The Most ANXIETY-INDUCING Movies You'll Ever Watch

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
0:53 - Uncut Gems
1:47 - Whiplash
2:46 - Don't Look Up
3:53 - Beau is Afraid
4:53 - 1917
5:58 - Don't Breathe
6:55 - Funny Games
7:50 - The Thing
8:51 - Boiling Point

Uncut Gems - So when making the script for this video, Uncut Gems was the first movie that popped into my mind. Directed by the Safdie Brothers starring adam sandler interview, Uncut Gems tells the anxiety filled story of a fast-talking compulsive gambler and his antics involving those he owes money too and his frequent hustling.

Whiplash - Next up we have perhaps one of my favorite movies of all time, Whiplash. The story is simple on the surface following a young ambitious drummer and his clash against a ruthless band instructor played by the legendary J.K Simmons. Director Damien Chazelle admitted that he filmed the movie like a horror movie, even though it isn’t actually a horror movie and employed his own experience in being in band. What makes this movie so suspenseful and tense is the incredible acting by J.K Simmons. Fletcher is absolutely ruthless and commands the stage flawlessly, almost to an evil extent.

Don’t Look Up - Next up we have a more odd ball pick and that is Adam McKay’s 2021 comedy, drama ‘Don’t Look Up’. Now for starters I’m not a huge fan of movies that push political messages but I’d be lying if I said this movie didn’t impact me in some way. The story follows 2 astromers as they try to tell the world that a dangerous comet is approaching earth and it will obliterate the human race if they don’t stop it.

Beau is Afraid - Next up we have BO is Afraid a movie that came out this year by horror director Ari Aster. As his most ambitious movie so far I thought that parts of this movie are able to capture that feeling of unease and tension more than other movies in the genre. This is partly due to Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, his character is scared of the world and since we see it though his eyes, every element is always danger, even when its not.

1917 - Next up we move into the war genre with 1917. As one of the most realistic and unique war movies out there, 1917 follows the simple premise of 2 soldiers and their task to deliver a message across enemy territory before their fellow soldiers fall into a trap that will cost the lives of thousands of men. This concept alone is a race against the clock with every single set back and complications costing them time and adding more tension.

Don’t Breathe - Now switching over to the horror genre I have Don’t Breathe. As one of the best modern-day horror movies, Don’t Breathe follows a break and entry gone wrong. A trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man but it doesn’t take long to realize that they are the ones in danger. What’s so unique about this particular movie is how the concept of sound becomes the enemy. As they slowly maneuver through the blind man’s house, there are so many moments where things are happening and they must be as quiet as possible. This creates an anxious and tense feelings as the robbers must limit their every movement and sound. Later on in the movie the plot thickens even more when a sinister secret is revealed in the basement of the man’s house.

Funny Games - Next up we have Michael Haneke’s sadistic thriller ‘Funny Games’. This is referring to either the original austrian version or the U.S. version which I watched. They are virtually both the same film, almost shot for shot. The premise follows 2 psychopathic men as they take a family hostage in their cabin and essentially torture them for entertainment. Apart from this movie being very unsettling and pretty disturbing, it makes the viewer feel tense and uneasy from beginning to end. The way its shot and the nonchalant attitude the two men have during the movie is enough to punch you right in the gut.

The Thing - Sticking with the theme of horror we have the original John Carpenter classic, The Thing. Known for its incredible special effects and suspenseful nature, The Thing follows a research team in Antarctica as they are hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims. As a classic body horror movie, the thing mangles and contorts its victims into unsettling creatures with impressive visual effects. As the viewer sees what happens to the victims of the thing, they are terrified by the danger of it.

Boiling Point - And finally, we end off with the 2021 drama thriller, amply titled, Boiling Point. While the name of it may lead the viewer to think this is some action-packed movie, it’s actually about a day in the life of a restaurant staff. The movie follows the cooks, the waitresses, and the general staff in the busiest night of the year. If you’ve seen the FX series The Bear, it rivals the same level of tension but stretches it out for an hour and a half. Boiling Point perfectly captures the stress and pressure involved in running a restaurant and all the problems that arise in the most pivotal moments.