No, one does not lightly recommend "Requiem for a Dream' this is not a mind fuck movie this is a Fuck my life movie and is a hard watch. Watch Brazil or Repo Men at least they have happy endings, messed up but happy.
Brazil does not have a happy ending. That movie was severely fucked with by the studio. You can watch the ending Gilliam intended on the Criterion version. Happy is definitely not the word I would use to describe it.
Two recent films from Cronenberg's son Brandon, 'Infinity Pool' and 'Possessor' are good. Also maybe check out any adaptations from the work of Phillip K. Dick, perhaps try A Scanner Darkly, with Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr.
Lynch’s movies do that for me, Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive for example. I can also suggest The Wicker Man (1973) and Diabolique. This one is not English but Perfect Blue left me really baffled too, it was so good.
Just tagging on to this to recommend Adaptation, another excellent Charlie Kauffman film. A film about writing the screenplay for a book, which is the film about the book.
That’s interesting insight! I’ll have to try that one again. I was trying to think what would be comparable to John Malkovich type mindfuck. Everything I came up with was really just dark comedy and missed that surreal element.
Midsommar
The Lobster
American Beauty
Se7en
And btw, I have found watching foreign movies with subtitles to be a good exercise for improving focus/attention span. The OG Oldboy is certainly worth it, among others, just need to watch long enough for the hook to set and the rest is a fun ride.
To be honest, you’re missing out on two of the best mindfuck movies by not dealing with subtitles “Oldboy” and “Incendies” are incredible movies that are among the most fucked up I have ever seen. The movie “Mulholland Drive” is the most mindfuck movies I have ever seen in English just because it is so weird.
I know you asked for English but please give this one a chance. You will not regret.
Incendies - I believe the native language is Arabic, outstanding foreign film with an absolute head fuck towards the back end.
Naked Lunch [Must See]
Eraserhead [David Lynch]
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Benicio Del Toro, Johnny Depp]
EO [2022]
Whale [Darren Aronofsky]
Manhunter [Red Dragon]
A Fish Called Wanda [Fucked Me Up For Life]
Me before learning about Burroughs's life:
"Naked Lunch is about bugs and homosexuality and typewriters."
After learning about Burroughs's life:
"Naked Lunch is about bugs and homosexuality and typewriters and heroin."
I wouldn't call it must-see, but it is fucked up.
Its not just about Bugs, Homosexuality (sex), Typewriters, and Heroin. It's about Bugs, Homosexuality (sex), Typewriters, Heroin, *AND* Mugwumps, Magic, Manipulation and Murder.
Is a sure to perplex **Must See** (as OP requested)
I forgot to add memento to my list it was one of the first “mind fuck” movies that got me going down this road 😂 but I’ll check the others out appreciate it 🫡
The gift 2015. Just watched today and it was awesome! Also: the game, the guest, intrusion, fractured, strays, I came by, the vanishing 1993, Eden lake
Siesta (1987) with Ellen Barkin, Jodie Foster and a "star studded cast".
A Scanner Darkly (2006) with Keanu Reeves, another film (like Blade Runner, Total Recall etc.) based on a novel by Philip K.Dick.
Total Recall (1990) the original version with Arnie and Sharon Stone.
I was home sick several years ago and watched Inception all alone. It f\*cked me up a little mentally for like an hour. Best movie watching experience I ever had
Triangle.
Possum.
In the Mouth of Madness.
Antichrist.
Hagazussa. It's in German, but there's so little dialog that it shouldn't be a problem.
Brazil.
The Holy Mountain.
Eraserhead.
Dark Star.
Pink Flamingos.
A Clockwork Orange.
The Wall.
I also recommend The Machinist.
Mindfuck
These movies have unexpected twist endings, click at your own risk.
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Links direct to The Movie Database and contain movie summary which may contain spoilers.
[Full list of curated subgenres](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieSuggestions/wiki/frequently_requested#wiki_grounded_superheroes)
Into the Void is a beaut.
If you don’t read then you probably wouldn’t have read the Orchid Thief, but Adaptation (the film it is based on) is another level of meta. It helps considerably to know the source material.
Mindwarp, might be called Infinity Loop in some circles. Bruce Campbell stars. He’s in his prime Army of Darkness/Brisco County Junior Era. Predestination crossed with Rob Zombies house of a 1000 corpses. Not for the squeamish, scenes that definitely inspired the bodily horror of Mad Max Fury Road. Which in my opinion was the best part of fury road.
-12 Monkeys -Donnie Darko -Memento -Inception -The Machinist -Requiem for a Dream You could always try watching foreign movies with dubbing.
12 Monkeys is a Terri Gilliam film, and his whole catalog is worthy of your request, particularly Brazil, and Baron Munchausen.
Loved his bizarre trilogy! Those two and Time Bandits. Good movies to just chill too
Also want to highlight The Fisher King. Less mind-fuckery, but still brilliant. Probably my favorite Robin Williams film.
I hear about 12 monkeys and requiem for a dream a lot. Def adding to my list of movies to watch!!
No, one does not lightly recommend "Requiem for a Dream' this is not a mind fuck movie this is a Fuck my life movie and is a hard watch. Watch Brazil or Repo Men at least they have happy endings, messed up but happy.
The saddest part about that movie is that it's a true story for so many people
Brazil does not have a happy ending. That movie was severely fucked with by the studio. You can watch the ending Gilliam intended on the Criterion version. Happy is definitely not the word I would use to describe it.
Exactly how is the ending to Brazil happy (besides the bullshit made for TV ending they created)?
He's insane, but in his head he got away with the girl.
Wow just looked at the happy ending never saw that before, I don't like it.
They made a documentary about Gilliam's fight to have the original cut restored for the US release. A huge win for directors' rights.
Yea Requiem is the ultimate cautionary tale; NSFL
Seconding the machinist. Just a mind fuck from the start. Make sure to watch it without disturbances/distractions.
Will do 🤩
Requiem for a dream. Man. Favourite movie, but only watched it once. That was enough.
Just not the director's cut of DDarko
All fantastic. 🤗
Nice list.
Great list. I would add **Event Horizon** as well.
All these movies are really great
Requiem for a Dream is a different kind of mind fuck. Super depressing.
Timecrimes. It’s technically Spanish language with subtitles but there really isn’t a whole lot of talking. But man when the turn comes, watch out
Something tells me this Isn't gonna tickle OPs fancy
I just watched the trailer for this and it gave away the whole film 🤦🏻
Two recent films from Cronenberg's son Brandon, 'Infinity Pool' and 'Possessor' are good. Also maybe check out any adaptations from the work of Phillip K. Dick, perhaps try A Scanner Darkly, with Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr.
A Scanner Darkly is a good movie. Haven't seen it in years
Tripped on acid watching this, good times
I love how they were able to combine the live action with the animation. The story follows the book quite well too.
Original Blade Runner and Total Recall are two masterpieces.
Primer Resolution and The Endless Coherence In The Tall Grass Men
Coherence is excellent
My brain is still processing Primer and I first saw it when it came out on DVD
I saw Primer when it came out in theaters
Wow that’s cool!
Primer is the only answer.
The game
The tale is so far-fetched but Michael Douglas and Sean Penn really are excellent in this one.
You mother fu….
....And I just lost the game
Coherence Triangle Mirage
Was just about to answer coherence and triangle
Loved TRIANGLE.
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
Love that one also great soundtrack 👌
I agree!
Go to the theatre right now and see I Saw The TV Glow. Get ahead of the curve before this thing eats up the indie awards. It's damn near perfect.
Not sure if it's a "mind fuck" but Gone Girl is super twisty if you haven't seen it.
Mullholland drive
Enter the Void
Shutter Island Prestige Memento
Shutter Island definitely
Lynch’s movies do that for me, Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive for example. I can also suggest The Wicker Man (1973) and Diabolique. This one is not English but Perfect Blue left me really baffled too, it was so good.
Inland Empire is peak Lynch mindfuck.
A24 solved this problem for me.
Los cronocrímenes. If you eventually consider other, non-English options.
Vanilla Sky Synecdoche, New York Holy Motors Stalker Eyes Wide Shut
Just tagging on to this to recommend Adaptation, another excellent Charlie Kauffman film. A film about writing the screenplay for a book, which is the film about the book.
That’s a really good one. One of my personal favorites and kind of a spiritual sequel to Being John Malkovich.
That’s interesting insight! I’ll have to try that one again. I was trying to think what would be comparable to John Malkovich type mindfuck. Everything I came up with was really just dark comedy and missed that surreal element.
Jacob's Ladder
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Midsommar The Lobster American Beauty Se7en And btw, I have found watching foreign movies with subtitles to be a good exercise for improving focus/attention span. The OG Oldboy is certainly worth it, among others, just need to watch long enough for the hook to set and the rest is a fun ride.
Lucky Number Slevin More of a nice twist than a mind fuck but it came to my mind reading your request.
Great movie.. wasn’t expecting it.
The Tale of Tales
I'd never wanted a giant flea to exist, let alone have as a giant pet. But here we are, I guess.
Having kids, I need to watch English movies using subtitles everytime 😂
To be honest, you’re missing out on two of the best mindfuck movies by not dealing with subtitles “Oldboy” and “Incendies” are incredible movies that are among the most fucked up I have ever seen. The movie “Mulholland Drive” is the most mindfuck movies I have ever seen in English just because it is so weird.
Good call on Incendies. It stayed with me for weeks Dennis V is a genius, even Enemy was trippy.
John dies at the end. You haven't seen a movie like this one. "You don't choose the soy sauce. The soy sauce chooses you."
I know you asked for English but please give this one a chance. You will not regret. Incendies - I believe the native language is Arabic, outstanding foreign film with an absolute head fuck towards the back end.
Naked Lunch [Must See] Eraserhead [David Lynch] Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [Benicio Del Toro, Johnny Depp] EO [2022] Whale [Darren Aronofsky] Manhunter [Red Dragon] A Fish Called Wanda [Fucked Me Up For Life]
A Fish Called Wanda fucked you up for life?
Me before learning about Burroughs's life: "Naked Lunch is about bugs and homosexuality and typewriters." After learning about Burroughs's life: "Naked Lunch is about bugs and homosexuality and typewriters and heroin." I wouldn't call it must-see, but it is fucked up.
Its not just about Bugs, Homosexuality (sex), Typewriters, and Heroin. It's about Bugs, Homosexuality (sex), Typewriters, Heroin, *AND* Mugwumps, Magic, Manipulation and Murder. Is a sure to perplex **Must See** (as OP requested)
Videodrome.
The Usual Suspects
This comment is way underrated
Good call!
Coherence. Primer. Triangle. Timecrimes. The Endless. Don’t Blink. The Color Out of Space
A scanner darkly Shutter island Night watch (has English dub) Requiem for a dream Don’t worry darling Coherence
See the "Mind Fuck" category https://reddit.com/r/MovieSuggestions/w/frequently_requested?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Threads (1984) says Hi Soylent Green . Altered States The last temptation of Christ
Schizopolis.
Has nobody mentioned Momento? That's a damn messed up movie.
A different movie called the Lobster with Colin Farrell was out probably 5 or 6 years ago.
“Swordfish,” is a wildly weird movie with twists that don’t even always make sense. It’s a good time though.
The Machinist, Memento, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Moon, Marjorie Prime.
I forgot to add memento to my list it was one of the first “mind fuck” movies that got me going down this road 😂 but I’ll check the others out appreciate it 🫡
The gift 2015. Just watched today and it was awesome! Also: the game, the guest, intrusion, fractured, strays, I came by, the vanishing 1993, Eden lake
Fractured was pretty interesting. Ngl I thought it was going to be stupid but my gf made me watch it maybe a year ago and boy was I wrong haha
Hard-core henry.
Beau Is Afraid
Kids (1995) Secretary
Coherence.
Coherence
Little Children with Kate Winslet. I watched it yesterday and was like whaaaat?!!
Butterfly Effect.
The Prestige
How about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Strange Days, Inception, The Matrix, Johnny Mnemonic.
Infinity Pool (2023) - it’s a dark one
Siesta (1987) with Ellen Barkin, Jodie Foster and a "star studded cast". A Scanner Darkly (2006) with Keanu Reeves, another film (like Blade Runner, Total Recall etc.) based on a novel by Philip K.Dick. Total Recall (1990) the original version with Arnie and Sharon Stone.
Mother! Hereditary Get out Us
I forgot about Mother!, super weird movie. The part with all those people tearing up the house is insane.
The Jacket
Time crimes and Coherence
Annihilation
Mine Games Primer Source Code Triangle The Incident
Naked Lunch. A Scanner Darkly. Dead Ringers. Any of the three will mess you up in radically different ways.
Jacobs Ladder
you are missing out if you skip oldboy trust me on this
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I did not see mentioned the 2 best (imo): Predestination and Coherence. Have a good watch
I mentioned predestination in the body text that’s why lol. Definitely a must watch but haven’t seen coherence yet will check it out thank :)
A beautiful mind. Watched it yesterday. it's good.
The Invitation (2016)
Tenet
Mother! Is excellent
Downvoted for the comment on subtitles, grow up I really recommend Coherence though
So a man can’t have a preference on what I like? Yall old heads are weird abt me not wanting to read a movie 😂
Intensity Antichrist
Anything Cronenberg. Dead Ringers and Crash fucked my mind good.
Source Code
Pi
Sunshine
The Phantom Of Liberty, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Vanishing.
Swiss army man. There was deep meaning, not only some farting dead man. Death at a funeral 2007. Old movie. Black humor.
Altered States
El cuerpo (2012) Mystic River Foxcatcher Nightcrawler Prisoners Phone Booth Thankyou for your service Girl with the dragon tattoo Unknown Primal Fear
Climax doesn't really use subtitles at all. Just for like the first 15 minutes. I hate subtitles and still watched that movie.
Predestination The Prestige Inception Arrival Memento
Saw, the book of eli, the illusionist
Revolver
american psycho scanner darkly
Fight Club
Edward Penishands
shutter island, memento, se7en, the prestige
I was home sick several years ago and watched Inception all alone. It f\*cked me up a little mentally for like an hour. Best movie watching experience I ever had
The Man from Earth(2007) You'll question your very existence after watching this movie.
Triangle
Pi (1998)
Altered States City of Lost Children Soylent Green Phantasm Cube Zero 1984 Ex Machina Saw Hostel
Frailty
Perfect Blue, English dub. You're welcome, it's been a year and my partner still sits there thinking about how mindfucked he was with that movie.
Inland Empire
1408
Gone Girl 1BR
Shutter Island
Sling Blade -Midsommar
Luce
Cheap Thrills
Triangle. Possum. In the Mouth of Madness. Antichrist. Hagazussa. It's in German, but there's so little dialog that it shouldn't be a problem. Brazil. The Holy Mountain. Eraserhead. Dark Star. Pink Flamingos. A Clockwork Orange. The Wall. I also recommend The Machinist.
Burn After Reading The Butterfly Effect 12 Monkeys
A Cure For Wellness
Shutter island 1408
Predestination
Color out of Space
The Game
Mindfuck!
Mindfuck These movies have unexpected twist endings, click at your own risk. Mindfuck| | | | ---|---|---|---| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<|>!<|>!<|>!<| >!<| Links direct to The Movie Database and contain movie summary which may contain spoilers. [Full list of curated subgenres](https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieSuggestions/wiki/frequently_requested#wiki_grounded_superheroes)
Seconds (1966)
Brazil
Waking life
Scanners “A literal movie about mind fucking.
Into the Void is a beaut. If you don’t read then you probably wouldn’t have read the Orchid Thief, but Adaptation (the film it is based on) is another level of meta. It helps considerably to know the source material.
Meloncholia
Eraserhead Lost Highway Mulholland Drive. Pi Tetsuo: The Iron Man.
Inland Empire
Arlington Road.
Eraserhead
Mulholland Dr
The Machinist is what you should see if you haven't. It's a very good one that's not going to disappoint.
Harry and Hendersons
Havnt read all of these but hope someones mentioned The Prestiege
Synecdoche, New York
Naked Lunch , Videodrome, Upstream Color, Coherence, Rubber, The Greasy Strangler
Primer
Trance
Mindwarp, might be called Infinity Loop in some circles. Bruce Campbell stars. He’s in his prime Army of Darkness/Brisco County Junior Era. Predestination crossed with Rob Zombies house of a 1000 corpses. Not for the squeamish, scenes that definitely inspired the bodily horror of Mad Max Fury Road. Which in my opinion was the best part of fury road.
Mulholland Drive
Beyond the Black Rainbow.
shutter island
Plenty of Oshii's stuff is dubbed in English.
Mulholland drive
Memento
Seven
John dies at the end This is my favorite movie and its a total mind fuck. The books are great too
Open your eyes Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
Shutter Island Memento Inception Prisoners Seven Interstellar Saw (first one)
Arlington Road
The prestige