Top 10
Mind-Bending Movies
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1. A Clockwork Orange :
This 1971 film is Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony
Burgess's 1962 novella of the same name. This movie depicts Britain's dystopian
future through following Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a sociopathic gang member
whose interests include classical music, and ultra-violence. Part of what makes
the movie so mind-bending is the language that is used in it-- Anthony Burgess
created a language of slang called "Nadsat" specifically for the
book. Also, the movie deals with a lot of behavioral psychology and the inherent
definition of "good." Deep stuff, man. It'll make you think.
2. Requiem for a Dream :
"Requiem for a Dream" was released in 2000, based
off of Hubert Selby, Jr.'s novel of the same name. The film deals with
addiction and follows four characters (Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer
Connelly, and Marlon Wayans) as they deal with the harsh reality of addiction.
You see these characters going through a downward spiral, heightening your
experience of high levels of disorientation. This movie is heartbreaking but
beautiful, and will definitely change your perspective on many notions.
3. The Machinist :
This 2004 psychological thriller stars Christian Bale as
Trevor, a machinist with severe insomnia. Trevor has not slept in over a year,
and one day at work, he accidentally injures a colleague due to a distraction
by a mysterious coworker who apparently no one else knows. The film follows
Trevor's quest to find out the truth about this man and delve into his addled
mind. This movie illustrates insanity at its best and gives viewers the
opportunity to feel the intense confusion that Trevor experiences.
4. Inception :
This 2010 Christopher Nolan masterpiece is an exploration of
dreams, death, and reality. The movie stars an ensemble cast including big
names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom
Hardy. Dominic Cobb (DiCaprio) and his team try to plant an idea in a mogul's
mind through infiltrating his dreams. Meanwhile, Cobb has to deal with visions
of his wife who committed suicide after confusing dreams with reality. This
movie is fantastic, and the ending will leave you extraordinarily frustrated in
the best way.
5. Donnie Darko :
"Donnie Darko" is a 2001 film starring Jake
Gyllenhaal as the main character. Donnie suffers from doomsday-related hallucinations
and has an imaginary friend who is a terrifying, human-sized rabbit. Themes of
the film include parallel universes, time travel, and the apocalypse. This is
one of those movies that you have to watch a couple of times before everything
clicks. The ending is both heartbreaking and satisfying.
6. Memento :
"Memento" is a 2000 thriller starring Guy Pearce
as the amnesiac Leonard Shelby. Leonard's short term memory is so bad that he
has to resort to tattooing, photographing, and writing notes to help him
remember even the most minute details. One of the most mind-bending parts of
the film is the chronology-- the movie features a black-and-white sequence that
moves forward chronologically and a color sequence that is played in reverse.
When the two meet in the middle, your mind will be blown.
7. Naked Lunch :
"Naked Lunch" is a 1991 film based off of the
William S. Burroughs novel of the same name. The movie depicts the adventures
of a man named William (Peter Weller) who is an exterminator. William becomes
addicted to the poison he uses to kill bugs. After accidentally killing his
wife, he embarks on a drug-addled journey which features life-size bugs, secret
agents, and doppelgangers. You'll never look at bugs the same.
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind :
"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" stars Jim
Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel and Clementine, two former lovers who undergo a
memory-removal procedure in order to forget their relationship. The artistic
film explores the depths of memory, love, and fate and has gained a huge cult
following. The film is particularly mind-bending because you are along for the
same ride that Joel and Clementine are, and you're equally as shocked with the
twists and turns.
9. Enter the Void :
"Enter the Void" is quite possibly one of the
tripiest movies ever made. The 2009 film follows a drug dealer, Oscar
(Nathaniel Brown), who gets shot while in Tokyo. He then experiences an out of
body experience that is as trippy and hallucinogenic as the drugs Oscar takes
and sells. The ending of this already odd movie will blow your mind in a way
that you never thought possible.
10. Pi :
"Pi" is a 1998 film by Darren Aronofsky. The movie
follows Max Cohen (Sean Gullette), a mathematician, as he becomes obsessed with
finding a number that he believes is essentially God. Max suffers from a number
of psychological problems and proves to be an extremely unreliable narrator. At
the end of the movie, you feel as insane as Max, because you are led to believe
strongly in certain illusions…
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