The Fly turned 40 on August 15, and David Cronenberg’s slimy masterpiece still ranks among the most disgusting movies ever made.
We’ve all seen at least one really disgusting or disturbing movie – something that we wish we hadn’t watched or a film that stayed with us long after viewing. The king of horror himself, Stephen King, makes a distinction between three levels of horror in his book Danse Macabre (terror, horror and gross-out). At the bottom of this list sits the ‘gross-out’ horror: repulsive images elicit in us a sensation of immediate discomfort that can make us feel sick to the core – like we are watching something that we shouldn’t have. In this list, we’ll examine some of the most shockingly disgusting movies ever made.
10. Braindead (Dead Alive, 1992): Peter Jackson’s Gory Zombie Comedy
If copious amounts of blood are enough to make you queasy, then Braindead is definitely not for you. Also known as Dead Alive, this 1992 dark comedy was directed by none other than Peter Jackson – yep, the same Peter Jackson who would be working on The Lord of the Rings trilogy just a decade later. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%)
Braindead is Evil Dead’s uglier cousin: revolting and utterly violent, the movie was infamous for its gory final sequence, where Jackson decided to use a reported 300 litres of fake blood. I mean, when the plot begins with a Sumatran rat-monkey, you better commit to the campy bit. This is an incredibly disgusting movie.
Where to watch: Dead Alive has been listed for rent or purchase on Amazon.
9. Pink Flamingos (1972): John Waters’ Cult Shocker About the Filthiest People Alive
Directed by John Waters, Pink Flamingos is the kind of disgusting movie you would get if you told someone to make the nastiest film ever known to man. Every perversion imaginable is present in this film. If that sounds a bit too pearl-clutching to you, that might be because you still haven’t watched Pink Flamingos. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%)
One of the film’s most infamous scenes involves a character eating authentic dog faeces. Only Waters can understand why the film would commit so much to the nasty realism. Seriously, just read a synopsis online and don’t watch this film – you’ll end up losing your appetite for weeks.
Where to watch: The Criterion Collection released a restored Blu-ray for the film’s 50th anniversary.
8. Caligula (1979): The Infamous Gore Vidal Epic
Nearly a decade after starring in the classic A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell would find himself in the lead role of yet another transgressive film—even though this time, critics weren’t as pleased with the result. (Rotten Tomatoes scores: 18% for the original; 66% for the 2024 restoration, Caligula: The Ultimate Cut)
Caligula might not be as shocking and repulsive as the rest of the films on this list, but what it lacks in pure shock value, it more than makes up for with its sheer malice. Even the movie’s writer, Gore Vidal, had his name taken off the title and sued to distance himself from it. That’s when you know your movie might be a tad too repulsive and disgusting for most audiences. The film’s producer, Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, also shot explicit scenes without director Tinto Brass’s knowledge.
Where to watch: Caligula: The Ultimate Cut was acquired by Drafthouse Films for North American release, and the Rotten Tomatoes listing shows current options.
7. Raw (2016): Julia Ducournau’s Cannibal Coming-of-Age Horror
Most movies in this list can be considered pure schlock made with the express purpose of causing repulsion to moviegoers – but, that’s not the case with 2016’s Raw. Sure, the film is still a hideous gorefest, but there’s a drama gem hidden deep beneath the obscene amounts of blood and viscera. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%)
The movie is about a vegetarian girl who develops an insatiable hunger for human meat after she’s force-fed a rabbit kidney. If that doesn’t sound traumatic enough for you, don’t worry: the rest of the film is a downward spiral of depravity and violence that’s enough to turn anyone into a vegan for life.
Where to watch: Raw is available to rent or buy digitally, including through Fandango at Home. It has streamed on Netflix in the past.
RELATED: Halloween’s Michael Myers Mask Is Actually William Shatner’s Face (And It Cost $1.98)
6. The Human Centipede (2010): The Shock Film That Spawned Two Sequels
Everyone has heard of The Human Centipede; even if you’ve never watched the film – and let’s be honest, most people haven’t – you know that this twisted film features a sick experiment that merges people together in the nastiest way possible. The Human Centipede might be one of the most mainstream pieces of schlock we’ve ever seen. The movie’s concept has been parodied in shows like South Park, partially due to its preposterous plot. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%)
How such a deranged and disgusting movie managed to get two sequels is anyone’s guess, but I think the film’s shock value and its infamy on social media might have helped bring it into the public spotlight.
On August 15, The Human Centipede director Tom Six released his final film, The End of Tom Six, on YouTube on a pay-what-you-want basis.
Where to watch: The Human Centipede (First Sequence) is available on Fandango at Home, with other options varying by region.
5. Tokyo Gore Police (2008): Japan’s Gonzo Splatter Spectacle
When it comes to revolting body horror, Japan has an entire sub-genre of schlock cinema dedicated to showcasing some of the most utterly disgusting bodily aberrations we’ve ever seen on film. For example, 1989’s Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a wonderfully grotesque piece of cyberpunk horror. However, if what you’re looking for is completely horrendous transformations, then look no further than Yoshihiro Nishimura’s Tokyo Gore Police. An abundance of blood and genitalia make up most of the movie’s runtime, so keep that in mind if you ever decide to watch this one with your parents. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%)
The scenes of body modification seen in Tokyo Gore Police could have only been manufactured by a deranged man or by a misunderstood genius. We’ll let you decide.
Where to watch: Tokyo Gore Police is listed on Apple TV.
4. The Fly (1986): David Cronenberg’s Oscar-Winning Body Horror Classic
To be fair, it was hard not to make this list without including every single David Cronenberg film. In the interest of keeping things as disgusting as possible, let’s go with the 1986 horror/sci-fi classic The Fly, starring Jeff Goldblum. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%)
The movie follows the same basic premise as the 1958 film of the same name: a brilliant scientist accidentally splices himself with a housefly; hilarity ensues. The difference with the older movie is that Cronenberg went above and beyond the standards for realistic make-up for this movie, resulting in one of the most revolting and disgusting creatures ever seen in horror. That work won the film the Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Where to watch: The Fly can be rented or bought on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango at Home.
3. Cannibal Holocaust (1980): The Banned Found-Footage Shocker
A movie so violent and deranged that it had to be banned in dozens of countries, there are many reasons why the 1980’s Cannibal Holocaust could be considered one of the vilest and most disgusting movies ever made. Italian authorities went so far as to open an investigation against director Ruggero Deodato, believing that some of the graphics killings seen in the movie could be real murders caught on camera. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%)
Of course, they were not real. However, the movie still landed in hot water due to its graphic (and real) killing of numerous animals, including a coati, a turtle, and even a pig, just to name a few.
Where to watch: Cannibal Holocaust has been listed free on Kanopy (with a library card) and Plex, on AMC+, and to rent via Google Play and Fandango at Home.
2. Nekromantik (1988): Jörg Buttgereit’s Notorious Cult Shocker
Famous for being almost impossible to watch, 1988 Nekromantik is German exploitation cinema at its best – or worst, to be precise. The movie chronicles the deadly carnal desires of a couple who begin an unholy relationship with death and corpses. It’s cruel, vulgar, and pretty much the nastiest and most disgusting film you’ll ever see. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%)
“Borderline unwatchable” would be the perfect way to describe Nekromantik’s transgressive scenes. There’s a thin line between art and madness, and it seems like this movie simply loves to dangerously tread along that path.
Where to watch: The Rotten Tomatoes listing shows Nekromantik on AMC+.
1. A Serbian Film (2010): The Extreme Shocker Banned in Multiple Countries
While some of the movies on this list have dealt at least partially with some kind of body horror, 2010’s A Serbian Film distances itself from the previous entries by being simply heinous in both concept and execution. From child abuse to necrophilia, there are all sorts of evil acts and unspeakable crimes committed in this movie’s plot, which was the reason for it being banned in numerous countries. (Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%)
Upon its release, the movie was bombarded with negative criticism, with many reviewers considering it a pointless exercise in shock. The truth is that the plot of A Serbian Film leaves much to be desired from a narrative point of view and can only be recommended to watch if you’re looking for an easy way to be scarred for life.
NEVER EVER watch A Serbian Film.
Where to watch: The Rotten Tomatoes listing shows A Serbian Film on Fandango at Home. The film is restricted in several countries, so availability varies by region.
RELATED: Jigsaw Isn’t a Slasher Villain. He’s a Twisted Self-Help Guru – and the Next Saw Movie Needs to Remember That
What are we missing from the list? Are these the most disgusting movies ever made? Also, check out our list of the 10 most disturbing movie scenes of all time.
I also agree with your choices, some of them are on my list of most unpleasant movies too. I haven’t seen the last few on your list, and to be honest, I’m not sure if I want to watch them. Have you seen Marco Ferreri’s The Feast? That film had such a strong impact on me, it actually made me feel sick while watching it.
And the Ashley Judd film BUG, not only a disgusting movie but a fantastic acting performance by Ashley.
But it wasn’t revolting, just psychologically scary.
Last house on the left was the only movie I’ve ever walked out in. Disgusting!
What about Pete Jackson’s early work, Meet the Feebles?