6 Movies That Were Almost Too Scary to Be Released

Even with jump scares and eerie buildings filled with shadows and cobwebs, scary movies still draw in big numbers at the box office. While some of these movies are enjoyable in the end, there are others designed to make every moment uncomfortable. Disturbing, twisted, and filled with gore, these scary movies are hard for even seasoned viewers to get through, and some have even made it into the banned movies category. If you want to dive into the darker side of horror, check out these six movies that were almost too scary to be released.

6. Infinity Pool (2023)

Starting our list of scary movies is Infinity Pool. The film follows a married couple, James and Em, who go on vacation to Li Tolqa, an island with a beautiful resort. Not long after, the two are involved in a tragic accident and must follow the island’s bizarre law of getting executed or buying a clone and watching yourself die. The film is filled with gore, sex, and torture, and has been a hot topic amongst fans and critics.

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5. Audition (1999)

Fifth on our list of scary movies is Audition. The film doesn’t start crazy, and some viewers have wrongly believed it’s just a lighthearted romance drama. Aoyama is a recently widowed man jumping back into the dating pool. He and his friends create an audition plan to find potential partners, which is where he meets Asami. Innocent at first, Asami’s shift in demeanor produces some of the scariest scenes on film to the climatic finale.

4. Martyrs (2008)

Next on our list of scary movies that might be too much is Martyrs. When the film premiered at the Cannes Festival in 2008, many viewers were outraged and walked out. The film follows two young women who want retribution against those who tortured and abused them. Instead, they find themselves in an even more terrible scenario. Unapologetically portraying torture, fans are split down the middle on whether this film pushed the boundaries in a good way or not.

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3. Hostel (2005)

Rounding out our top three scary movies is Hostel, directed by Eli Roth, who is known for controversial and traumatic horror films. This one is no different, with a group of friends backpacking through Europe, heading to a hostel, and instead getting captured and tortured. The characters are brutally tortured throughout most of the film’s runtime, and it makes viewers question what they are getting out of the film other than an upset stomach. It has earned a spot on the banned movies list for its graphic nature.

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2. The Human Centipede 2 (2011)

Second on our list of scary movies is probably the grossest film in our roundup, The Human Centipede 2. This franchise is part of the many banned movies, and has even been called satanic. The film is a sequel to the first Human Centipede movie, where a man becomes obsessed with the first film enough to replicate the events. This time, there are twelve victims attached, and if you have a weak stomach, you should not watch this film. It has become iconic for some fans, though, with its unflinching portrayal of repulsive scenes.

1. August Underground (2001)

Last but not least on our scary movies list is August Underground. Most viewers probably won’t make it through the first ten minutes of the film. It features two serial killers, with a found footage-style layout making it seem like the two are filming each other. The disturbing acts seem terrifyingly real as each killer goes out and finds more victims. It’s so terrifying that director Fred Vogel was held in customs custody for ten hours as the police thought the movie’s contents were real.

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