It can be fascinating to watch our favorite actors take on rules that are completely unexpected. For instance, Ryan Gosling and Jennifer Lawrence have cemented themselves as actors playing lighthearted, charming leads who always manage to strike a chord with their romantic comedies and slice-of-life dramas. But when these actors venture into strange and dark narratives, we get to truly experience their range as an artist.
Gosling and Florence are simply two examples of A-list celebrities who love to venture into the unknown. Besides them, there are several famous actors who have dabbled in disturbing or refined movies that not only allow them to push their creative boundaries, but also turn out to become one of their most recognized and praised roles.
Rather than always playing it safe, these actors have shown their talent in movies that are highly unconventional. So let's take a look at 15 of the most artistically twisted movies that star globally celebrated names.
15 Midsommar — Florence Pugh
Midsommar
- Release Date
- July 3, 2019
- Director
- Ari Aster
- Rating
- R
With Midsommar, director Ari Aster takes you outside your comfort zone. The film starts off with a painful depiction of loss as Dani discovers her sister has died. Drowning in grief, she decides to go ahead on a seemingly unassuming and curious trip to Sweden with her boyfriend Christian and his friends. They plan to be there for the renowned midsummer festival, at a time of year when the sun never sets.
But the isolated rural community surrounded by forests and unending fields of flowers turns out to be more bizarre and unsettling than they thought, as they participate in cult-like rituals, which are meant to free one of their traumatic emotions.
Before her breakout in Midsommar, Florence Pugh won recognition for her poise and resilience in Lady Macbeth, and for a more comedic turn in Fighting With My Family. But with Aster’s haunting yet memorable film, she outdoes herself as Dani. Her raw display of grief and the unexpected spiral into what can only be described as an exploration of all her life experiences is what turns the movie dark despite it's overbright palatte. In a way, the film is drenched in beauty but rooted in terror.
Stream Midsommar on Prime Video
14 The House That Jack Built — Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon arrives on the big screen as Jack, a psychopathic serial killer who sees all of his brutal and heinous killings as towering works of art. In The House That Jack Built, Jack is narrating all the grim incidents he’s been the orchestrator of to an unseen figure, known only as Verge. We follow the meticulous killer on his quest for perfection (and beauty) across the Pacific Northwest.
Known for tough-guy roles, Dillon channels something evil and sociopathic in this one. Whether it is his streetlamp allegory of comparing violence with art, where he claims to feel “strong and content” after a murder, or the killing of an entire family with a rifle, Dillon forces you to understand his character’s monstrosity. As for the story, director Lars von Trier ends the film on an intense note, revealing Verge as a demonic figure, and Jack finally ends up in a fiery pit that is hell.
Stream The House That Jack Built on Hulu
13 Maniac — Elijah Wood
Directed by Franck Khalfoun, Maniac is basically a remake of the 1980 slasher flick. Only this one, while being respectful to the original, ups the gore and grime. In it, Elijah Wood stars as Frank Zito, a lonely mannequin store owner who has mommy issues and suffers from mental illness. In a series of dreamy visuals, we get a glimpse into his fractured perception of reality as a man on a killing spree, for which he chooses unsuspecting women, scalps them, and uses their hair to spruce up his store mannequins.
We’ve seen Wood in more boyish and innocent roles, like Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. So to watch him vanish into a disturbing portrait of a man haunted by his own psyche is as intriguing as it is unsettling. Moreover, the execution of a previously-known tale using outstanding filmmaking techniques also leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
Stream Maniac on DIRECTV
12 Happiness — Philip Seymour Hoffman
Happiness
- Release Date
- October 16, 1998
- Rating
- NC-17
Despite being branded as black comedy, Happiness certainly isn’t a film for the faint-hearted, because it dabbles in some seriously mature themes like depression, reality distortion, and murder. Awarded at the Cannes Film Festival for the very reason of handling controversial subjects courageously, Happiness tells the tale of three women, the people in their orbits, and a suburban man leading a double life as a prank caller.
The movie is directed by Todd Solondz who pulls back the curtain on hidden dysfunctions within society. But taking center stage is the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is best known for lending gravitas to films like Magnolia and The Master. He utterly shocks the audiences with this disturbing turn, where he says obscene things to women on the phone to convey his nightmarish urges. That said, it is no surprise that Happiness has won a cult following, largely because of Hoffman. Currently not available to stream or rent.
11 The Voices — Ryan Reynolds
The Voices
- Release Date
- January 19, 2014
- Director
- Marjane Satrapi
- Rating
- R
We recognize Ryan Reynolds as this highly energetic, quick-witted, charming actor who fits pretty well in films like Deadpool and Free Guy. However, in this criminally underseen comedy-thriller, he takes on a much darker character. The Voices is about Jerry Hickfang, who works at the Milton Bathtub Factory, where he falls in love with a co-worker named Fiona. He also suffers from a mental illness and happens to hear his dog, Bosco, and cat, Mr. Whiskers, talking to him.
After Fiona stands him up, Jerry spirals into madness and takes Mr. Whiskers' advice and murders not only Fiona, but his other female coworkers as well. He then freezes their heads and hears them talk to him too. As a character deep into his own insanity, Reynolds makes quite an impression. Moreover, director Marjane Satrapi ensures that the film ends on a note where the audience is forced to dwell on whether Jerry is finally free, or just hallucinating.
Rent The Voices on Apple TV
10 Dogville — Nicole Kidman
Another chilling thriller from the minds of Lars von Trier, Dogville follows Grace Mulligan, a woman seeking refuge from gangsters. When she stumbles upon the poverty-stricken small titular town, she finds a haven. She begins working for the people of Dogville in exchange for wages, but soon they begin to take advantage of her good nature. Slowly, the complexity and cruelty of the town strips away her dignity.
Nicole Kidman has had her fair share of appearances in shocking thrillers, but there’s something about Dogville that simply cannot be digested. The entire idea of unleashing one’s wrath when they’re pushed too far is brought to stunning life through the eyes of Kidman’s ferocious heroine. While the narrative fleshes out Grace’s turmoil and vulnerability throughout, it isn’t until the chilling finale, when she retaliates with evil towards the townspeople, that we see her full crescendo.
Stream Dogville on Mubi
9 One Hour Photo – Robin Williams
One Hour Photo is a psychological thriller centered around Seymour Parrish, a seemingly harmless photo technician who has dedicated his life to learning everything there is about photography. Currently working at a one-hour photo shop in a big-box store, he has been developing photographs for the Yorkin family since their son was an infant. However, the truth is, Sy harbors an obsessive fixation with his favorite customers.
Having watched Robin Williams in beloved comedies and emotional dramas, it is difficult to imagine him playing a stalker whose escalating obsession leads him to take disquieting actions. But Williams disappears into the role of Sy and imbues it with a quiet desperation. His raw portrayal of the man is astonishing to watch. As for the film, One Hour Photo tries to craft one of cinema’s most haunting portrayals of a fragile mind, and the result is exceptionally brilliant.
Rent One Hour Photo on Apple TV
8 Nightcrawler – Jake Gyllenhaal
Nightcrawler is a roller coaster ride worth taking. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom, an ambitious yet isolated man stuck as a petty thief. Determined to turn his life around, he finds work as a crime scene videographer in Los Angeles, hoping he’d make money by selling the clips to local news stations. Soon, Lou succumbs to the idea of getting ahead in the game and grows increasingly obsessed with the job.
Known for playing several disturbing roles, Gyllenhaal effortlessly portrays the twisted character of Lou. He brings this stillness and intensity to the character, which throws you off balance. When the lines between being an observer and a participant blurs for him, he makes unethical decisions. In a way, the movie gives an important insight into human psychology and the effect of dissociating yourself from the world. Dan Gilroy's directorial debut sends chills down the spine.
Stream Nightcrawler on Starz
7 Killer Joe — Matthew McConaughey
Killer Joe
- Release Date
- September 10, 2011
- Rating
- R
Adapted from a play written by Tracy Letts, Killer Joe takes you to West Dallas, Texas, where a down-and-out drug dealer named Chris Smith is willing to go to any lengths to make some money. He enlists the help of Joe Cooper, a detective who also kills people on a contract basis, and asks him to murder Adele, his mother, so he can claim the insurance money. In exchange, Joe not only demands to be paid in advance, but also takes Chris’s sister Dottie as a retainer until the business is finished.
After seeing Matthew McConaughey in coming-of-age dramas and rom-coms like Dazed and Confused and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, it is shocking to see him in the role of Joe. McConaughey over-indulges in the role and delivers a performance that is straight up brutal and appalling, but equally mesmerizing. The most disturbing scenes come when Joe forces himself upon Dottie and murders Chris’ stepmother, and they’re filmed with such a piercing analysis, it’s hard to look away.
Stream Killer Joe on Prime Video
6 American History X — Edward Norton
An impactful film in the genre and an absolute masterpiece from start to finish, American History X centers around Derek Vinyard, a neo-Nazi who goes to prison after violently murdering a Black man in an all-too memorable scene involving a curb. Upon his release, he vows to be a reformed man, but to his dismay, his younger brother Danny is going down the same extreme path. As gang tensions and radical changes occur in their neighborhood, Danny's principal at his school enlists him into a custom one-on-one class he dubs American History X.
American History X is a thought-provoking drama that examines whether or not cycles of racism and violence can be undone. It is also a movie that won Edward Norton an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Actor. And that is only fitting, because of his jaw-dropping performance as a man trying to tear himself away from a long history of violence, and seldom winning. That said, the movie is quite graphic in its depiction of horrific, racially-motivated killings.
Rent American History X on Apple TV
5 Antichrist — Willem Dafoe
Is it a coincidence that this is the third film by Lars von Trier on this list? Perhaps not. Antichrist follows an older couple (only ever referred to in the movie as He and She), who go through a turbulent time after their infant son’s accidental death. The man suggests they retreat to a cabin in the woods, but because the place is where she spent a summer with Nic, their child, and the woman starts exhibiting strange mannerisms like violent sexual behavior and disturbing use of her witch-like beliefs.
Starring Willem Dafoe as the male lead, Antichrist is a work of genius that was considered controversial because of its extreme violence and the lead characters indulging in the most disturbing acts. And yet, it is von Triers' direction that turns the film into an artsy exploration full of symbolism. From the house, named Eden, to the tasteful lighting, everything compliments the movie’s thematic tone about understanding grief in the world around us.
Stream Antichrist on Tubi TV
4 mother! – Jennifer Lawrence
Mother!
- Release Date
- September 13, 2017
- Director
- Darren Aronofsky
- Rating
- R
After directing something as brilliant as Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky presented mother!, which evokes just as much emotional response as his former controversial outing. The movie stars Jennifer Lawrence as a young woman living in a huge mansion with her poet husband. One night, a stranger enters their house and becomes an unwanted guest, giving way to a number of other visitors whose presence becomes increasingly unnerving and chaotic at her home.
Our girl-next-door is portraying Mother Nature, with her better half depicting God himself, played by Javier Bardem. The unwanted visitors depict humans, trashing the home they are invited into with careless abandon. Which becomes a poignant allegory for commenting on the way humans have trashed their home planet, too. Aronofsky uses detailed cinematography and sound design to both convince and confound the audience, and yet, it is the climax, when Lawrence’s lead goes off the deep end, that haunts long after.
Stream mother! on Paramount+
3 Drive — Ryan Gosling
Drive
- Release Date
- August 6, 2011
- Rating
- R
Can you imagine a Ken doll stomping on a man’s face, trying to murder him with his boots? No? Barbie and La La Land star Ryan Gosling has dabbled in darker thrillers and artsy romances before, but none of those roles are as minimalist and broody as Drive. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the film is about an ice-cold man named The Driver, a Hollywood stuntman leading a double life as a getaway driver in Los Angeles.
Interesting as his character sounds, the movie places him at odds with a mobster in a failed robbery. He goes on the run with his lover Irene and her son Benicio, when a bunch of vengeful masterminds tail them. Gosling brings tension and charm to the character and makes the neon-drenched world seem like a dreamscape, but the violence and the portrayal of an amoral world of crime makes Drive a must-include on the list.
Rent Drive on Apple TV
2 The VVitch — Anya Taylor-Joy
The Witch
- Release Date
- January 27, 2015
- Director
- Robert Eggers
- Rating
- R
A recent in the genre that proves supernatural horror still has scope for nuance and creativity, The VVitch follows Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin, a young Puritan woman whose family is torn apart by paranoia and malice after they’re banished from a settlement. Now having built a farm near a large abandoned forest, they are soon haunted by a sinister force.
She’s now become known for globally acclaimed horror films like Last Night in Soho and The Menu, but Taylor-Joy first sunk her teeth into acting with her breakout role, in which she is extremely captivating as a young woman believed to be a witch. The notions of faith and superstition placed against deep unsettling evil makes the movie as startling and ambiguous as it is phenomenal.
Stream The VVitch on Max
1 Under the Skin — Scarlett Johansson
Under the Skin
- Release Date
- March 14, 2014
- Director
- Jonathan Glazer
- Cast
- Jeremy McWilliams , Lynsey Taylor Mackay , Dougie McConnell , Kevin McAlinden , D. Meade , Andrew Gorman
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
Under the Skin is a chilling science-fiction thriller about an extraterrestrial seductress preying on lonely men in Glasgow. Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the movie sees an alien posing as a woman, driving around Glasgow in the evening and seducing men, only to lead them to their fatal end. Even though the setup sounds alarmingly simple, it is the surrealist execution and unnerving authenticity that makes it hard to watch.
Perhaps one of her most underrated works to date, Under the Skin allows Scarlett Johansson to showcase her versatility as an actor. She penetrates to the very depths of detachment to showcase herself as the “other,” who wants nothing more than to punish her victims. The climax, when Johansson’s character reveals her true self, is truly marvelous, and in her we see a reflection of our society.
Stream Under the Skin on Max
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