# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/81 "2005-01-19T05:11:48Z")
> [@Gr8Kat](#): > > Oh, without a doubt. I came in here to recommend this movie because I sobbed my head off all through it. I mean, **Grave of the Fireflies** is sad, but it saves it’s biggest punch for the last 10 or 20 minutes. But **Monster’s Ball** punishes you practically from the beginning to the end. > > **Once Were Warriors** is powerful, brutal and shocking, and I seem to recall it leaving me feeling depressed for several days, but I’m not sure about uncontrolled sobbing. I’m thinking by the final blow I was just way too numb to cry. > > Still, all three movies assault the senses and blugeon to death any happy thoughts you may have once had. Have fun! Some friends and I rented **Monster’s Ball** knowing nothing about it other than Halle Berry won an Oscar for it. We made it through, but then went out, found someone with the movie **Jerk** , came back with food and more people. Some movies need a type of warning that lets you know just how depressing they are. ---
**Author:** ![LtningBug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/82 "2005-01-19T07:56:15Z")
I might be alone here, but I found Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to be horribly depressing. And not in a crying way. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/83 "2005-01-19T09:16:16Z")
As far as depressing goes, the ones that come to mind are: **Gummo** - you want to stop watching but cant. **Happiness** - ditto **Farenheight911** - I have seen people brought to tears. I couldn’t watch it all - tooo depressing. And just sad: **Shadowlands** - I was bawling by the end Similar to Once were Warriors and Romper Stomper, but more depressing [“The Boys”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139898/). btw, this movie is brilliantly acted. ---
**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 19, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/84 "2005-01-19T15:18:54Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > _On the Beach_ Similarly, I’d say _Testament._ No more than midway through, my wife simply said “I can’t watch anymore,” got up and walked out. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/85 "2005-01-19T22:57:10Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Similarly, I’d say _Testament._ No more than midway through, my wife simply said “I can’t watch anymore,” got up and walked out. I’d have to agree about **Testament**. Gut-wrenching stuff. We hired it once from the local video store and I remember my mother also walking out about half-way through in tears. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/86 "2005-01-19T23:25:48Z")
_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._ OP by annieclaus I agree…I read the book for my book group and loved it…didn’t find the book particularly depressing…just absorbing. But the movie! I enjoyed _Steel Magnolias_ and didn’t find it depressing because I didn’t feel Julia Roberts’ character “worked”. I didn’t think they developed her character or maybe she was miscast…I just didn’t care that she died. :rolleyes: I did like the banter between the older women…now **they** were interesting! I didn’t see _House of Sand and Fog_ on anyone’s list. Now, I must admit I never saw the movie, but I did read the book and knew that I would not watch the film. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/87 "2005-01-19T23:31:03Z")
Blackhawk Down Ronin Sleepers: a kind of bittersweet ending A Simple Plan Leon: is it an action flick? a drama? a coming-of-age story? about redemption? Yes. Sling Blade ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/88 "2005-01-20T02:10:23Z")
For a freakishly beautiful, odd and sad film try Northfork. For a sob-your-eyes-out-at-the-end, nothing beats Where the Red Fern Grows if you’re into doggies dying and little boys crying. And, of course Terms of Endearment, American Beauty are quite the downers. Last Stop in Brooklyn (uncertain correct title) is depressing as well. Though it was some critics panned it, I started crying during the opening frame of Angela’s Ashes and didn’t stop for two hours. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/89 "2005-01-20T02:40:18Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > … > Last Stop in Brooklyn (uncertain correct title) is depressing as well. > > … [Last Exit to Brooklyn](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097714/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxzZz0xfHR0PW9ufHBuPTB8cT1MYXN0IEV4aXQgdG8gQnJvb2tseW58bXg9MjB8bG09MjAwfGh0bWw9MQ__;fc=1;ft=1)? ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/90 "2005-01-20T03:13:34Z")
Yes! Well, at least I got it close with some kind of stopping action :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Anyanka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@Anyanka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anyanka)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/91 "2005-01-20T03:13:38Z")
**Where the day takes you** I have to second ( and third, etc) **Once were warriors** And **million dollar baby**. But that’s not out on video yet. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/92 "2005-01-20T05:06:01Z")
[Japanese Story](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304229/) I have cried during three movies in the last 25 years. This was one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/93 "2005-01-20T05:29:11Z")
If you can find a copy of [Allegro non Troppo](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00014NE6M?v=glance), the cat section. :eek: ☹ _Cast Away_ depressed the hell out of me. 74% of all anime (both movies and series’. Not counting comedies—if you count those, it drops to 53%). Some [more possible suggestions.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=141709) _Last Night_ is somewhere between “sad” and “utterly depressing.” We really need an “eating a glock” smiley. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/94 "2005-01-20T07:02:32Z")
We wound up with _Requiem for a Dream_ and _Dancer in the Dark_. And there were tears. We had to watch the first half of the BBC’s _Pride and Prejudice_ to calm ourselves down. Blockbuster had neither _Happiness_ nor _Grave of the Fireflies_, so they’re on my ‘to see’ list. _Once Were Warriors_ is set on the other side of my city - I’ve seen it a few times and it always breaks my heart. Thanks for all the suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/95 "2005-01-20T07:38:24Z")
> [@manx](#): > > We wound up with _Requiem for a Dream_ and _Dancer in the Dark_. And there were tears. We had to watch the first half of the BBC’s _Pride and Prejudice_ to calm ourselves down. Blockbuster had neither _Happiness_ nor _Grave of the Fireflies_, so they’re on my ‘to see’ list. > > _Once Were Warriors_ is set on the other side of my city - I’ve seen it a few times and it always breaks my heart. Thanks for all the suggestions! Warning - ‘Happiness’ is not teary-depressing like Shadowlands it is sick-depressing. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/96 "2005-01-20T20:02:41Z")
Go forth and rent _Miracle Mile_. The last people I sprung it on sat there motionless and speechless for about 5 minutes after the movie ended, and then screamed at me for not warning them, and then went off to pour themselves a few drinks. You’ll, umm, “enjoy” it the most if you know the least about it beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/97 "2005-01-20T20:34:27Z")
I was coming in to mention _Brazil_ the first time I saw it I sat stunned in my seat until the lights came up. The ending was like a knife in my heart. _Shadowlands_ had me crying. The best acting of Anthony Hopkins career. \*Once Were Warriors \* had a big impact on my but I thought the last line of the movie was trite and almost ruined the end. The mother finds out her husbands friend was molesting their daughter and caused her to kill herself. She uses her incredibly abusive husband in the only way she can, as a weapon. She gets her revenge on the molester by telling her husband (Jango Fett) what happened and setting him loose. She then leaves her husband for good. It is the perfect end to the movie. She then goes to the car and one of her children asks where they are going. She gets a peaceful look on her face and says, “We’re going home” . I hate that line. Very cliche in an otherwise unique movie. ---
**Author:** ![SoupNazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SoupNazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoupNazi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/98 "2005-01-20T22:49:46Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Blackhawk Down > Ronin > Sleepers: a kind of bittersweet ending > **A Simple Plan** > Leon: is it an action flick? a drama? a coming-of-age story? about redemption? Yes. > Sling Blade (bolding mine) I could not agree more. This film is one of the most depressing ever made. It really showcases what lengths some will go to for personal gain. And Bill Paxton does a fantastic job (I feel that it’s his best work…not saying alot, but still…). ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/99 "2005-01-21T01:19:29Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > I 2nd **Once Were Warriors** an incredible hard hitting, pun intended, movie. > > Not a movie to go on a first date to as I did but then again I also went on a first date to The Accused :smack: Hee. One guy I knew took me on a date to a French movie about the Black Plague. He saw the listing - “Oh, French with subtitles. Sounds romantic!” :smack: Count this as another vote for ‘Grave of the Fireflies’. For classics, how about Old Yeller? ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345/100 "2005-01-21T05:48:50Z")
Oh gosh, all those animal movies they inflict on children: _Ol’ Yeller Where the Red Fern Grows The Red Pony The Yearling The Velveteen Rabbit_ (a stuffed animal, but it still traumatized me as a kid) _Charlotte’s Web_ (sure, the pig lives, but the spider dies) I don’t know if _So Dear to my Heart_ belongs on this list because I can’t remember now if the lamb buys it in the end. Why do they show these movies to kids? Is it suppose to toughen us up? Get us used to death? It sure didn’t work for me, if anything they made me even more insecure. I cry all the time because I worry about my pets dying. Anyway, those are sure-fire tear jerking depressing movies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-depressing-movie/285345.md?page=6)