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This was originally posted October 14, 2023. It has been updated to reflect changes in available movies.
Disturbing. Shocking. Controversial.
These epithets can, of course, be subjective. And they’re generally dependent on the social norms and boundaries of the day. Elvis shaking his hips and Madonna rolling around in a wedding dress are pretty tame by today’s standards.
This was taken into consideration when adding a section of classic horror films. These particular classics stand the test of time and —to many people—are still disturbing today. Of course, the only one who can judge what is shocking to you—is you.
There are plenty of gross, offensive, and disturbing films on both paid and free streaming services. But some films are seminal and some are just better than the rest. Read on for what we consider the best most disturbing horror movies you can watch for free right now.
Disturbing horror movies: The Classics!
Ask any movie star and they’ll likely tell you that the greatest enemy in Hollywood is time. (Unless it’s the paparazzi.) It’s not kind to actors and actresses, even though their younger selves can live on in the films make.
However, time isn’t always kind to their films either. It’s only natural for movies look dated. (Much more natural than plastic surgery.) But plenty of them just don’t hold up enough to entertain modern audiences. This is especially true for horror movies.
Check out these 4 disturbing horror movies from the 70s and 80s and see if they’ve still got it.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a timeless classic as it has aged better than any other horror movie. When the movie was released in 1974 it was slapped with an R-rating and completely banned in numerous countries.
But that didn’t stop it from selling over 16 million tickets that year alone and becoming one of the most influential horror films of all-time.
The tension can still be felt today. And the sound of that chainsaw still brings chills.
The film spawned a franchise, resulting in 8 sequels, prequels, and remakes, the best of which is the 2003 remake of the same name. It’s not available to watch for free.
Fortunately, the original classic is currently available on at least 5 free streaming services. To watch it with the fewest ads, give Freevee a shot as it’s got the lowest average ad load.
Where to stream The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for free
Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
Four years after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre came another horror classic, I Spit on Your Grave.
Originally titled Day of the Woman, the story revolves around aspiring author author Jennifer Hills. And, living up to the original title, Jennifer certainly had a day back in 1978.
After being brutally gang raped and left for dead, she exacts revenge on the men responsible.
There was one death in particular that really struck a chord with audiences, especially male viewers. And 45 years hasn’t changed anything.
Where to stream I Spit on Your Grave for free
Plex, Pluto TV, Redbox, The Roku Channel, Tubi
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
A crew of filmmakers goes missing down the Amazon while making a documentary about cannibal tribes. In a deadly case of FAAFO, their rescue mission finds them a little too late.
But their film reels survive!
Back in the safety of NYC, the film reels are reviewed by anthropologist who gave audiences the first (important) found footage film. And what he showed them was shocking beyond belief.
The gore was so extreme and realistic that director Ruggero Deodato wasn’t just charged with obscenity, he was charged with murder! (They were dropped after he proved it wasn’t a snuff film.)
Where to stream Cannibal Holocaust for free
Plex, Kanopy
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Very loosely based on serial killer pals Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer is so gritty and realistic, it feels like you’re right there with them.
This is also due to the fact that Michael Rooker gives the performance of a lifetime.
The film was banned in New Zealand and was one of 3 films responsible for the Motion Picture Association’s creation of the NC-17 rating category.
Where to stream Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer for free
Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, Redbox, The Roku Channel, Tubi
Disturbing horror movies: The New (French) Extremity
Setting aside debates on the term, leave it to the folks who gave us film noir to give us the New French Extremity—or sometimes just the New Extremity. Because the movies aren’t all French.
The term refers to a transgressive film movement around the turn of the century known for its extreme violence, intense gore, and gratuitous sex. They weren’t all horror films, but the movies below are. Watch at your own risk.
High Tension (2003)
High Tension (Haute Tension) follows 2 young women — Alex and Marie — as they head out for a wild weekend of studying at Alex’s parent’s countryside home.
While Marie is masturbating (of course), a serial killer decides to interrupt their plans — and slaughter the parents before setting his sights on the nubile best friends.
The intense gore was toned down — ie: censored — for the film’s North America theatrical release. Fortunately (for some), it was all stuffed back in for the DVD release, which is what you’ll see on streaming services.
Where to stream High Tension for free
Freevee, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Hoopla, Kanopy
Inside (2007)
If you’re currently or have recently been reading What to Expect When you’re Expecting, do not watch Inside (À l’intérieur).
And don’t read any further.
Recently widowed (and pregnant) Sarah is overdue and home alone on Christmas Eve. After turning away a strange woman asking to use the phone, Sarah notices her in the background of some of her photos. *goosebumps*
When the creepy lady returns and she wants in. Unfortunately for the mom-to-be with the big round belly, inside isn’t referring to her house.
Where to stream Inside for free
The Roku Channel, Tubi
Martyrs (2008)
Every one of the disturbing horror movies comes with a trigger warning, but violence against children is tops the list for most people.
Childhood friends Lucie and Anna set off on quest for revenge 15 years after suffering horrific, torturous abuse. And that’s all you should know before embarking on this exhausting, traumatic experience that goes beyond gore.
An inferior and highly forgettable American remake was released in 2016. It’s also available on free streaming services, but it’s not worth your time. Watch one of these other disturbing horror movies for free instead.
Where to stream Martyrs for free
Plex, Tubi
A Serbian Film (2010)
Retired porn star Milos is struggling to provide for his family when he gets an offer too good to be true. But the mysterious film comes with a payday that could set him — and even his son — up for life.
He arrives on set — at a vacant orphanage — to start filming and soon finds himself starring in the most horrible film imaginable. Which, in its own meta way, is what A Serbian Film aims to be.
And it succeeds.
It’s like they had a blender full taboos and depravities, added some whisky, and pushed blend. If there’s one film you don’t see this year, make it A Serbian Film.
Explicit nudity and graphic violence have the exploitation engine running on all cylinders. Proceed with caution.
Where to stream A Serbian Film for free
Vudu, Xumo Play
Disturbing horror movies: The Saw Era
After a quiet decade in the 1990s—when the genre took a backseat to psychological thrillers—horror emerged from its slumber with a thirst for intense gore and violence like never before.
The Saw Era had its heyday roughly between 2000 and 2009, although — as evidenced by Saw X hitting theaters last month—it’s stuck around long past then. Although its heyday was around the time of that first Saw movie and its body horror contemporaries.
But doesn’t that sound the same as the New Extremity? They’re definitely related, but these movies tend to be considered more torture porn and less of a psychological element to them. If relentless intense gore is your thing, this is the group for you.
Saw II (2005)
The movie that ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶t̶e̶d̶ rekindled it all. While Scream breathed new life into the horror genre back in 1996, Saw injected it with steroids a decade later.
While the first movie is now only available on Starz, you can watch Saw II and other films in the franchise for free.
Didactic serial killer Jigsaw continues his mission of devising incredibly complex (and cruel) traps in order to teach his victims lessons in morality.
Heavy on gore, light on plot, the franchise is now 11 films deep (and growing), along with video games, comic books, and even them park rides.
Where to stream Saw II (and IV, V, VI, and 3D) for free
The Roku Channel
Hostel (2006)
Eli Roth brought the Saw Era to the next level with Hostel.
Best friends Josh and Paxton do what all American college grads used to do—they spend the summer after graduation backpacking across Europe.
While stopping to get high and get down in Amsterdam, they befriend Icelander Oli, who joins them in their travels. The insatiable trio heads to Slovakia in search of city rumored to be populated with nothing but hot Eastern European babes.
Well, you can imagine how that turns out.
Full of intense gore, Hostel set the bar for a new generation of torture porn.
Where to stream Hostel for free
Plex, The Roku Channel, Tubi
Hostel Part II (2007)
As though setting to balance the battle of the sexes, Eli Roth made his Hostel sequel about 3 young female college students destined to die in Slovakia.
Extremely wealthy people pay to torture the lower classes. It’s literally the definition of torture porn. Expect to be bombarded with intense gore, but you already knew that.
Where to stream Hostel Part II for free
Plex, Puto TV
Terrifier (2016)
Art the Clown is no laughing matter. And he’s going to prove it.
This plotless horror movie follows 2 young women in slutty Halloween costumes as they encounter a homicidal clown with a bag of weapons and a smile straight out of hell.
There is one extreme scene in particular that had audiences, uh, split down the middle.
Where to stream Terrifier for free
Freevee, Plex, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu Free
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Disturbing horror movies: Psychological Horror
Psychological horror has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years. Especially with A24 leading the charge with films like Saint Maud, Hereditary, The Lighthouse, and the incomparable Midsommar.
They may have gore, they may not. And while they may be disturbing, only a select few bore into the core of soul and make you consider a lobotomy just so you can forget what you’ve witnessed.
Antichrist (2009)
Danish arthouse filmmaker and provocateur Lars von Trier had audiences and critics divided with Antichrist, mostly according to which side of the Pacific they were on.
The movie stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as a Seattle couple struggling with the recent death of their toddler — who dies while they’re having slow-motion sex.
With more metaphors than The Collected Works of Shakespeare, the couple — who remain nameless throughout — abscond to a cabin in the woods to deal with their grief. (Their cabin is not-so-subtly near the of Eden.)
Rough sex, violence, and loads of imagery follow.
This film can easily be classified as part of the New Extremity — with 2 scenes in particular — but it may be a little too artsy. Then again, it’s likely too extreme for most art film fans.
Where to stream it:
Kanopy
Excision (2012)
Awkward high school student Pauline is a social outcast with a domineering mother. (Sound familiar?) But she’s not without ambitions.
The aspiring doctor dreams of being a surgeon one day. But until that day comes she’ll have to be satisfied with her psychotic (and erotic) fascination with blood.
The genre-blending psychological body horror film is also a (very) dark comedy, for those with a particular sense of humor.
Where to stream Excision for free
Freevee, Plex, Tubi, Vudu
mother! (2017)
The slowest burn of all. But once it ignites, it never lets up. Darren Aronofsky controversial metaphorical masterpiece is definitely not for everyone. (Especially parents.) Like Terrifier, there is one scene — just a split second — that can do you in.
And it’s not even visual.
Sure, there’s that shocking gore that no doubt sent the censors to the cutting room. But just seconds before that notorious visceral moment there’s something that is horror in its purest form. And you need to listen for it.
Where to stream mother! for free
Pluto TV
The House That Jack Built (2018)
The second Lars von Trier film on the list (the first being Antichrist) stars another American actor who was also one of the biggest names in the 80s and 90s. Matt Dillon stars as Jack, an engineer who wanted to be an architect and became a serial killer.
Inspired by (but not based on) real-life serial killer Ted Bundy, the film follows Jack as he selects 5 “incidents” at random to recount to Virgil (off-screen), explaining and rationalizing his murders.
It’s a commitment at 2 hours and 35 minutes, but worth the trip if you can make it. Extra trigger warning for parents on this one.
Where to stream The House That Jack Built for free
The Roku Channel, Kanopy
Do you know of a disturbing horror movie that’s streaming for free and not listed here? Share your gem in the comments below!
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