A fantastic film can often be rewatched indefinitely. It might become an all-time favourite or a comfort movie to pull out and watch for a peaceful or consistently entertaining experience if it resonates with a viewer and seeing it provides for a good time. However, not all great films are wonderful for the same reasons, and some may give a thrilling or emotional experience that a viewer would not want to repeat.
There are a few films that are well-liked and overall wonderful successes, but which are difficult to revisit for various reasons. It’s not that they’re impossible to watch more than once, but it is difficult to imagine sitting through them again. They’re all worth seeing at least once, but no one will judge you if you decide that once is enough.
‘An Elephant Sitting Still’ (2018)
Hu Bo’s sole film, published after his untimely death in late 2017, is a four-hour epic that depicts a day in the lives of four people dealing with their problems and how their stories intertwine.
An Elephant Sitting Still is an unquestionably depressing and difficult picture to watch, favoring mood and character over a typical storyline. The lifelike performances and great camerawork, on the other hand, keep it entertaining throughout its lengthy runtime. Knowing the past of the film’s director adds another depth to the already difficult subject matter, and it’s the kind of picture where most people will probably be satisfied with just watching it once.
‘Christiane F.’ (1981)
Christiane F. is one of the most terrifying films on addiction and how it can change a person’s life completely. While no film on the hardships of heroin addiction is pleasant to see, this one stands out for one reason in particular… The primary character is a young adolescent girl, and the plot is based on a true story. The concept that something might happen to someone so young is quite upsetting, and the film is difficult to rewatch since Christiane F. pulls no punches in making it feel as realistic as possible.
‘Come and See’ (1985)
Come and See is a Soviet World War II film that is widely considered to be one of the most distressing and difficult anti-war pictures ever made. It depicts a terrifying and terrifyingly realistic narrative about a little child who is forced to fight and the different horrors and atrocities he experiences during his fight for survival.
Returning to it is difficult, regardless how well-made and successful it is, as it is an undeniably intense experience that is impossible to shake. War has a psychological consequence that is equally as important as the physical ruin and death. It’s terrible how the youthful protagonist is made to look older and older as the nightmare plot progresses.
‘Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father’ (2008)
Dear Zachary, a film from 2008, stands out in a streaming environment dominated by true-crime documentaries in terms of quality and emotional effect. It’s a heart-breaking true story about a lady who murders her partner, flees the law, and then gives birth to their one and only kid, as well as the conflict that arises when the slain father’s parents fight tooth and nail to get custody of their only grandson. This film, as captivating as it is and as well-told as it is, is too weighty and stomach-churning to watch again. It’s a credit to how well this compelling subject is told that it has become a classic “see once and never again” film.
‘Hereditary’ (2018)
Ari Aster’s first feature remains one of the best horror movies of the decade. It works just as well as a supernatural and psychological horror picture as it does as an intimate family drama about dealing with sorrow and grief. The film is tight and distressing to watch because of the way those two genres collide.
It’s probably too good at being both sad and frightening to see more than once. Toni Collette, in particular, is so good in her role (which would have garnered her an Oscar if the Academy didn’t despise horror movies for some reason) that it feels uncomfortably close to watching a real person struggle with the traumas her character faces. It’s a fantastic horror film that’s also difficult to see.
‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ (2020)
Quo Vadis, Aida?, one of the best films of 2020, is a dark drama about a true story portrayed through characters who are either genuine or loosely based on actual people. Its plot is around a severe human welfare crisis, heinous war crimes, and a genuine and stomach-churning tragedy that most people felt powerless to prevent.
It’s a depressing picture that serves as a warning about how cruel people who abuse authority can get away with horrific acts. Without a question, an important viewing and one of the most powerful films of the previous few years, but for most viewers, revisiting and experiencing it again may be too much.
‘Requiem for a Dream’ (2000)
Requiem for a Dream was one of Darren Aronofsky’s early pictures, and it was probably the first to establish him as a director of dramatic, difficult-to-watch psychological dramas. It illustrates the way addiction takes over and destroys the lives of four New York City residents in graphic detail.
Requiem for a Dream’s aesthetic is grandiose — in terms of its score and editing — and could be considered over-the-top, but it’s still an unsettling watch. When seen as a film that attempts to illustrate the worst consequences of drug addiction, it’s a huge hit. It demonstrates that a lack of nuance may occasionally (and shockingly) go a long way.
‘Threads’ (1984)
Threads is more of a speculative war and drama film about what would happen to England if it was ravaged by nuclear war than a horror picture. If it were to be classified as a horror film, it would have a good chance of being named one of the scariest in the genre’s history.
Threads has an uncanny realism to it, and because of how true it appears and how violent the cinematography is, it may be the most devastating film critique of nuclear war ever made. The film’s force is not diminished by its modest budget or the absence of seasoned actors. Instead, they add to the gritty, genuine mood of the story.
‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)
Uncut Gems is a brilliantly gripping crime thriller with an outstanding performance by Adam Sandler (in a career full of good and bad ones). It’s fast-paced, unexpectedly humorous, quotable, has a great supporting cast, and is beautifully photographed.
So, why is it so difficult to rewatch? Because it’s one of the most stressful films ever made, with nearly two hours of a man who doesn’t know how to stop pursuing the adrenaline and highs that come from living life on the edge and gambling everything he possesses. If you can take the increased heart rate, stomach ache, and sweaty hands all over again, it might be worth a second look. However, for apprehensive people, once is probably enough.
‘Waltz With Bashir’ (2008)
Waltz With Bashir is an engrossing and unforgettable autobiographical film that is also an animated picture, a documentary, a war film, and a psychological drama. Waltz With Bashir is one of the clearest instances of how animation isn’t simply for kids or families, thanks to its plot of a man struggling to remember his involvement in a war that his memory has suppressed.
In illustrating the physical and psychic damage that war can bring, it’s also strange, dark, very intimate, and uncompromising. Even though it’s only 90 minutes long, it’s a rigorous and emotionally draining film, but its power is apparent. It’s one of the most terrifying war movies ever made, and one of the most difficult to watch again.
