The Most Disturbing Films Based On Real Historical Events
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 15 people and another 24 were injured at Columbine High School. In a video recorded before the killing, the boys explained the reasons behind their attempt to blow up the school using the homemade bombs they had made and fantasized about whether Quentin Tarantino would make a film about them. In the home video, Dylan explained that for years he had been harassed for years and that he had never known love, while Harris remembers that due to his father's military profession he had never had friends.
They had chosen on April 19 to carry out the attack, in honor of the sixth anniversary of the Waco incident, although to increase the number of deaths they decided to postpone it one more day. The massacre, which represents a turning point in US civil history, was brought to the movies by Gus Van Sant in 2003. Widely criticized and censored for the alleged possibility of inspiring similar events, the film Elephant portrays the interwoven stories of the young people whose lives are stopped by the killing. (This film was recommended by me in a previous publication, click here.)
As the American director did, other great filmmakers have taken to the cinema multiple disturbing stories based on real events, they have been inspired by real assassins or they have taken an atrocious fact as a starting point for their works. In certain cases, the tapes result in cinematographic adaptations of books that have taken up the cases. In this post I will show you the most disturbing films inspired by real events.
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M (1931)
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This story is partly inspired by the case of the serial killer Peter Kürte, who committed several child murders in the city of Düsseldorf in the 1930s. After multiple murders of girls in the city, a search of the delinquent is undertaken while maintaining a collective hysteria never seen before. (German Film)
Badlands (1973)
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The plot of this film deals with the real case of the Starkweather-Fugate murders: a teenage girl and her boyfriend murdered the teenager's father after he refused their relationship. In their escape through Montana, the couple commits a series of senseless murders. Despite faking their suicide, the police and a series of bounty hunters follow them until they get them.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
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In case you had not heard it yet, this film is inspired by the case of the serial killer Ed Gein, who during the 50s committed multiple murders, he liked to tear the skin of his victims to make masks and furniture. The plot of the film tells the story of two brothers and their group of friends, who travel to Texas to find out about the alleged desecration of a family member's grave. However, after confirming that it is intact, they go to the old family house where they will run into a peculiar family that will turn their efforts to kill each of the young people.
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
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This film is based on a police case occurred in 1954 in New Zealand, the story tells the story of two teenagers who despite belonging to different social classes, forge a peculiar friendship. From a fantasy world in which both escape reality and where magic does anything possible, the girlfriends challenge the values and tradition of the time. However, their friendship will be hampered by the very institutions that they have challenged, and a murder will be a division.
Bully (2001)
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This film is an adaptation of the book Bully: "A true story of high school revenge" by Jim Schutze, which tells the murder of Bobby Kent. The plot revolves around Marty Puccio and his girlfriend Lisa, who along with other young people plan the murder of Bobby, as a revenge for the physical, sexual and emotional abuse he had caused.
Mockingbird don't sing (2001)
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This film deals with the case of Genie, (Katie Standon in the film), a girl imprisoned by her parents in a room without any contact since her first year of life. After being discovered at age 13, the case is presented to the public and the scientific community, which will unite efforts to integrate Genie into society and the world of words.
Monster (2003)
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The story of the film follows Aileen Wuornos, an ex-prostitute executed in 2002, after murdering seven men who tried to rape her while practicing her profession. His life goes back to his 15 years, when she is abandoned and ventures into the world of prostitution, continues through the vicissitudes of his life until the decision to kill the men who tried to abuse her.
The Girl Next Door (2007)
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Inspired by the Jack Ketchum novel of the same name, the plot follows the real case of torture and murder of Sylvia Likens, who was in the care of her aunt, who had taken responsibility for the care of Sylvia after the death of their parents, practiced sadists and macabre games to his niece, in complicity with the children of the neighborhood. Considered one of the worst cases of physical abuse in the United States, the case is narrated through an alleged witness to the facts.
Compliance (2012)
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The plot of this story is based on a series of incidents that occurred over a decade, when a stranger called multiple fast food restaurants saying he was a policeman. With such authority, it demanded that female employees be searched and sexually abused in the name of the law.
I hope that this selection of movies has been to your liking, and that it can entertain you and make you spend an unpleasant time.
See you in the future!
Thanks for the great list. I've only seen Monster. Bookmarked the page for future use.
BTW check out Monster anime which is one of the most amazing anime ever made. It's a slow and captivating burn. The main villain makes Hannibal Lector feel average.
They are good movies, but not for all kinds of people.
You mean this?
Yes that's the one. The final arc sucked. But everything before that (63 episodes I think) was just 10/10 masterpiece. It takes few episodes to really start going. It captivates you and keep you hooked even with the slow moving plot.
You'd aqlso find few nice ones to your liking here: https://steemit.com/anime/@vimukthi/my-mega-recommendation-pack-for-those-who-want-to-dissect-world-class-animation-produced-within-the-last-30-years
I will try to take a look. It will be good to see something different.