That’s fair. But there was some nuance. The protagonists were depicted as caring more about the honor of Germany than about territorial conquest. (Of course national pride is always a bit dicey, morally-speaking.)
Funny how these personalities keep recurring throughout history.
I sort of do feel sorry for them. Executed with days, and never got to see how the war finally ended, and Hitler’s ignoble ending. And of course, what Germany is like today.
The scientists were willing to kill billions themselves to ensure their future was the same.
I don’t have the energy to summarize these, but American Me with Edward James Olmos, and Alfie starring Michael Caine.
On that same note, how about the original Get Carter.
Looking for Mister Goodbar
and another vote for Sutherland’s Body-Snatchers. Though that was EFFECTIVELY dismal.
The Long Good Friday?
j
Heck, at that, there’s Sleuth, where — we’re not bothering with spoilers, are we? — it starts off looking like they’ll both wind up with plenty of tax-free money and plenty of much-desired female companionship; and then Caine gets murdered because Olivier figures he can get away with it, and then the law catches Olivier dead to rights because, well, no, that’s not so. And, well, that’s pretty much the whole movie.
I mean, yeah, there are movies that go plenty more over the top; but that right there is a bleak little math problem that simply counts down to zero.
I just saw Vertigo today. Jimmy Stewart thinks he has failed to save the woman he loved. When he finds out she’s really alive, he overcomes his fears long enough to drive her to kill herself. That’s pretty fucked up, right there. Midge is the only likeable character in the whole film and she doesn’t even show up in the last 45 minutes.
Kagemusha is somewhat a downer at the end, but it’s so beautiful, you hardly notice.
So, only has for half as long as the movie. 
I can’t say my mood was particularly improved by the ending of The Human Centipede.
Nah, nah, that ain’t nothing. Watch Human Centipede 2.
I won’t get into here, but there were definitely some moments where I thought, “The whole time this movie was in production, did no one say, ‘Let’s not do this.’”
I say that when I think about watching any Human Centipede movie.
Does Boxing Helena count?
Heh I just rewatched that a few days ago because I had not seen the full unrated version. My God that was nasty. I get it was a whole “fuck you” from Tom Six as a response to reactions to the first film, but the barbed wire scene? One of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen.
(And since I just saw the remake of Speak No Evil, I must add that the original has one of the bleakest endings ever.)
Open Water.
Never Let Me Go.
Agree. No one could make horrific warfare montages as breathtaking as Kurosawa.
I cant believe no one has mentioned that depressing 1970’s sci fi movie.
All Mine to Give (1957)
Based on the true story of author Dale Eunson’s father who, as the eldest orphaned son, found homes for his siblings on Christmas.
I think this eldest orphaned son could have only been about 13 or maybe 14?
It is not a happy move and the ending is just…heart wrenchingly dismal.
I was about 5 or 6 years old when I first watched this movie with my mother. A real tearjerker and one that I never forgot all these years later.
Thinking about it, that pretty much applies to Death In Venice as well. Gustave von Aschenbach, having secretly fallen in love with a boy staying at the same hotel, dies of a heart attack (we presume) whilst watching him on the beach. But as you note, the movie is so beautiful, it’s not something that sticks in your mind.
j