who faces unpleasant events from the start. As in Irreversible, there is one disturbing scene that was shot in one take and requires discretion from the viewer.
9. Nocturnal Animals (2006)
Next up is Nocturnal Animals, which tells a story full of tragedy, combining elements of fiction with reality. When Susan Morrow receives a novel from her ex-husband, she is forced to link the violent plot of the story to the breakdown of their marriage.
Most of the movie focuses on drama, but the most disturbing moment comes when Susan reads a book. In the first few chapters, a family of three is driven off a remote road after a road rage incident.
The tension in the confrontation escalates, and the mother and daughter are kidnapped. Nocturnal Animals manages to highlight not only the realism, but also the helplessness of the situation, leaving an uneasy feeling in the stomach of anyone who witnesses it.
10. Come and See (1985)
The next traumatizing non-horror movie is Come and See. Think again about watching Come and See if you’re not ready to feel a prolonged emotional impact.
This anti-war movie set in World War II follows the journey of a teenager who chooses to join the Soviet guerrilla forces against the Nazis.
Without realizing it, he is plunged into endless suffering. Throughout the movie, he faces various horrors without the slightest room for heroic moments that director Elem Klimov leaves out.
11. Zone of Interest (2023)
Zone of Interest does not seem to show any horror at all. Instead, the film is filled with bright colors. However, if we look deeper, the movie actually reflects how cold and cruel people can continue their lives without feeling the impact of the ongoing war.
Released decades after World War II, the movie remains relevant amidst the armed conflicts and genocides that still occur in various regions of the world.
12. American Beauty (1999)
The next traumatizing non-horror movie is 1999’s American Beauty. American Beauty is not a flashy movie, but it has a quietly dark feel that is unique and quite disturbing. The storyline centers on Lester Burnham, who develops an unhealthy obsession with a teenage friend of his daughter.
While seeing Lester fantasize about an underage girl may be uncomfortable, the dark side of the film doesn’t stop there. American Beauty depicts illicit relationships, obvious homophobia, and even acts of murder.
The movie manages to incorporate all these elements, but the story is far from cheerful or happy. Although it technically falls under the comedy-drama category, American Beauty is not aimed at those looking for funny entertainment.
13. No Country for Old Men (2007)
No Country for Old Men is a thrilling western crime thriller that won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2008. With a thrilling plot and very impressive performances, many viewers will quickly feel the fear when watching it.
One of the most shocking elements of the movie is the brutal and psychopathic portrayal of hitman Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem.
Chigurh’s indifference to human life, coupled with his bizarre use of an air-powered captive bolt pistol, is sure to make anyone cringe. The movie meticulously and balancedly tackles the themes of life, destiny, fate and the inevitability of death.
14. Hard to be a God (2013)
At almost three hours long and with an atmosphere that is always tense and frightening, Hard to Be a God is challenging to watch. Set on a remote Earth-like planet, its inhabitants are trapped in the Middle Ages. They are constantly exploited by more experienced scientists from Earth.
90 minutes seems long enough for a disturbing movie like Hard to Be a God, but this movie is twice as long.
It’s hard to watch, violent, dirty-looking, and has a pessimistic tone, so it’s surprising that Letterboxd doesn’t classify Hard to Be a God as a horror movie.
15. Coraline (2009)
It may be animated, but Coraline has dark and scary elements. The story follows the journey of Coraline and her parents who have just moved into a new house.
Feeling neglected, Coraline wished to have different parents, and one day her wish came true.
Although the film is full of bright colors, from the very beginning the audience already feels the sense of discomfort offered by this work from Laika. As the secrets begin to unfold in the middle of the film, the audience is traumatized and continues to think about what happened.
