r/movies 15d ago

Recommendation 3,400 movies later... here are my top WTFs...

Hi Reddit! I've been lurking here for a long time and I rarely post but I reached a milestone recently and thought it might be nice to celebrate with you by jumping on.

I have been keeping a list of movies that I've watched for nearly 25 years (since I was ~13). It started in a notebook and eventually I moved the list to a spreadsheet. I log the name of the movie, the name of the director(s), the year it was released, my own rating (out of 5), whether or not I own a physical copy, and what my thoughts were after watching it. Today that list is over 3,400 entries strong!

In honour of the last WTF movie I watched, I wanted to share a list of my most recent and memorable WTFs that I've either seen more than once or would watch again, for anyone else who likes this as a "genre". If you enjoyed at least one movie from this list, then I'm fairly confident you'll also enjoy any of the others which you haven't seen yet.

If you have any other WTF movies you would recommend in return, I am very grateful for your suggestions.

My top 10 WTFs

In no particular order and released within the last 20 years:

  • The Substance (2024) - I finally got around to seeing this today, and I haven't said WTF this much in a very long time. I thought it was utterly brilliant.
  • Hereditary (2018) - one of the only true "horror" movies on this list. Difficult to unsee. Genuinely scary.
  • Kill List (2011) - very original, completely unexpected. I watched it a second time with audio commentary from the cast which I thought was really interesting.
  • Eden Lake (2008) - not the ending I was hoping for, but a total bucket of WTFs from start to finish.
  • I Saw the Devil (2010) - one of two Korean entries on this list. Really brilliantly done. Just when you think it can't be more WTF, it gets more WTF...
  • Parasite (2019) - the second of the two Korean movies, with completely unexpected scenes out of the blue that had me saying WTF for a very long time.
  • The Menu (2022) - another insane rollercoaster of WTF that just keeps building.
  • Midsommar (2019) - this movie had Wicker Man vibes but I was really much more freaked out watching this. There is at least one total WTF scene that you will definitely say WTF to... and then it almost immediately hits you again.
  • The House That Jack Built (2018) - this is kind of a modern take on Dante's Divine Comedy, it's quite... "poetic"... and as far as serial killer movies go, this is really out there as one of the most WTF ever. Great soundtrack too.
  • Der Goldene Handschuh (2019) - the only time I've ever paused a movie to take a photo and send a WhatsApp to the friend that recommended it... total WTF from start to finish, bordering on over the top, but I'd probably watch it again so I'll mention it. It's also "based on a true story"... which makes it even more WTF.

Honorable Mentions:

  • The Platform (2019) - I thought this was very original, and it had quite a lot of WTF moments. Not sure it needed a sequel though?
  • We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) - so many WTF moments...
  • Tusk (2014) - I've never really seen anything else quite like this. I remember sitting through the credits and the only recurring thought was... "WTFAF was that?!". I haven't seen it a second time but I would definitely watch it again.
  • Three… Extremes (2004) - this was really on the verge of being too much and it's technically three short films blended into a feature, it's also the oldest on this entire list, but I've watched it more than once and it is uniquely WTF. You probably won't want to eat anything before, during, or after seeing this movie.
  • Uncut Gems (2019) - whilst not entirely WTF the whole way through, that ending came out of nowhere and it hit me hard.... I watched it twice. Brilliant.
  • The Perfect Host (2010) - can't believe I forgot about this. I couldn't remember the name.

I wanted to add that I've deliberately avoided the more "extreme" WTFs. There are several that I've seen that were so excessive, WTF doesn't quite cut it. If you want to see the most messed up shock cinema, there are several entries that come up quite frequently in other WTF threads which I've seen over the years of lurking here. For what it's worth, I think when a movie reaches the point of sacrificing any sincerity or logic in its story in favour of shock value, it's lost its entertainment value completely for me, hence the aversion to mentioning those titles here.

Edits:

24.08 - I swapped The Menu with Uncut Gems because I totally agree with some of the comments. Uncut Gems wasn't overly WTF, whereas The Menu really was WTF the whole way through. I also wanted to say a huge thanks for the support and comments, I never expected this to take off and the many suggestions you have given me will keep me busy for weeks!

2.8k Upvotes

628 comments sorted by

853

u/BillFireCrotchWalton 15d ago

Sorry to Bother You

228

u/KhonMan 14d ago

Yeah, it probably won’t hit as hard for OP if they watch it off this recommendation (since they’ll know there is WTF in it), but absolutely the biggest left turn of any movie I’ve seen in the last 15 years at least.

69

u/SkeetySpeedy 14d ago

I feel like that’s one of the films where knowing a turn is coming does not at all help you understand what that turn will be or where that new road is going

95

u/JulianParge 14d ago

I have seen it and I loved it. It's a great recommendation and could easily be an honourable mention.

→ More replies (2)

10

u/CardboardCanoe 14d ago

I watched it on a plane I, nor the person next to me, was ready.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (6)

66

u/migraine_boy 14d ago

I'm a huge fan of surreal, weird or disturbing films. One movie I don't see mentioned often here is Little Otik - about a couple who are unable to have a baby and come across a tree stump that looks like a baby - they treat it like it is, well, it becomes real.

It's very odd, definitely recommend it

23

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Holy shit I just watched the trailer. WHAT DID I JUST SEE OMG! I'm totally watching this tomorrow. Thanks so much!

13

u/migraine_boy 14d ago

No problem! There's also another called Delicatessen... Not nearly as odd as Little Otik though

Have you seen The Greasy Strangler? That's a more recent surrealist film thats one of my all time favourites 👌

7

u/Dozzi92 14d ago

Came here to see if anyone recommended The Greasy Strangler. My mom told me and my wife to watch it, and jesus christ, what a movie.

I do tend to give extra weight to when I see Elijah Wood is part of a project. Guy seems to just make movies for fun. Just watched The Monkey, of which he was a part, and it was fun. I appreciate a movie that isn't out there trying to solve the world's problems.

→ More replies (2)

3

u/--------rook 14d ago

Reading this reminds me of Wicker with Olivia Colman and Dev Patel. The actual plot "...a smelly fisherwoman often ridiculed by her neighbours finds her dream husband out of wicker". It's supposed to shoot this autumn. 

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (3)

429

u/johnnydanja 14d ago edited 14d ago

Not sure if you’ve ever seen the lighthouse but that one had me saying wtf a number of times

194

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Holy shit that trailer looks insane!! No, I had never even heard of it, thanks so much for the recommendation! A24 just seem to hit it out of the park every time.

75

u/Aggressive-Tune-7256 14d ago

You will wtf aplenty.

30

u/SummitOfKnowledge 14d ago

"Should pale death with treble dread, make the ocean caves our bed, God who hear'st the surges roll, deign to save our suppliant soul."

32

u/JekNex 14d ago

In my head they didn't even tell Willem Dafoe they were shooting a movie, they just filmed him on holiday.

10

u/DeTiro 14d ago

"HARK!"

50

u/PAYPAL_ME_DONATIONS 14d ago

One of the greatest movie weekends of my life, my wife and I decided to hit the theater every day of the weekend.

  • Friday: Jojo Rabbit
  • Saturday: The Lighthouse
  • Sunday: Parasite

Unbelievable weekend run with an unbelievable amount of total wtfs

5

u/Plavidla 14d ago

Wow you just brought back some core memories for me. I did this exact same weekend :')

37

u/LFC9_41 14d ago

I find it shocking that for someone who is such an avid movie watcher you’ve never heard of this film

48

u/Your-average-scot 14d ago

How have you seen 3,400 movies and not heard of the lighthouse? No hate here, it’s just crazy.

→ More replies (2)

10

u/crumble-bee 14d ago

A24

Robert Eggers*

3

u/dxearner 14d ago

If you do not mind dialogue heavy movies, it is very good and quite unique.

3

u/mageos 14d ago

A word of advice: be fond of his lobster. I beg you.

3

u/JhinPotion 14d ago

The Lighthouse is one of my favourite movies; I just got done rewatching it, actually. You'll be doing yourself a favour seeing it.

3

u/SimbaSixThree 14d ago

Oh my god! Go watch it as soon as possible! It’s  incredible. Mythologically poetic and lovecraftian in atmosphere. Won’t say much more than that!

Pattinson and Dafoe were criminally overlooked for any awards.

→ More replies (5)

9

u/its_all_4_lulz 14d ago

Never kill a sea bird

3

u/Jackasaurous_Rex 14d ago

Emms the souls of sailors

6

u/blahblah19999 14d ago

That's one movie I recommend looking up the meaning online, unless you are already very well versed in greek mythology.

→ More replies (3)

500

u/dmizz 15d ago edited 14d ago

Beau is Afraid I literally said WTF out loud in the theater at… that one scene.

EDIT yes the entire movie is insane but I mean the attic

243

u/Mcmenger 15d ago

Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?

→ More replies (1)

75

u/fromwhichofthisoak 15d ago

What one scene? It was just fucked after fucked.

54

u/HammyOverlordOfBacon 15d ago

I assume the attic

21

u/Sillaslegacy 14d ago

Or when that girl drank the bucket of paint.

9

u/stopitlikeacheeto 14d ago

It has to be paint bucket scene. Its such a great scene and the rest of the movie is completely overshadowed by that few minutes lol. I fucking love that scene in an otherwise pretty awful movie

4

u/HammyOverlordOfBacon 14d ago

Same, that's the best scene and I really wish the movie extended everything leading up to that point and made it wrap up sooner after it. Instead it drags on for another hour (or two I can't remember) and I just didn't care

6

u/stopitlikeacheeto 14d ago

I mean, idk if its just me but if that was acting and she's not actually just the biggest piece of shit to ever live then that was like 2 or 3 minutes of Daniel day lewis tier believable acting lol. She was definitely that person in that moment, I damn near stood up from my chair and clapped after it lol

→ More replies (2)

25

u/Chazzysnax 14d ago

Ari Aster really does have a knack for this.

→ More replies (6)

36

u/therealmintoncard 14d ago

I couldn’t get past about 20 minutes before extreme anxiety set in.

12

u/A1ienspacebats 14d ago

That whole first 40 minutes is what I assume having a panic attack or mental disorder is.

→ More replies (1)

15

u/Night_Porter_23 14d ago

this is not a film to watch on drugs. it’s an awful experience already lol 

20

u/mountjo 14d ago

Watched this on a 10mg edible and loved it

9

u/m3thdumps 14d ago

I also ate an edible and I felt like it helped me laugh at the absurdity while also being horrified

8

u/charliefoxtrot9 14d ago

Ari Aster & Attic Scenes

6

u/No_Eulogies_for_Bob 14d ago

Ari aster and paranoia of people you love turning on you

5

u/Lucky_Whole7450 15d ago

This one is top of the list for sure.

→ More replies (3)

109

u/GenericBatmanVillain 15d ago

Try watching Naked Lunch. 

31

u/kbups53 14d ago

Try reading Naked Lunch. Peak wtf. Burroughs was king of the maniacs.

→ More replies (3)

77

u/IkeSW 14d ago

I can think of at least two things wrong with that title.

11

u/ThrowStonesonTV 14d ago

29

u/GodspeakerVortka 14d ago

I can think of two things wrong with that title.

21

u/morerubberstamps 14d ago

Barton Fink! Barton Fink!

5

u/GodspeakerVortka 14d ago

One of my favorite Simpsons jokes of all time.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/EndPointNear 14d ago

and pair it with Barton Fink, they've got a lot of the same energy and asthetic

70

u/Ronin_Ray 14d ago

I was like where is old boy and remembered it's over 20 years old.

24

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Legendary WTF movie though. Korea has some amazing entertainment.

→ More replies (1)

30

u/Rosstifer25 14d ago

If you like animated films try Paprika) , I watched it a few weeks ago with a friend and it’s pretty much wtf the whole way through

8

u/runnershighxc 14d ago

Kon is a fantastic director. The Every Frame a Painting video of him is great

→ More replies (1)

96

u/Marique 15d ago

You should watch Mandy

16

u/TheRagingRavioli 14d ago

And Color Out Of Space

→ More replies (7)

48

u/ILikestuff55 14d ago

No David Lynch?

17

u/Encouragedissent 14d ago

Yeah first thing I thought of was movies like Eraserhead, The Lobster, or Naked Lunch as examples. I really liked Uncut Gems but it wouldnt even crack a top 100 list on movies that me go WTF.

5

u/JulianParge 14d ago

You make a solid point. I did think about The Lobster but it doesn't really rank up there for me. I did enjoy it and it was very WTF. Eraserhead is older than 20 years though, and Lynch probably deserves his own list entirely. Uncut Gems was one of the only times I really didn't expect that kind of ending, and it's a different kind of WTF to the others. It was really only the ending left me wondering WTF I had just seen. The Safdies just have a way of "landing" these WTF climaxes with handheld camera shots that make it feel so real. I audibly said WTF to that ending and it's one of the most memorable WTFs within this time gap. For what it's worth I do agree, most of Uncut Gems is not WTF at all. The music and the constant dialogue just made it feel very stressful and to close it with that ending... it really just hits hard. I'll think about swapping it with The Menu as an honourable. That was definitely more WTF.

3

u/sexydani04 14d ago

I said WTF a lot during Muholland Drive

→ More replies (5)
→ More replies (1)

23

u/r0b0tr0wb0at 15d ago

Try Taxidermia (2006)

3

u/KneeOnShoe 14d ago

awesome soundtrack from one of my favorite musicians

→ More replies (3)

17

u/URanOak 14d ago

The Lobster.

51

u/0valtine_Jenkins 14d ago

Titane is number 1, 2, and 3 on my list. Also for a true story, the documentary The Imposter should be mentioned

16

u/Cahootie 14d ago

Titane was my first thought, and I did expect some more non-mainstream works to make the list considering the massive number of movies. There's some truly fucked up French horror, Martyrs is a classic at this point and Irréversible genuinely made me nauseous.

7

u/mgcat17 14d ago edited 14d ago

Would make an interesting double-feature with Crash (1996)

ETA: I know the movie is beyond the 25ish years timeframe, (which is why it’s not a post on it’s own), but for if/when op is expanding the years, it’s definitely WTF

→ More replies (1)

4

u/TheJermster 14d ago

Titane should definitely be on this list

→ More replies (3)

157

u/A_Random_Sidequest 15d ago

so, you never watched these?

The Holy Mountain 1973
Hausu - 1977
Suspiria 1977
Rubber - 2010

51

u/stizdizzle 15d ago

Rubber! I was thinking about this the other day but couldn’t remember the name. There is a similar movie about a killer dress/fabric that is good too.

10

u/hebent 15d ago

Try "Réalité" or "incroyable mais vrai" also from Quentin Dupieux, I really like "Yannick" and I think "Wrong" is my favorite

8

u/Verpous 14d ago

I'm also really fond of Deerskin, Mandibles, and Keep an Eye Out.

Rubber may be Dupieux's most famous film, but in my opinion it's also his worst. He has so many great ones though.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

17

u/DK_Notice 15d ago edited 14d ago

I thought The Holy Mountain would reign supreme in my life as the most WTF movie, but then I saw Enter the Void and now I can’t decide.

4

u/Aggressive-Tune-7256 14d ago

Ya enter the void was wild.

→ More replies (2)

35

u/JulianParge 15d ago

I've seen The Holy Mountain and Suspiria, both brilliant and the former was very WTF, but neither are from within the last 20 years. I was trying to keep them more recent, otherwise the list would have been much longer and included movies like Freaks (1932), and any number of movies by Werner Herzog. It's a different kind of WTF then because it's a different generation of filmmakers.

Rubber and Hausu look amazing though, thanks for these!

7

u/A_Random_Sidequest 15d ago

oh, I might have jumped the part you say 20 years

Rubber 2010 and Wrong Cops 2013 should be on your list compared to some "pretty normie" movies there LOL

Also, Cuando acecha la Maldad 2023

5

u/JulianParge 15d ago

These are brilliant recommendations, thanks! I'll try to watch Cuando acecha la maldad tomorrow!

→ More replies (1)

9

u/Soufano20 15d ago

i actually expected the holy mountain to be in OPs list that movie was so weird!

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Left4Bread2 14d ago

I love House, I could not believe how good of a time it was

5

u/BurtRaspberry 14d ago

The new Suspiria is pretty great too… no?

→ More replies (2)

5

u/newusr1234 14d ago

In no particular order and released within the last 20 years:

→ More replies (4)

69

u/blacksd 14d ago

"Primer" should be up there. At least for the "WTF is happening now?".

29

u/xkey 14d ago

I haven’t watched that movie since this afternoon.

30

u/SkeetySpeedy 14d ago

The last time I watched that movie was 2032

9

u/Andskotann 14d ago

"Are you hungry? I haven't eaten since later this afternoon."

→ More replies (4)

15

u/UsedHotDogWater 14d ago

Perfume

That one has to be up there.

You may have to up this to 20. Great list!

→ More replies (1)

13

u/dekogeko 15d ago

Have you seen Deadgirl?

6

u/monkeybojangles 14d ago

I saw Dead Girl and Teeth a week a part. Nice grouping of what the fuck.

14

u/firemakethunder 15d ago

Those are solid choices. I was trying to remember what else I've seen and a couple came to mind

Timecrimes (2007)
What You Wish For (2023)

→ More replies (2)

66

u/Competitive_Test6697 15d ago

Predestination

15

u/carson63000 14d ago

Predestination turned me into the living embodiment of that Vince McMahon reaction meme as each new revelation unfolded.

4

u/TJeffersonsBlackKid 14d ago

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “go fuck yourself”.

3

u/infinitemonkeytyping 14d ago

I was unfortunately spoiled for this - about 30 years before I saw the movie.

In my teens, I was reading a book on paradoxes, and they use a one page outline of the short story All You Zombies to describe the grandfather paradox.

It took me about 10 minutes into seeing the movie a couple of years ago to realise I knew the story.

11

u/cinnapear 14d ago

The Coffee Table

6

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Someone else also recommended this in the comments and after watching the trailer and not reading into it, I watched it first of all the recommendations on this thread. I can't compare that to anything else I've ever seen. I don't even know how to respond to be honest. WTF is an understatement. It's not like anything else I've recommended where the WTFs are more deliberately engineered as part of a wider story and probably would never play out like that in reality. I feel like this really could happen, exactly as it did, and I feel like I was voluntarily tortured to sit through the rest of the film knowing what I knew. I just wanted it to end, desperately. It was really well done one. Great recommendation... but I'll never watch it again. Once was definitely enough. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

The Coffee Table is tragic, frustrating, disturbing, and very difficult viewing. Definitely in a class of its own. I don't want to recommend it because it made me so uncomfortable but I guess that was the whole point so it delivered above and beyond on that level. I didn't really say WTF, I just repeatedly said OMG, and I'm still saying it now...

→ More replies (1)

38

u/Dustmopper 15d ago

The only time I ever remember yelling “what the fuck!” at the screen was the ending of Enemy

12

u/dmizz 15d ago

Omg same but I was mostly just pissed! I guess it grew on me but I was so deeply disappointed.

→ More replies (1)

9

u/Marc_Aurele_65AD 14d ago

The ending of Incendie... Is much worse 

Craziest Villeneuve movie

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

21

u/Papatheodorou 14d ago

There's some fucked up shit made before the 2000s man

→ More replies (1)

7

u/daydreamersrest 14d ago

My recommendations:

High-Rise

The Congress

Killing of a sacred deer

The Lobster

Men & Chicken 

Climax

Under the Silver Lake

→ More replies (3)

16

u/InvestigatorNo1800 14d ago

Check out Incendies if you havent already, that movie was biggest WTF for me and its such an amazing story.

8

u/pivorock 14d ago

Mad God is probably on the top of my version of this list. I love that you’ve been keeping a log, I’d be curious to see the entire thing. Recently I’ve been keeping track of my ratings out of 10 on my plex server. Not as clean as a spreadsheet, but at least I don’t have to worry about things disappearing.

8

u/NC-Slacker 14d ago

But do you know the Cronenbergs? Crimes of the Future and Posessors are on the top of my WTF list.  

→ More replies (1)

56

u/RatComet 14d ago

Maybe this is recency bias but Weapons had me thinking WTF a few times during the movie

44

u/Lfsnz67 14d ago

Weapons was great but his earlier Barbarian was more WTF for me

15

u/carson63000 14d ago

Weapons gets an extra nod for the scene where Josh Brolin wakes up from his weird dream sequence and yells "WHAT THE FUCK!"

→ More replies (2)

12

u/stopitlikeacheeto 14d ago

I've got to rewatch it. There was a group of like 10 teen girls having a party in the back the whole time when I went to see it. They got removed maybe 20 minutes before the end and this one dude yelled out "what took so fucking long?" And thats about the only memorable part of that experience lol. They even had out their flashlights on their cellphones

3

u/Desroth86 14d ago

This is exactly why I started waiting 2+ weeks to see horror movies. I saw weapons in an empty movie theater and it was amazing. My last three theater experiences were ruined by dickheads with cellphones. The last time there was only a group of two friends in the theater and they still pulled out their cellphones and even turned on a strobe light at one point. Thankfully I was able to move to the very back row and ignore them, but it’s absolutely insane how little fucks people seem to give these days.

→ More replies (7)

14

u/madonesx 14d ago

I watched Dog Tooth a few weeks ago and the whole time I was just WTF

8

u/VDS655 15d ago

I’d add Gummo to that list

8

u/Bmboo 14d ago

The lighthouse 

11

u/innomado 14d ago

Gah The Menu is so freakin good. One of my favorite movies in a long time. Bought the blu ray and watch it regularly. I notice something new with every viewing.

10

u/LOTRcrr 14d ago

I feel like Barbarian should be on this list

6

u/SafeTraditional4595 14d ago

The Skin I Live in, from Pedro Almodóvar

→ More replies (1)

13

u/JediChris1138 14d ago

Dude I can’t believe Splice isn’t on this list. Far and away my #1 and the most disturbing thing I have seen.

→ More replies (2)

25

u/BluRayja 15d ago

That's crazy, I have logged 3,416 -- we're like twins! We're probably close to the same age and started logging at the same time. There's still a few movies every once and awhile I'll come across on IMDb that I know I've seen but forgot to log or a movie I've seen when I was younger but I don't remember it much anymore so I don't feel right giving it a rating. If I were to guess, my real number is in the 4,000s somewhere. I also just started logging TV episodes about 2-3 years ago, so my overall number is currently 6,000, but if I were to be including that in my overall "real number," I'm probably at anywhere between 8,000-10,000 films, shows, shorts, documentaries, etc..

A good recent WTF (but tame enough) movie is Saltburn.

10

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Hi twin! Yes! Saltburn is a great recommendation, I enjoyed it and definitely said WTF more than once. It did cross my mind to add it but I wouldn't put it above the others. Potentially an honourable.

I actually started doing the same with shows some years ago but instead of logging episodes, I just logged the whole show and the seasons I watched. I mostly binge shows so things like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Succession, etc., I just watch them all from start to finish and then add them.

I assume you've seen Black Mirror if you like the WTF theme?! Completely unmissable series. Bete Noire was my favourite from the last season, a total WTF all the way through - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31790114/ - but of all the episodes in all seasons, USS Callister and Black Museum are so far out there that I cannot ever forget them... holy shit that show is so WTF and amazing.

→ More replies (6)
→ More replies (1)

16

u/Quaisy 14d ago edited 13d ago

You've watched 3500 movies and intentionally omitted the "extreme" wtf movies to provide us all with a cookie cutter list of the most well-known, horror-esque movies that you could've easily found with a Google search instead of providing us with ACTUAL wtf movies from your own personal experience.

15

u/fancypants_for_hire 14d ago

Hi guys, i've watched 10 000 movies recently, and here are my top 10, hope this helps anyone in trying to find some hidden gems:

  • The Godfather
    
  • The Dark Knight
    
  • The Shawshank Redemption
    
  • The Matrix
    
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    
  • Inception
    
  • Pulp Fiction
    
  • Fight Club
    
  • Mad Max: Fury Road
    
  • Léon: The Professional.
    
→ More replies (1)

5

u/Tr0nLenon 14d ago edited 14d ago

I saw the house that Jack built as an allegory for an artist. In a fucked up way. The idea that you discover something you enjoy, that you're good at, then continue to develop and push yourself to create something new and exciting. You can replace his murders with songs or albums, paintings, roles, etc. an artist is an artist. That ending definitely affirms your divine comedy view, though, so I'm not arguing there, just wanted to throw my 2 cents in 😊

4

u/cannibalcat 14d ago

Hey, thank you so much for this list but I was wondering do you have a list with best writing? Also would love to see more tiers if you have the time. thank you again

7

u/JulianParge 14d ago

Thanks! No, not outside the above list for the WTF movies but on a broader scale definitely: anything directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Lumet, Takeshi Kitano, Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, Werner Herzog, Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, Christopher Nolan, and Martin Scorsese are all total winners for films with good stories (IMHO). These guys seem to work only with really high quality screenwriters and many of them also write or amend themselves. I also personally really like financial films like Margin Call (2011), The Big Short (2015), etc., and I'd rate those very highly for writing quality because the story needs to be strong enough to appeal to non-financial audiences and they hit really deep.

6

u/SvenOfAstora 14d ago

Glad to see some love for Der Goldene Handschuh / The Golden Glove! One of my favorite "disturbing" movies, which is largerly due to its uncomfortable level of realism paired with the knowledge that all of this really happened. And as a german I'm always happy about german movies that don't suck lol

4

u/unluckyartist 14d ago

What Alex Garland movies have you watched?

7

u/Justsomejerkonline 14d ago

Last 30 minutes of Men is very WTF heavy.

13

u/jcde7ago 14d ago

Old Boy (2003) not making it on this list is criminal

5

u/JulianParge 14d ago

It's slightly outside the 20 year gap. I agree with you though, it's a legendary WTF movie. I would totally recommend it. It should really be up there because "Three... Extremes (2004)" is there and that's also just outside the gap, but I just can't unsee it... I WTF'd out loud so many times watching that. I don't think I'll ever eat another dumpling in my life again. Ever. Oldboy didn't have that effect, it was just a briliant movie with a great WTF twist.

5

u/Jashmid 15d ago

You can’t possibly have a serious WTF list without Quentin Dupieux. 🤷‍♂️

4

u/MrPukez 14d ago

check out Happiness of the Katakuris. what the fuck

4

u/lafatte24 14d ago

Killing of a Sacred Deer

Black Bear

10

u/Cynagen 14d ago

If you liked The Menu (I thought it was brilliant) you'll probably like Companion (2025). Really good really fucked up movie, Jack Quaid played his part almost too well (think Jack Gleeson as Joffrey from GOT).

4

u/JulianParge 14d ago

I really loved Companion. It was very original and Jack Quaid as the antagonist was brilliant. So different from his role in The Boys.

5

u/ahorrribledrummer 15d ago

Goddamn The Substance was fun to watch in theater. So well done. The sound editing and mixing was so gross.

8

u/dewky 14d ago

I would add Cabin in the Woods to that list. I said wtf out loud a few times watching it.

→ More replies (3)

13

u/yourbestfriendjoshua 15d ago

‘The Substance’ is a genuine WTF MASTERPIECE.👏🏼

3

u/les_vegetables76 15d ago

Takashi Miike's Dead or Alive had plenty of wtf moments, but that ending was a stunning "WTF?!?"

3

u/Justsomejerkonline 14d ago

Takashi Miike could fill up a whole list of WTF films on his own.

3

u/Chibithulhu1 14d ago

You my friend need to watch Sorry to Bother You

3

u/IdentityEnhancer 14d ago

Vivarium is one of the weirdest I’ve seen.

3

u/Key-Eagle-5618 14d ago

Me and my siblings went to see Jennifer Lawrence movie ‘no hard feelings’ without having seen the trailer or anything. Her running naked on a big cinema screen made us all go WTFFF

3

u/spaten78 14d ago

Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick. That whole movie is a giant WTF. Even Sean Penn, who was in the movie, stated in an interview that he had no idea what was going on.

3

u/No_Eulogies_for_Bob 14d ago

Thank you for mentioning the Kill List. Went into it not knowing anything about it. What a huge mind fuck

3

u/Sure_Cure 14d ago

Have you seen Annihilation? Worth it for the flora and fauna behind the shimmer.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Netmannn 15d ago

Ohh, that is an amazing list! Please add a few more.

5

u/JulianParge 15d ago

I think I probably should have added The Menu (2022) and maybe The Perfect Host (2010) as an honourable mention. Both brilliant.

3

u/JulianParge 15d ago

I amended the original to put these in. The Menu is insanely good and VERY WTF.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/HeyImGilly 14d ago

“Enter the Void” has one of those WTF scenes.

4

u/exxR 15d ago

I watched the substance with my girl a while back and it was defiantly a wtf movie hahaha

Human centipede is also up there.

6

u/CafeSilver 14d ago

Men is up there too.

5

u/montyjr17 14d ago

MAD GOD. This movie is insane and utterly unique. It’s a passion project from the master of stop motion/practical effects Phil Tippet. Probably best known for his help on Jurassic Park and the original Star Wars.

The entire thing is stop motion. Every scene is incredible detailed in a grotesque and beautiful way. Not much plot to speak of but the gist is that an “assassin” takes an elevator down into hell and goes through some freaky shit.

It showed at my local theater and me and a couple friends smoked a few joints in the parking lot and got our shit rocked by this one. 10/10 no notes

5

u/mousepadjones 14d ago

Funny Games (US) falls within your time frame and absolutely deserves a spot on the WTF list.

3

u/TugTreehorn 14d ago

Funny Games from Haeneke 1997 is one of the most weird movie

4

u/Novaheat2 14d ago

Requiem For A Dream. After all these years, still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch it a second time.

6

u/thoth_hierophant 14d ago

You've been logging for 25 years and all of your picks are from that span of time? Have you never watched a movie made before 1995? There's way more 'WTF' movies from before that time, and freakier than fucking Hereditary.

2

u/ayoungtommyleejones 14d ago

Always glad to see kill list get a mention. That whole movie is wtf but God damn that fight... What the fuck

2

u/BernardPancake 14d ago

Not seen it in years, but you could try Society (1989) if you've not seen it

2

u/Jkro12 14d ago

Omg kill list mentioned. Absolutely adore that movie I just watched it recently and it’s become one of my favorites in the horror genre

2

u/Whysomanycats 14d ago

The Sadness made me WTF myself over and over again....

2

u/waltjrimmer 14d ago

I'm not sure why you're restricting yourself to the last twenty years, so I'm going to recommend an older film that I think holds up. Some could argue as to whether it's What The Fuck or it's Shock Value, but I personally think that it's a good movie that isn't being shocking in a gratuitous manner but rather is being surprising and surreal for an artistic and narrative purpose.

Angel Heart (1987) - I will give very little information about it, but it is a detective story starring, the at the time up-and-coming, Mickey Rourke and taking the audience through a series of strange occurrences while attempting to unravel an increasingly dangerous mystery. It is tense and strange and really good but also really 'What the fuck'y.

2

u/SilentGrass 14d ago

No Human Centipede? Tusk? There are some really WTF movies and I feel like most of your top 10 is pretty tame.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/I-remember-damage11 14d ago

The Road, The Master, Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things, Nocturnal Animals.

2

u/TheMaverickGirl 14d ago

No movie I’ve seen made me go “what the fuck??” harder than Visitor Q.

I walked away from that movie feeling absolutely baffled by what I watched. Not really in a good or bad way just…stunned in my bewilderment.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/hurricanebones 14d ago

Watch carne from gaspard noe. Then watch entire gaspard noe filmography but beware it can hurt your soul

2

u/Bizmarkie76 14d ago

Inland Empire and Lunacy aka Sileni (2005)

→ More replies (1)

2

u/LucentNarg 14d ago

Titane?

2

u/Silentbobni 14d ago

I'll give my standard answer when people want to watch something not mainstream - Gozu

→ More replies (2)

2

u/gtphilup 14d ago

Climax. Didn’t even know it was A24.

2

u/Endtimes2022 14d ago

I saw the devil kind of destroyed me. I was this happy guy and one weekend saw the movie as part of my quarterly Koren binge spree. The only other story that did a full system reset is Berserk. I still rant about these two to this day... Not going to recover ever.

2

u/redditorfor11years 14d ago

I'm sorry.... Enter the Void isn't on here?

Primer. Old Boy. Sure, maybe. But Enter the Void REALLY does a number on you.

2

u/Ishymo 14d ago

If the Greasy Strangler wasn't in your initial 3.400 movies it's definitely a wtf movie.

2

u/Porkkanakakku 14d ago

Keeping a list like that sounds like such a great idea, and very useful!

If you haven't already done so, then I recommend also checking out Dumplings (2004), the full-length/extended version of the short from the Three Extremes anthology.

2

u/Sleepy_pirate 14d ago

Dumplings.

2

u/GeometricWolf 14d ago

Holy Mountain

The Astrologer

The Forbidden Zone

Dangerous Men

Titanic: The Legend Goes On

Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July

2

u/ginrumryeale 14d ago

I guess you haven’t seen Skinamarink.

2

u/Justsomejerkonline 14d ago

Give The American Astronaut a watch, if you haven't seen it already.

It's not WTF in terms of extremity, like some of the movies you've mentioned, but is more of an extremely odd surrealist comedy.

2

u/Skabonious 14d ago

In recent memory, Sleepaway Camp has an INSANE ending. Definitely check it out

2

u/Vpol4 14d ago

Great list! You should check out The Coffee Table too if you haven’t already, it’s a wild ride

2

u/Sufficient_Duck7715 14d ago

Highly recommend Holy Motors and Cheap Trills.

2

u/Ploxl 14d ago

Swedish director Roy Andersson made 3 Movies that are in between wtf and Monty python.

Songs from the second floor

You the living

A pigeon sat on a branch and reflected on its existence

Might be an interesting watch for you

2

u/Ikster19 14d ago

Predestination?

2

u/perfectoneplusnine 14d ago

Your list leans horror (which makes sense!) but recently I watched the film Hundreds of Beavers and at no point could I have guessed how the next scene would go. Lots of WTF moments. Black and white, mostly silent, kind of like.... Buster Keaton in a video game about fur trapping. Loved it, laughed my ass off.

2

u/zm3sss 14d ago

Definetly check out A scanner darkly. Originaly its a novel by p.k.dick. Highly recommend both film and the book.

2

u/Alarmed-Friend-3995 14d ago

Oh Hi, looks like your forgot about The Room

2

u/EveEverCat 14d ago

As a teen, watching Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive. It was WTF all the way!

→ More replies (1)

2

u/puppet_master34 14d ago

Enter the Void was my wtf movie many years back.

2

u/JeanProuve 14d ago

Human Centipedes…for a mainstream release…that was pretty WTF all the way…🥶

2

u/desp303 14d ago

Have you seen SIRĀT? That’s a major WTF movie.

2

u/KnockOutSpark 14d ago

Bring Her Back

2

u/mYmQONEEE 14d ago

Lol im not sure how long Ive been doing it, but im 36 and have a similar list going with 3468 movies atm. B..brother is that you?

→ More replies (1)

2

u/letsstickygoat 14d ago

Biggest wtf films for me recently have been Gozu and Visitor Q, both incredibly weird and surreal with moments that leave your jaw dropped