The most traumatic films in the history of cinema

In 1929 the Spaniard Luis Buñuel directed 'Un Perro Andaluz', a short film that is considered a masterpiece of cinematic surrealism. It is a depiction of gore and trauma, as witnessed in the iconic scene when an eye is cut out with a razor blade.

From this moment on, many films appeared that may not be suitable for sensitive stomachs. We take a look at some of them.

A disturbing, strange, and ahead-of-its-time film. Tod Browning, director of Bela Lugosi's 'Dracula', told a story of love, cruelty, and revenge starring what (in those days) were called "freaks" or "fairground freaks". The bearded woman, the Siamese twins, the man without limbs? There are no tricks here, just real characters forming part of a story with a nightmarish ending.

A classic film that is as terrifying today as it was when it was released - to the reception of controversy and outrage. In 1973, William Friedkin adapted William Peter Blatty's novel for the big screen, inspired by a real exorcism that took place in Washington in 1949. The images of the little girl, Regan, when she is possessed and turns into a hellish monster are still engraved in our memories.

This Italian-Colombian co-production directed by Ruggero Deodato has gone down in the history of horror films as one of the most visually shocking due to the explicitness of its scenes. Gore and violence were depicted in abundance, causing the film to be banned in countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia. For many, it is a good critique of the cruelty of human nature.

The film depiction of 'The Passion of the Christ,' released in 2004, was extremely violent (however, according to director Mel Gibson, it was simply "true to life"). Legend has it that a woman died of a heart attack during the screening of this film.

And from Christ to the Antichrist. Danish director Lars Von Trier - an expert in uncomfortable films that defy all reasoning - has created a harrowing, traumatic story about a couple's completely deranged relationship. All this in a cabin in the middle of the forest... There are scenes where it is impossible not to look away even when you should.

Another highlight directed by Mel Gibson, 'Apocalypto' (2006). Here too, it shows how cruel and bloodthirsty the human species can be, capable of slaughtering others without a second thought.

Moving on to the horror genre, one of the masters of our nightmares of yesterday (and still is) without a doubt, Freddy Krueger. The thought that a burnt-faced serial killer could kill his victims in their dreams sends shivers down our spines and makes us not want to go to sleep. Wes Craven's film and its sequels provoked insomnia. The image shows a picture of the cast from the first installment of the series (yes, Johnny Depp is in the picture).

The 'Saw' film saga has been a discovery for horror fans since the first film was released in 2004. But it is perhaps the third film that is the most disturbing of all, considered to be one of the cruelest installments. Apparently, its release in cinemas caused more than one fainting spell, especially in the scenes that consisted of chains and a medical operation...

David Cronenberg told the story of a man who crashes his car into a woman's car and they end up attracted to each other. But then their lives plunge into a dark and forbidden world of danger, car crashes, passion, and death. Disturbing, sickening and, one might say, genius.

The film directed by Darren Aronofsky in 2000 gives us a brutal portrait of the terrible world of toxic substances. Its final part is a descent into hell that, at some point, becomes unbearable. Its images are unforgettable.

This is another film on this list by Danish director Lars Von Trier. In addition to being a fascinating production due to the way it is filmed (its set design is almost like a kind of theatrical play without a set), it is also deeply disturbing because we see how a whole village ends up degrading Nicole Kidman's character. Not what you might think, there are no explicit scenes in this film. The unease it gives you is much more subtle.

This French film directed by Gaspar Noé and starring Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel (all three are pictured) has several scenes that are as traumatic as they are controversial. The attack on the lead character has, justifiably, been questioned for its brutality. Bellucci herself said she could not even watch the film.

One of the worst nightmares any human being could have would be to spend hours trapped by a boulder and be forced to cut off his own arm to survive. This is the true story of Aron Ralston, an American mountaineer, and climber who found himself in this situation after a fall in the canyons of Utah. James Franco played the trapped mountaineer.

Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés brought another one of our worst nightmares to the big screen: being buried alive. Throughout 93 minutes of film, we experience Ryan Reynolds' worst fears inside a box.

A Serbian film of extreme ultra-violence. So much so that in many countries it was prevented from being commercially released. There are those who justify its extreme brutality on the grounds of artistic freedom and those who simply say that it is sensationalist and immoral film trash.

Once again Lars Von Trier returns to the list in all his essence, this time starring Matt Dillon alongside other well-known actors such as Uma Thurman and Riley Keough. He tells the story of a serial killer who considers each of his crimes as a work of art in itself. He also has the crazy idea of building his house out of human bodies. The critics did not laugh at Von Trier this time around.

Watching Tom Six's film, the only thing that comes to mind is that such an idea can only be the product of a sick mind. It tells the story of a mad scientist who tries to create a centipede by joining living humans in the most disgusting way. A cult piece for those who like extreme sensations.

Based on the manga comic of the same name by Nobuaki Minegishi, the South Korean film 'Oldboy' (2003) tells the story of a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for years in a mysterious room without knowing either the reason or the identity of his captors. When he is released after 15 years, he takes his revenge - in a violent and devastating way.

This Canadian film directed by Chad Archibald is a good example of the so-called 'body horror' or 'biological horror': a sub-genre within horror that seeks the limits of deforming the body with mutilations, zombification, diseases, etc. In the case of 'Bite', it managed to provoke fainting in its premiere within the first ten minutes.

Although the film directed by Kevin Smith and starring Justin Long mixes horror with comedy, it can't be described as funny. The fact that a man wants to turn himself into a walrus is enough to deal with, but watching the surgical procedure by which he does so is not good for the stomach. Brutal and traumatic.