# Recommend me a depressing movie. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345 "2005-01-18T10:40:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/41 "2005-01-18T15:58:58Z")
THE HOURS makes me want to load my pockets with rocks and stroll into the nearest river. Can’t get much more depressing than that. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/42 "2005-01-18T16:19:15Z")
_Gladiator_ is depressing if you think of all the Oscars that piece of crap won. 🙂 Or…_My Flesh and Blood_ and _Lorenzo’s Oil_ are big tearjerkers, though they’re a _little_ uplifting at the end. More bleak is _Leolo_, but that might be a tough find as the DVD was only released in Canada. Also, _Testament_…a bit outdated today, but still packs a mighty emotional wallop. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/43 "2005-01-18T16:25:30Z")
**Somewhere in Time** I hated this movie because of how it ended. In order for Christopher Reeves to be with is dream woman (jane seymoure) who is from the 1890’s (or thereabouts) he has to die and they are united in heaven. I saw it when I was twelve or so and I was numb, just numb for days. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/44 "2005-01-18T16:26:53Z")
**Somewhere in Time** Mods! Can you fix my spoiler box? I am an idiot! ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/45 "2005-01-18T16:32:02Z")
[b[Welcome to the Dollhouse\*\* is quite depressing. It’s labeled as a “black comedy” but I thought it was depressing from begining to end. **Equus** is also a downer. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/46 "2005-01-18T17:41:32Z")
Without a doubt “21 Grams”. While “Seven” is quite gory and all, it left me really depressed. “Longtime Companion” was rather a downer too. “Boys Don’t Cry” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/47 "2005-01-18T17:54:06Z")
A blockbuster I found depressing was _Titanic_ (it was the Strauss’s and the immigrants more than the fictional characters). I found the movie _Ed Wood_ both hysterically funny and depressing. [Anne Frank: the Whole Story](http://imdb.com/title/tt0246430/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9YW5uZSBmcmFua3xodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=20;fm=1) -even though you know how it’s going to turn out you still hope against hope she’ll survive this time. _The Yearling_ _A Christmas Memory_ (the original with Geraldine Page- not the Patty Duke abortion remake) ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/48 "2005-01-18T17:59:47Z")
Dogville is 3 hours of increasing depression…or maschoism. The only break from this is the very end when it becomes disturbingly upbeat(disturbingly in several meanings of the word). ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/49 "2005-01-18T18:09:08Z")
How about **Ironweed**? Anybody remember that one? ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/50 "2005-01-18T18:24:23Z")
Kurosawa’s _Ikiru_ has the distinction of the only movie I sat through all the way, and made me cry on top of that. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/51 "2005-01-18T18:29:29Z")
Three from the early 70’s. _Midnight Cowboy_ _Last Tango in Paris_ _Last Picture Show_ ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/52 "2005-01-18T18:32:28Z")
The most depressing movie I’ve ever seen is [Life is Beautiful](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118799/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9bGlmZSBpcyBiZWF1dGlmdWx8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=14;fm=1) with Roberto Benigni. I can’t even stand to watch it again…the ending just kills me. ---
**Author:** ![PussyCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@PussyCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PussyCow)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/53 "2005-01-18T18:37:03Z")
**My Life** starring Michael Keaton and (I think ) Nicole Kidman. Michael Keaton learns he has brain cancer just as he learns his wife is pregnant. It is a cry-the-whole-way-through movie. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/54 "2005-01-18T19:09:35Z")
I thought life, and everyone in it, was crap after I saw “The Tin Drum” _(Die Blechtrommel)_. I was numb for 24 hours after watching “Shoah.” Nine hours of reliving the holocaust. “Eraserhead” wasn’t a walk in the park, either. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/55 "2005-01-18T19:17:45Z")
It’s My Party Eric Roberts heading up a really interesting ensemble cast that includes Gregory Harrison, Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Greg Louganis (I _think_ that was him), Olivia Newton-John, Marlee Matlin, George Segal and Christopher Atkins. Sad, sad, sad - Roberts is an AIDS patient who gathers his family and friends for what is essentially his own funeral. I’m only allowed to watch this a little bit at a time, as the WryGuy is certain I will injure myself crying if I watch it all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/56 "2005-01-18T19:28:05Z")
_Pay it Forward_ Un. Relenting. Depression. _The Unbearable Lightness of Being_ ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/57 "2005-01-18T19:35:03Z")
Almost forgot. _Dances With Wolves_ _Little Women_ _Terms of Endearment_ ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/58 "2005-01-18T19:52:47Z")
If you are looking for a more “british” type of depressing then [The Quiet American](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258068/) provides a very nihilistic mellow and disheartening movie viewing experience. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/59 "2005-01-18T20:05:06Z")
The winner, hands down, for the most depressing film of the last five years, has to be [The Grey Zone](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252480/). I defy anyone to watch this Holocaust film and not be totally numb afterwards… ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/60 "2005-01-18T20:17:10Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > _Where the Red Fern Grows_ Man, just reading the title of this one made me tear up. I second **Osama**. Painful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345.md?page=4)