Psychologically Disturbing, Round One: Irreversible vs. Videodrome

[Cena's Little Helper]

Irreversible (2002, Directed by Gaspar Noé)

Synopsis: Told in reverse order, Irreversible is the story of woman whose current lover and former lover together look for the man that brutally raped and beat her in a subway tunnel.

Why This Film Was Chosen: Because Noé's the premier filmmaker of the New French Extremity and, also because, as one person so perfectly described it once, it's "soul shattering."

Key Disturbing Moment: The extremely long and horrific subway attack (if you watch this film, I will warn you now: there are some things you can't unsee).

vs.

Videodrome (1983, Directed by David Cronenberg)

Synopsis: The CEO of a small pornographic cable channel is interested in uncovering the origins of a mysterious torture/snuff program known as Videodrome.

Why This Film Was Chosen: The freaky score, the great special effects, and the intriguing plot.

Key Disturbing Moment: The video player that suddenly appears in the protagonist's stomach.​

 

[INDYjon22]

Irreversible is one of the most intriguing films I have ever seen. It is brilliant yet, it is a film you may never want to see again and for good reason. The film itself is incredibly unique and one of a kind, because of the way the story is told. The films doesn't miss a beat in regards to being disturbing. It opens with The Butcher from I Stand Alone sitting naked and telling the person sharing the room with him that he had sex with his daughter. After that it goes into an underground gay bar, which is quiet explicit. In one continuous shot you get to see a mans face caved in with a fire extinguisher. And as Tdigs pointed out, the subway scene is not for the faint of heart. It is one of the most unsettling and disturbing scenes I have ever seen in my life. In fact, it is the single hardest scene in all of film for me to watch, I can't watch it, because of how horrific it is. Rape is a touchy subject for many people but to sit through, watch, and listen for 9 minutes of one person struggling while another person has sex with them is a terrible thing that will make you sick and feel like you need to take a shower. Irreversible will be incredibly tough to beat.

 

[jmt225]

I've been meaning to watch Videodrome for quite sometime, but unfortunately I just haven't gotten around to it.

That said, there's absolutely no way there is anything in Videodome that is anywhere near close to being as horrific and disturbing as the head bashing and rape scene in Irreversible. No way. Those two scenes alone give Irreversible the edge over many movies in this tournament, including a film like Videodrome.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I need to sit and watch Videodrome in its entirety to give a valid opinion on the subject, but Irreversible is one of the most disturbing films ever made. I watch half of Videodrome and fell asleep. Irreversible the film is exactly how the title describes it. Once you watch something that disturbing, you can't undue it. The rape scene and other scenes are testament to that. The film was talked about on IFC and people said that during the premiere of the movie that people actually fainted or left the theater because the rape scene was so graphic. I wouldn't be surprised if this film made it to the finals.

 

[INDYjon22]

I need to sit and watch Videodrome in its entirety to give a valid opinion on the subject, but Irreversible is one of the most disturbing films ever made. I watch half of Videodrome and fell asleep. Irreversible the film is exactly how the title describes it. Once you watch something that disturbing, you can't undue it. The rape scene and other scenes are testament to that. The film was talked about on IFC and people said that during the premiere of the movie that people actually fainted or left the theater because the rape scene was so graphic. I wouldn't be surprised if this film made it to the finals.

Also, not to take away from your point that people walked out, but that is also courtesy of the opening song. Apparently that song is just at the right octave or whatever to make people feel and get sick. This song was put, intentionally, in the film to make people feel uneasy, and to make them leave. I have never heard of a director who would blatantly want his audience to walk out of his film. Bravo Mr. Noe, bravo.