Movies are meant to make us feel things.
What those things are is intimate to each individual.
Art shines a light on the here and now.
And no art or film is better at that than documentaries.
Thanks to the golden age of television we are inundated with documentaries.
They give us a glimpse into real life.
And real life... is horrible.
Some documentaries leave more nighrtmares than Michale Myers.
Redditor CoatedTrout4 wanted to discuss the documentaries that have made us feel uneasy, so they asked:
"What Are Some Disturbing Documentaries?"
I've been SHOOK by far too many documentaries.
But they are so important.
Unreal
"The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez :( heartbreaking and so upsetting as the audience learns about how many opportunities this boy’s life could have been saved."
SandwichMore1508
"Sixty complaints were filed against the abusers between 2005 and 2012. Sixty. F**king. Complaints. Teachers called social services. A family called social services. Police officers reported it to their Sheriffs, risking their jobs in the process. And yet nothing was done. It's unbelievable. I can't wrap my head around it."
elizabethbennetpp
Two of a Kind
"Tell Me Who I Am. It’s about two twins, one of whom lost his memory after an accident at 18. They unravel a dark secret that only one remembers. Worth a watch but really dark."
Crab-Dragoon
"It's crazy how you can look at both of them. The one with the memories looks so tired and worn in the eyes, the other doesn't have that same look. Then there's that moment you realize you were so wrong with your assumptions of the story."
Ajwuvsu
"I know, it's really sad. It was nice to see that they otherwise seemed to have a great relationship. I can see how having those memories while your brother did not make you bitter."
Crab-Dragoon
Obsessed
"Abducted in Plain Sight is strange. Man is obsessed with a friend's young daughter, kidnaps and 'marries' her twice, somewhat with the parent's consent."
"I heard about it in a similar Reddit thread a few years ago. Available on Netflix."
rock_and_rolo
"When the parents went to press charges and the ole boy said 'Press charges and I'll tell the press how I had sexual relations with both of you' so the parents DROPPED THE CHARGES because apparently - their reputation was more important than the well being of their daughter. What a bunch of bulls**t. That girl deserved so much better."
josims88
In the Wilderness
"Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog. It's about bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell who went to live with Alaskan brown bears during the salmon spawning season. It's only slightly disturbing, but it is fascinating.
PeteyMax
"I remember getting increasingly frustrated with this guy the more I watched this - especially when he would treat the other animals like pets, change the water flow after the rains, and basically give the middle finger to the park officials when they told him he had to move after so many days to you know... avoid potentially getting attacked/eaten."
"What was really interesting was how this guy's friends/family thought he was doing so much good, and everyone else who was interviewed said he was doing the opposite."
bananasareappealing
This is why I only sleep in at home and in real buildings.
Trauma
"The Act of Killing is pretty wild."
Sundazed
"The Look of Silence. Family of the victims watching The Act of Killing and decide to meet the killers."
Lexlexleeee
"I was a therapist for survivors of war trauma for years. This movie was fascinating and horrifying. I hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about the torturers, just the tortured. But most humans are not equipped for hurting others. This knowledge is reassuring and mortifying."
"There isn’t a lot of free will to be exercised in a war. War is a meat grinder, it’s just disgusting every time. There is no justification good enough, no glory, there’s just the propaganda machine of war. We’re not meant to kill each other. How dare we ask others to kill for us, then bring home the survivors, call them heroes, but shame and silence them when they tell us how they suffered following the orders they were given."
madestories
Return to Sender
"Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a devastatingly disquieting documentary."
Both_Feed_601
"It's just so disturbing because the woman was so obviously unhinged, and she was continually allowed access to the child."
DamnGoodOwls
"Yep and as soon as I said this guy has a great friend, I hope his son appreciates what his friend is doing for him. I wonder where his son is now, then you get the bombshell, and I was pure seething rage at that moment."
NE_GBR
No one knew...
"There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane."
Kelsburger2go
"While I'm fairly certain that her husband and sister-in-law are mostly pushing the she had a medical issue, no one could have seen this coming narrative to reduce liability in the subsequent lawsuits, my major takeaway from this doc was just how many people have no idea that their loved one is an alcoholic."
"I'm an alcoholic, and for the majority of my active addiction, no one knew. I drank mugs of red wine first thing in the morning from the 4L box I kept by my bed. I did shots of whiskey before major presentations to keep myself loose. I can tell you with 100% certainty that if you met me during that decade, there was no way I was sober. I worked in finance and did client meetings/presentations eight hours a day, five days a week."
"And I was so incredibly drunk the whole time. No one knew, and I know this because when I got sober two years ago, multiple people who had spent significant amounts of time with me during my drunk years were shocked that I thought I had a problem - 'You only drink on weekends!' No, you only saw me drink on weekends."
"Alcoholics don't all wander the earth falling over, slurring, and pissing their pants. For some of us, we just get what we need to survive the day and make sure nothing can stop that from happening. Like letting pesky family members who could cut us off in on the secret."
"ETA: If you need support in figuring out your relationship with alcohol, r/stopdrinking is a great place to start asking questions."
archersarrows
Manipulations...
"Tickled was pretty f**ked up."
CliffMcFitzsimmons
"Cannot believe I had to scroll this far down to see this. This documentary is insane. It has such a simple premise, then it gets weird, then it gets weirder, then it gets downright scary, and by the end, you are made painfully aware of how easy it is to manipulate other people’s lives and their public perception if you have enough money."
yakayummi·
Hell on Earth
"'Killing Fields,' the movie documenting the slaughter of millions of Cambodians at the hands of Pol Pot's people. Skulls, pelvises, and spines lying everywhere in the blood-filled ditches. The purest form of Hell on Earth."
D**kpuncher_Dan
"Late to the party here, but if you can find a copy of A Cambodian Odyssey by Dr. Haing Ngor, grab it with both hands and don’t let go."
"Dr. Ngor played Dan Prith in the movie, but he himself has the most amazing and tragic story of surviving the Khmer Rouge. Made it to America, won an Oscar… and was gunned down in LA. I treasure my copy of the book."
LadySiren
Appalachia
"The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. Follows the White family who just completely neglects their kids, the parents, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, and attempted murder. It’s a sad look at the daily life of severely impoverished folks in stereotypical Appalachia."
InvalidUserNemo
SHOOK
Oh No Wow GIF by The Great British Bake OffGiphy"Evil genius, is a true crime story of a pizza man who robs a bank with a bomb around his neck. He is a victim of some very disturbed people."
Suzzert
"I was shook by this one. I love documentaries and am rarely really affected by them, but this one did it. Just knowing that you are going to die and no one can help you. And we see it unfold in front of us… chilling."
marabouxroux
Documentaries are too much.
I need fiction.
Movies are one of the greatest things in the world. I honestly believe that. And I think a lot of people will agree.
However, when talking about movies, a lot of people aren't thinking about documentaries.
Documentaries are movies about the real world, where the cameras capture candid moments, experts are consulted on the subject matter, and the end result is the viewers always learn something new.
My favorite is the documentary series Wild Wild Country, which never ceases to entertain me, no matter how many times I rewatch it. I’m not the only one who loves them, of course.
My best friend found her whole worldview had changed after she saw Blackfish for the first time. My brother pulled up his entire GPA after doing a report on Jon Cartwright’s Lighting Up the World, and of course, no health class was complete without a viewing of Supersize Me.
Redditors love documentaries too and were ready to share their favorites.
It all started when Redditor joeduncanhull asked:
“What’s the best documentary you’ve ever seen?”
Every Family Has Its Quirks
"I didn't mention Capturing the Friedmans, but I should have. That was a really good documentary."
"What a freaking twisted family."
– SweetCosmicPope
Camera Work Matters
"The Planet Earth documentaries. Praise to the people behind the camera."
– teethalarm
"Also Blue Planet 2 is f*cking amazing"
– IzaacLUXMRKT
"It was a colossal undertaking. To get a couple moments of the snow leopard took 3 months."
– External_Recipe_3562
"Absolutely unparalleled"
– joeduncanhull
The Athletes Will Celebrate
"Baseball by Ken Burns, not really a fan of baseball the sport, but the history was interesting."
– biggertheboobs
"Icarus was absolutely wild. Started with a pretty interesting premise, and then took a sharp turn and kept getting crazier. If you're even remotely interested in sport, it's worth your time."
– Spartannia
Disney Always Wins
"Kevin Perjurer's deep dive on the Fastpass System at Disney Themeparks. For such a seemlingly dull topic, it's shocking how interesting and surprising the whole thing winds up being."
– Notmiefault
"Totally agree here. That was amazing."
– mynewme
The Artsy Folk Will Celebrate
"Exit Through the Gift Shop"
"Documentary on Street Art. I literally thought Bansky was gas lighting us with this movie. No way could the story of ‘Mr Brainwash’ could be true."
– AwareParking
Higher and Higher
"Free Solo"
– Crocodile-toes-ten
"Anyone who enjoys this film should also check out The Dawn Wall. It's another climbing documentary on El Capitan in Yosemite. But it tells a very different story about two guys who try to become the first people to climb a route that many of the world's best climbers thought impossible."
– MasteringTheFlames
The Musicians Will Celebrates
"Not the best, but a favorite of mine...Dig ! A doc about the Dandy Warhols and BJM...one band's somewhat rise to fame, with the implosion/self-sabotage of the other. Half of it was embellished, and both bands had issues with the final product, but it was highly entertaining. Check it out if you're into music docs."
– Ok_Fact5541
"I would also recommend "We Jam Econo", about the 1980s punk rock band The Minutemen, who were on the cusp of the big time when their singer died in a freak accident."
"The "Jacka*s" theme is from their song "Corona."
– notthesedays
The Arts Save Lives
"Crumb"
"About the cartoonist Robert Crumb and his 2 brothers, and how abuse and mental illness plagued them. Crumb's cartooning got him out of it, but the other 2 brothers had a hard time."
– TooDeeGuy
Epic Animals
"Africa. It’s from the BBC like Planet Earth, Blue Planet."
"Why Africa? Well Africa has really varied environments and the best and most abundant wildlife by a mile. The first episode in particular has 2 awesome things: an epic Giraffe Fight and a Rhino Orgy. The Rhino Orgy is so unexpected. No one knew that Rhinos get together and party late at night. The Rhinos snuggle! And it’s especially poignant because there’s so few of them left."
– watchingsongsDL
The Truth About Vietnam
"Ken Burns’s Vietnam War docuseries was fairly eye-opening for someone like me, who only had the typical US high school history take on that conflict with a handful of fictional films to supplement it."
– Jaebird0388
"I really enjoyed that one, very eye opening indeed"
– Miggel1973
Next Level
"I remember watching the first Paradise Lost documentary so long ago and was just blown away. I know it’s not the first ever true crime doc, but sure felt like it took it to the next level. If I had to choose a favorite, that would probably be it."
– illmattic12345
Look Into Their Minds
"The Architecture of Doom was the first documentary that let me see how people could actually have bought into Nazi propaganda. Not that I agree with it, but it seemed so preposterous that anyone could believe what they were doing was somehow good."
– johnnylongpants1
A Fan Favorite
"Wild Wild Country"
– PalmerEldritch2319
All The Yesses!
"Avengers: age of ultron"
– ReapersEatApples05
"It's amazing how the camera crew caught these robots in their natural environment"
– joeduncanhull
Emotional Ending
"The six part DefunctTV about Jim Henson."
"It's a really engaging and endearing watch about Henson's life. I really appreciate all the behind the scenes footage the team was able to gather."
"The last episode leaves me sobbing every time."
– nocleverusername190
I want to watch all of these!
Documentaries can give the average person valuable information about issues they might otherwise not be exposed to. They are essential if you want to challenge your perspective.
Thankfully, there are so many wonderful ones out there. Documentarians are filmmakers too and a great documentary can inform you and move you while providing you with a profound cinematic experience.
I recently rewatched Hoop Dreams. Even if you don't like or care about basketball, it says a lot about the film that it manages to be so engrossing. I loved it! Highly recommended.
But we haven't even scratched the surface here, just so you know. There are so many documentaries of equal value out there, just waiting for you to discover them!
People shared their recommendations with us after Redditor Main-Acrobatic asked the online community,
"What is the best documentary that you've ever seen?"
Harlan County, USA (1976)
"Harlan County, USA is a documentary about the warring sides of unionization in a Kentucky coal town and is the greatest documentary film I've ever seen."
innikiki
This film is more relevant than others. Should be considered necessary viewing, particularly for anyone who would like to know more about the labor movement in the United States.
Thou Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
"Thou Shall Not Grow Old. It's jaw dropping good. Seriously. The amount of attention to details to make that era come to life is just absolutely amazing."
AlreadyGone77
This film can best be described as an immersive experience. The people I've showed it to over the years have fallen in love with it.
The Woman Who Wasn't There (2012)
"The Woman Who Wasn't There. It’s a documentary about a woman who lied about being in the WTC during 9/11. She became head of the 9/11 survivors group and was giving official tours of Ground Zero to government officials before anyone figured out that she wasn’t even in the United States on September 11 2001."
Nerve-Familiar
The weirdest part of the entire story is that it was technically legal. She never profited financially so it wasn't legally fraud, and lying isn't against the law.
Touching the Void (2003)
"Touching the Void. The most insane mountaineering/survival story you will ever hear."
Ready_The_Rhinos
This one definitely had me glued to the screen. Saw it about twelve or thirteen years ago and I still think about it from time to time.
9/11 (2002)
9/11 by the Naudet Brothers.
"It's pretty raw and is the original footage of the first plane hitting North Tower. Not much for graphic injuries which is fine by me, but the part where you and the firefighters realize that a very specific slamming sound are bodies hitting the pavement is pretty brutal."
[deleted]
This one definitely stuck with me and yes... I remember that moment. Not easy viewing.
Grizzly Man (2005)
"Grizzly Man. This is the perfect doc. Hands down. Stays with you forever and captures secret angles of life with confident twists of the gut and mind."
Saladcitypig
Timothy Treadwell was clearly very ill. This documentary is so sad and frustrating.
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
"Three Identical Strangers. Do not read or watch anything about it until after you watch the film. Crazy twists and turns."
gotthelowdown
This is a film that made me say "no way!" at least a few times out loud while watching.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
"Dear Zachary. Don’t Google it before watching. This movie wrecked me."
[deleted]
Probably one of the most emotionally devastating documentaries I've seen and it hits even harder when you realize how the film developed as the story unfolded in real time.
Icarus (2017)
"Icarus. It's not necessarily great technically, but the timeline of the documentary is absolutely fascinating. The coincidences that lined up just right that ended up capturing a behind the scenes look into the biggest Olympic doping scandal ever. It blows my mind."
WowThatsRelevant
I concur! So many factors had to line up for us to get the film that we got!
The Act of Killing (2012)
"The Act of Killing. Truly the most fascinating documentary I have ever seen. There's something captured near the end that I thought would have been impossible to catch on film and near-impossible to happen in the first place. Strong stuff though."
Porrick
This documentary truly represents one of the darkest journeys into the human soul that I've ever seen.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get watching. Some of these are bound to change your life. Documentaries can absolutely offer a window into experiences you might never have thought about before.
Have some recommendations of your own? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below!
I recently sat down and rewatched Capturing the Friedmans, about a family whose life is rocked after finding themselves in the crosshairs of a child abuse investigation. It's a searing documentary, achingly personal, and yes... utterly disturbing. It's also one of the most affecting documentaries that I've had the pleasure of seeing. It's just not for everyone, of course.
A good documentary series can be quite riveting, too. I've seen Wild Wild Country at least twice over the last few years–for those of you who don't know, it's about the circumstances that led to the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack–and every time I do, I wonder why Netflix can't make more documentaries that are as well-made and self-contained as this one.
If you're looking for some recommendations, you've come to the right place. People shared their opinions with us after Redditor tandyman234 asked the online community,
"What documentary would you rate a 10/10?"
Thou Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
"Thou Shall Not Grow Old. It's jaw dropping good. Seriously. The amount of attention to details to make that era come to life is just absolutely amazing."
AlreadyGone77
This is one I've enjoyed showing to people. It's incredibly immersive.
Harlan County, USA (1976)
"Harlan County, USA is a documentary about the warring sides of unionization in a Kentucky coal town and is the greatest documentary film I've ever seen."
innikiki
This film is more relevant than others. Should be considered necessary viewing, particularly for anyone who would like to know more about the labor movement in the United States.
Touching the Void (2003)
"Touching the Void. The most insane mountaineering/survival story you will ever hear."
Ready_The_Rhinos
This one definitely had me glued to the screen. Saw it about twelve or thirteen years ago and I still think about it from time to time.
9/11 (2002)
"9/11 by the Naudet Brothers.
"It's pretty raw and is the original footage of the first plane hitting North Tower. Not much for graphic injuries which is fine by me, but the part where you and the firefighters realize that a very specific slamming sound are bodies hitting the pavement is pretty brutal."
[deleted]
This one definitely stuck with me and yes... I remember that moment. Not easy viewing.
Grizzly Man (2005)
"Grizzly Man. This is the perfect doc. Hands down. Stays with you forever and captures secret angles of life with confident twists of the gut and mind."
Saladcitypig
This documentary is sad, fascinating, and frustrating all at once.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
"Dear Zachary. Don’t Google it before watching. This movie wrecked me."
[deleted]
I agree – Google nothing.
This documentary is gorgeous... but it emotionally devastated me.
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
"Three Identical Strangers. I legit was obsessed with this story after watching."
PolarizingFigure
I can't decide how I feel about the twist, admittedly. There's always a twist.
Icarus (2017)
"Icarus. It's not necessarily great technically, but the timeline of the documentary is absolutely fascinating. The coincidences that lined up just right that ended up capturing a behind the scenes look into the biggest Olympic doping scandal ever. It blows my mind."
WowThatsRelevant
I concur! So many factors had to line up for us to get the film that we got!
The Act of Killing (2012)
"The Act of Killing. Truly the most fascinating documentary I have ever seen. There's something captured near the end that I thought would have been impossible to catch on film and near-impossible to happen in the first place. Strong stuff though."
Porrick
This documentary truly represents one of the darkest journeys into the human soul that I've ever seen.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
"Hoop Dreams. Absolutely fantastic documentary! I don't even like basketball that much, but this was such a worthwhile watch."
megapixel
If you like this, I highly recommend checking out Steve James’ other doc Stevie. It’s very bizarre.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get watching. Some of these are bound to change your life. Documentaries can absolutely offer a window into experiences you might never have thought about before.
Have some recommendations of your own? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below!
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Documentaries are at the bottom of the priority list for many moviegoers.
And who can blame them?
Action films that include a succession of explosions and high-speed car chases can be more engaging than watching a history lesson.
Even horror films, where sadistic audiences repeatedly subject themselves to fakeout scares, are a popular choice for those with short attention spans.
However, if people gave documentaries a chance, they might be surprised at how enlightening the experience can be.
But with so many documentaries out there, the uninitiated can be overwhelmed with not knowing where to start to explore their curiosity.
Lucky for us, Redditor zeusdreaming asked,
"What is a must-watch documentary?"
And plenty of Redditors shared a great selection of options.
True crime and mysteries are usually good places to start. Because sometimes, truth is wilder than fiction.
The Road To Execution
"The Fear of Thirteen."
"A man on death row for 20 years, he's had enough and petitions the court to execute him. Which triggers an investigation into his case..... It's fascinating."
A Kidnapping
"Abducted in Plain Sight."
"Easily the most f'king bonkers documentary I have ever seen."
Family Tragedy
"American Murder on Netflix. Although I will warn you, it left me feeling sick for a week..."
Good historical documentaries are the ones that give us deeper insight than what is typically taught in classrooms.
About WWI
"They Shall Not Grow Old, directed and produced by Peter Jackson, about World War 1."
"100% this. That documentary is mind f'k, and really destroys the old timey feeling you normally get when watching old footage."
Indonesian Genocide
"The Act of Killing."
"A film about some of the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide, but that doesn't do it justice. You will simply never see anything like this."
Ken Burns' Vietnam War
"Really fantastic docu-series."
"For anyone who hasn't seen it (and is unfamiliar with Burns style docu-series), it's a comprehensive, critical look at the Vietnam War. Like, you legitimately need two or more days to watch it in its entirety. The starting episode of the series kicks off back in the 1800s. But it's still riveting the whole way through. You hear from soldiers and civilians on both side of the conflict, and there are plenty of surprising (to many/most people) tidbits of information. For example, Ho Chi Minh was originally, well, a U.S. fanboy, before geopolitics stepped in and he and the U.S. were opponents. A fair warning though, it can get graphic at points (e.g. video of the napalm girl, and a raw, uncut, and close up video of an execution)."
– loony123
An intimate glimpse inside unfamiliar worlds and lifestyles always make for compelling viewing.
"Tickled"
"Go in blind, it's better that way."
"Blindfolded tickling… you know me too well."
People Who Made A Lot Of Money From Something Totally Random | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Insane Marathon
"The Barkley Marathons: The Race that Eats its Young on Amazon Prime."
"Absolutely f'king nuts that it is possible for people to run for that long over that terrain and elevation. Plus the guy who organizes it is hilarious and crazy."
"I recommend this documentary to everyone I can and so far I've never had any complaints."
"Jesus Camp"
"This was just too close to home for me. I grew up with parents as batsh*t insane as all the people in this movie. I've never seen a documentary I related to more in my life and still haven't. This level of religion is dangerous and it's bullsh*t how they use children."
Redditors insist these films about twins and triplets are fascinating must-see docs.
The Separated Triplets
"Three Identical Strangers was a great documentary which started very wholesome then got Darker yet more mysterious."
"I was in high school when the story broke! I knew that at the time, multiple birth babies were often split up if they were placed for adoption, but I had no idea that the story was much deeper, and darker."
"There were also rumors that they were actually identical quadruplets, but that wasn't true."
Twins And Memory Loss
"Tell Me Who I Am"
"It follows two twin brothers recalling their youth and childhood. One of them suffered severe amnesia after an accident. Their childhood was horrible, but after one of them forgot everything, the other brother could not bear to tell the truth. It's extremely thought provoking."
– non-all
Some documentaries can be more thrilling than any action movie.
Vertigo, Much?
"Free solo, I still get sweaty palms every time I think about Alex Honnold."
My favorite documentary has to be The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Narrated by RuPaul, this film chronicling the scandalous rise and fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Christian empire kept my eyes glued to the screen.
I didn't know much about Tammy Faye beyond her wild eyelashes, but I found myself adoring this compassionate woman who became a pro-LGBTQ icon.
The 2000 film wound up holding the 23rd spot on the 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die.
And for good reason.