If you like to escape times of high anxiety in this world by transporting yourself to those of another, here are three psychologically unsettling films you must visit:
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult classic, Donnie Darko, about an emotionally unstable high school student who is visited by a large ominous rabbit from the future delivering a disturbing message. Images of the rabbit and his message soon take possession of Donnie and guide him to his unsettling destiny. The soundtrack perfectly complements the dark and mysterious tone of this film’s mad world. Highly suggested! Also starring Drew Barrymore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Patrick Swayze.
In Lynne Ramsay’s disturbing psychological thriller, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Eva (Tilda Swinton) lives a waking nightmare after giving birth to her first child Kevin. Typical mother-child bonds are fragmented and dysfunctional from the start, pitting one against the other. As Eva’s struggles to connect with Kevin worsen, bad things begin to happen. Her husband Franklin (John C. Reilly) does not suffer from the same disconnect as Eva which leads him to repeatedly discount Eva’s concerns, driving a wedge between their marriage and further isolating her. Based on Lionel Shriver’s best-selling novel of the same name, this psychological thriller will haunt you well after the story’s tragic ending.
In Brad Anderson’s The Machinist Christian Bale stars as Trevor Reznik, an insomniac tormented by lack of sleep and a disjointed memory. When Trevor meets a mysterious coworker named Ivan (played by John Sharian), he becomes convinced there is a plot against him and begins searching for answers at all costs. Reznik’s obsession to unravel this conspiracy leads him on a downward spiral of suspicion, fear, anger, and guilt. His physical appearance mirrors his state of mind as it descends into madness in this psychosomatic nightmare.
These three disconcerting films will capture your attention and suspend real world stress until the final credits roll. Best part is, they can all be found on Seattle Public Library’s free streaming service Kanopy, available to all active Seattle Public Library card holders. With just a few clicks from Seattle Public Library’s website, spl.org, you can choose from a vast collection of films, documentary’s, and children’s videos spanning countless genres and time periods. Stream up to five videos a month plus additional films that can be watched credit free.
~ Posted by Nick S.
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