Althoughthe “New Hollywood” era of the 1970swas the gateway to including more extreme content in cinema,films have certainly become more violent within the last decade.There are many reasons for this, as audiences may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of true crime content out there that they are less opposed to seeing violence in film. It’s also worth noting that there are some more experimental artists who have been given the chance to work on a studio level and deliver less mainstream content to mass audiences.
A great thriller justifies using violent contentif it is necessary to the story, even if it can sometimes be used as a means of shock value to ensure the audience that they are in for a wild ride. Here are the ten most violent thrillers of the 2010s, ranked.
Editor’s note: The following discusses graphic and disturbing content, as well as heavy spoilers for the films mentioned
10‘mother!’ (2017)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Mother!proved to be one of the most divisive films of Darren Aronofsky’s career, which is no small statement considering that he is also responsible for the Biblical epicNoahand the addiction dramaRequiem For A Dream.Mother!tells the story of a genius artist (Javier Bardem) who invites strangers into his home to offer them love and guidance, much to the anger of his young wife (Jennifer Lawrence).
Mother!is a nightmarish home invasion thrillerthat includes graphic scenes of torture, murder, physical assault, and even the death of an infant. Whilesome have interpreted the film as an extended metaphorabout the relationship between God and Mother Earth, the sheer amount of graphic content has shrunk the audience ofMother!who are willing to put up with the disturbing imagery that Aronofsky brought to life so vividly.
A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.
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9‘Joker’ (2019)
Directed by Todd Phillips
Jokerquicklydifferentiated itself from other comic book moviesbecause it took place in a dark, gritty version of Gotham City that did not contain any supernatural elements.Jokerserved as an origin story for the comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), whose growing resentment at society for casting him out leads to a violent revolution aimed at taking down the city’s power elite.
The concept of a mentally unstable person committing acts of violence on a public stage courted controversy, with some deeming the film to be a “dangerous” work of art aimed at empowering incels. WhileJokerwould go on to receive positive reviews and earn eleven Academy Award nominations and became the highest grossing R-Rated movie of its time, it certainly started a discourse regarding what responses were justified from filmmakers working on disturbing projects that mirrored recent events.
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
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8‘Brawl in Cell Block 99’ (2017)
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
Brawl in Cell Block 99was another dark genre film from S. Craig Zahler, the brilliant writer/director behind the dark horror westernBone Tomahawk. The 2017 crime thriller starsVince Vaughnin the grittiest performance of his careeras a criminal who is locked up in a high security prison, and is ordered to assassinate a particularly dangerous inmate.
Brawl in Cell Block 99was particularly gruesome with its depiction of hand-to-hand combat, with plenty of bone-crushing moments that were disturbing enough to make audiences turn their heads away in disgust. Considering that Vaughn has been best known for his humorous roles in comedies likeWedding CrashersandSwingers, seeing him play such a depraved character in a film that is so remorseless was even more shocking that it would have been with a more traditional action star in the lead role.
Brawl in Cell Block 99
A brutal and intense drama featuring Bradley Thomas, a former boxer who finds himself in a maximum-security prison after a botched drug deal. To save his kidnapped wife and unborn child, Bradley must navigate the dangerous and violent world of the prison system. As he is drawn deeper into the prison’s dark underbelly, he must engage in brutal confrontations and make tough decisions to protect his family. The film explores themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and survival, delivering raw and powerful action sequences within the confines of the prison.
Watch on Netflix
7‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)
Directed by David Fincher
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoowasn’t the first adaptation of the acclaimed novel of the same name, but it was certainly the most intense because of what directorDavid Fincherbrought to the table. While Fincher films likeSe7enandFight Clubhad courted controversy because of their extreme content,The Girl With the Dragon Tattooreceived a lot of attention due to the depiction of violence against women and sexual assault.
Rooney Mara’s performance as Lisbeth Salanderwas very effectivebecause she was a brutal vigilante who was willing to take down toxic men who hadn’t faced the consequences for their actions. Although sadly Fincher and Mara did not return to work on a sequel project, it’s hard to imagine that an adaptation of the next book in the series would have been quite as disturbing asThe Girl With The Dragon Tattooended up being.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years by young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.
6‘Nocturnal Animals’ (2016)
Directed by Tom Ford
Nocturnal Animalsisa unique crime thrillerbecause it examines the way that violence is portrayed in fiction, and how it can constitute aggression in real life. Even though all the violence inNocturnal Animalsis contained to the “story within a story” that an author (Jake Gyllenhaal) gives to his ex-wife (Amy Adams), the parallels between the two realities make it more than a little bit unnerving.
Nocturnal Animalsis particularly disturbing because of how realistic it is, as it depicts a realistic version of a sadistic serial killer (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who enjoys torturing his victims before brutalizing them. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect ofNocturnal Animalsis the assertion that writer/directorTom Fordmakes that any person is capable of committing horrific acts of violence if they are put in a situation in which they feel like their vengeance is entirely justified.
Nocturnal Animals
A wealthy art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale.
Rent on Amazon
5‘You Were Never Really Here’ (2018)
Directed by Lynne Ramsay
You Were Never Really Hereisa disturbing modern neo-noir classicthat examines the way in which violence is perceived by those with serious mental health issues. Joaquin Phoenix gave one of the best performances of his career as Joe, a former military veteran who uses his skills to help free kidnapped children from traffickers. The stark, graphic bursts of violence spark allusions to classics likePsychoandTaxi Driver.
You Were Never Really Hereis creatively shot by director Lynne Ramsay to call attention to the violence, as Joe uses a hammer to dispatch of his opponents. Although it’s somewhat empowering to see Joe use his detective skills to help those who are in need of a guardian, the sequences in which he nearly suffocates himself in vein attempts at suicide are particularly upsetting, as Ramsay does not shy away from the upsetting implications.
You Were Never Really Here
You Were Never Really Here is a psychological thriller directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film follows Joe, a traumatized veteran who makes a living tracking down missing girls. As he becomes entangled in a conspiracy, Joe’s brutal methods and personal demons threaten to consume him. Adapted from Jonathan Ames' novella, the movie delves deeply into themes of violence and redemption.
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4‘Only God Forgives’ (2013)
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Only God Forgiveswas the highly anticipated follow up toDrivethatreunitedRyan Goslingand directorNicolas Winding Refn, and immediately sparked extreme reactions based on its lurid content. WhileDrivewas a classical romance entrapped within a gritty crime story,Only God Forgiveswas a depraved examination of existentialism that featured almost no dialogue.
Only God Forgivessome truly horrific moments of torture, and connects to serious themes about police brutality, toxic masculinity, and the cyclical nature of revenge. Perhaps even more disturbing than the bloody acts of aggression committed throughoutOnly God Forgivesis the film’s depiction of a cold, heartless world in which none of the characters seem capable of redeeming themselves. Although there’s a formal beauty to the manner in which Refn composes his shots,Only God Forgivesis deeply cynical about the evils that mankind is capable of when placed in traumatic circumstances.
Only God Forgives
3‘Green Room’ (2016)
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
Green Roomis an anxiety inducing thrillerthat almost ventures into the horror genre because of how suspenseful it is. The nail-biting crime saga from the brilliantJeremy Saulnierfollows a group of punk rockers who become trapped in a green room after bearing witness to a murder committed by white supremacists before a concert. What follows is a suspenseful series of escalations that become increasingly brutal.
The messy, haphazard nature of the violence inGreen Roommakes it feel particularly realistic, especially since the film ostensibly takes place in the middle of nowhere. The film also became quite shocking becauseof the villainous performance by the greatPatrick Stewartas the leader of the neo-Nazi skinheads, as audiences had generally come to associate him with playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard inStar Trek: The Next Generationand Professor Charles Xavier in theX-Menfranchise.
Green Room
A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.
2‘The House That Jack Built’ (2018)
Directed by Lars Von Trier
The House That Jack Builtis unlike any other serial killer film, as it is told from the perspective of a self-proclaimed artist (Matt Dillon) who ruthlessly murders women and children. Although the nature of the narrative structure allowed directorLars Von Trierto insert some moments of dark comedy,The House That Jack Builtfrequently pushes the line of good taste by not cutting away from any of the most graphically violent moments.
The House That Jack Builtis quite a long filmthat at times feels like it’s trying to punish the audience, especially when Von Trier inserts some unusual moments that references his other films in an attempt to break the fourth wall. While certainly not for the faint of heart,The House That Jack Builtis an extraordinary filmmaking achievement that justifies its use of disturbing content because it is expressly about the ways in which violence permeates in society.
The House That Jack Built
In five episodes, failed architect and vicious sociopath Jack recounts his elaborately orchestrated murders – each, as he views them, a towering work of art that defines his life’s work as a serial killer in the Pacific Northwest.
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1‘Killer Joe’ (2012)
Directed by William Friedkin
Killer Joeis one of the few mainstream filmsto receive an NC-17 rating, as most studios choose to shave off some of the most graphic moments in hopes of receiving an R-Rating that would make it more easy to market commercially. However, veteran directorWilliam Friedkinknew thatKiller Joewas a film that required every bit of violence in order to tell its strangely satirical story about a ruthless hitman (Matthew McConaughey) that gets caught up within a family crime saga.
Killer Joedepicts violence in a banal mannerthat is both intentionally upsetting and at times funny in a very way. While the film was actually inspired by a play of the same name byTracy Letts, it certainly goes above and beyond in making sure that there is nothing that is left to the viewers’ imagination.
Killer Joe
Killer Joe is a dark comedy thriller directed by William Friedkin. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as a detective who is also a contract killer hired by a desperate young man, played by Emile Hirsch, to murder his mother for insurance money. As the plot unfolds, the characters are drawn into a violent and morally complex web of deception and betrayal.
