Horror can thrill and excite, and on occasion, bewilder the absolute heck out of us. This genre of cinema has become a playground for the imaginative and the ambitious, where filmmakers from all walks of life deliver powerful and unique tales that have captivated us, but have not always made the most sense. Throughout history, horror has given rise to some truly confusing horror films that have come and gone. Some are still quite perplexing and require multiple viewings.
The following are ten memorable horror movies with the most convoluted plots. These are highly unusual, unconventional, and absurd horror films that have perplexed audiences for years with their far-out premises and nontraditional storytelling. Some are even constantly debated to this day about the means and reasons behind what makes them the bizarre horror tales that they are. From recent cult classics to influential icons, here are the ten most baffling horror movie plots.
10
‘Timecrimes’ (2007)
Directed by Nacho Vigalondo
In this underrated sci-fi horror thriller, Timecrimes is a 2007 Spanish film by director Nacho Vigalondo. A fascinating head-scratcher that adds a unique horror twist to the concept of time travel, it follows a chaotic series of events involving a man in the Spanish countryside as he finds himself in an eerie situation involving a mysterious bandaged attacker and a scientist with a machine capable of sending him one hour back in time.
Like many films discussing the complexities of time travel, Timecrimes takes a complicated look into the challenges that arise with time alteration and the consequences that result from it. It’s, at times, hard to follow, considering the uniqueness of the plot, and needing to remember which character is part of the current timeline and how everything is going to play out. It’s convoluted but fascinating and requires multiple rewatches to fully grasp it.
9
‘Antichrist’ (2009)
Directed by Lars von Trier
From Lars von Trier, director of Dancer in the Dark and Melancholia, comes his brutal horror masterpiece, Antichrist, a film from 2009. Starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, it’s a shocking, sexually violent drama following a grieving couple, still mourning the tragic death of their infant son, as they take some time for themselves and recover at their cabin in the woods. But, as strange events unfold, the wife quickly descends into madness.
It’s a powerfully intense, unusual tale full of shocking violence and unexpected imagery. Antichrist is complex and takes several sharp turns with its story, and it’s one that truly feels unpredictable from start to finish. Its tone is unique and deeply depressing, creating a sense of nihilism and hopelessness that can unsettle and affect anyone who watches it. There’s nothing quite like it, and it continues to be a perplexing, bleak viewing experience.
8
‘Annihilation’ (2018)
Directed by Alex Garland
Alex Garland has steadily risen to become a huge name in the entertainment business thanks to his deep, fascinating, and genre-bending modern classics. One that’s certainly stood out recently is Annihilation, his sci-fi horror film, starring Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh, about a female-led expedition into a closed-off section of the US full of mutated monsters and an evolved ecosystem after it was created by a mysterious meteor crash.
Annihilation is a creative blast, featuring unique visuals and jaw-dropping special effects. Its story is deep, and certainly complex, with a thought-provoking premise that’s not as straightforward as it initially appears. Not to mention, its conclusion is incredibly ambiguous and truly makes the audience think twice and come up with their own theories of what it means and how things are going forward. Overall, it’s complex and mind-boggling. Truly, it needs to be watched at least twice.
7
‘The Empty Man’ (2020)
Directed by David Prior
Things are not at all what they appear to be in The Empty Man, a 2020 supernatural horror mystery thriller from director David Prior. This dark, convoluted tale is as unique as it is wildly unexpected, following an ex-detective (James Badge Dale) as he looks into the disappearance of his young neighbor but soon becomes caught in the middle of a sinister cult ritual.
It’s unsettling, mysterious, and highly unpredictable. The Empty Man disturbs audiences with its compelling mystery, then pulls the rug right from under them with a mind-blowing third-act plot twist that surely leaves them stunned and bewildered. It’s at times confusing, considering its timelines and lore, but it’s fascinating and deeply thought-provoking. Truly an unexpected delight.
6
‘Mother!’ (2017)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky, a pioneer of intense psychological storytelling, delivers one of his most ambitious but divisive films, Mother! Released in 2017 and starring Academy Award winners Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, it’s a mind-blogging, unusual tale of a couple only referred to as Him and Mother, whose secluded country home life takes a dark turn with the arrival of a mysterious pair who are fans of Him’s writing.
It’s never straightforward and is full of unexpected, bizarre turns. Mother! dares to be incredibly different, telling a convoluted but fascinating tale that’s deeply thought-provoking and requiries the viewer to look closer and challenge what they initially perceive the story to be. It’s an unconventional horror film that’s become a unique standout in the genre in recent years. There’s no doubt it will be brought up from time to time to discuss its true meaning.
5
‘House’ (1977)
Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
One of the campiest horror fantasies of all time, Nobuhiko Obayashi‘s House is an absurd and highly rewatchable cult classic dark comedy that thrills audiences with how strange and unpredictable it is. It’s a completely bonkers tale, following a series of weird events when a group of Japanese schoolgirls are picked off one by one by supernatural forces at a remote mansion in the countryside.
It’s wild, one-of-a-kind, and so incredibly enjoyable, despite it making absolutely no sense. House takes a familiar concept and flips it on its head with its unique storytelling, bizarre visuals, and brilliant mix of horror and humor. It makes audiences laugh and scratch their heads at what they’re experiencing. Truly, it’s a confusing but thrilling rollercoaster experience.
4
‘Funny Games’ (1997)
Directed by Michael Haneke
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In this deeply disturbing 1990s thriller, Funny Games is a bleak, nail-biting experience that can shock audiences right to their cores. Directed by Michael Haneke and starring Susanne Lothar and Ulrich Mühe, it follows a family of three as their peaceful lakeside vacation turns deadly with the arrival of deeply disturbed young men who kill and psychologically torment victims for their own amusement.
Funny Games is a dark and brutal film that says a lot about human nature and how we react to on-screen violence. It stands out for its thought-provoking messages and its brilliant use of meta-commentary and fourth-wall breaks. Overall, it’s a compelling horror classic that needs multiple viewings to fully understand. Though its violent and disturbing content might make it too hard to watch at times.
3
‘Beau Is Afraid’ (2023)
Directed by Ari Aster
Ari Aster has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most creative filmmakers these days. While Midsommar and Hereditary could be great contenders for this list, the third spot goes to Beau is Afraid, a surreal psychological dark comedy from 2023. Starring Academy Award-winner Joaquin Phoenix, it follows him as a timid, highly stressed-out man who goes on a bizarre journey home to attend his domineering mother’s funeral.
This nearly three-hour-long film plays out like an anxiety-fueled dream where things only get stranger and more nonsensical with every moment. Beau is Afraid starts off simple, then gradually becomes more absurd and unexpected as the main character goes from one uncomfortable situation to the next, concluding with a complex and thought-provoking ending that explores more of the main character’s inner conflict. It’s a fascinating genre-bending psychological story that will have audiences constantly discussing what it’s all about.
2
‘Triangle’ (2009)
Directed by Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith‘s psychological horror thriller Triangle is a mind-boggling, unsettling experience that’ll have audiences constantly guessing what’s happening. With a unique setting and tense suspense, it follows a single mother and friends as their boat trip out at sea goes horribly wrong, and they become stuck in an endless cycle of murder.
Triangle takes viewers on a wild, confusing ride full of shock and terror. It’s easy to get lost in the madness as the story follows these characters in a terrifying time loop where they can’t seem to escape suffering grisly fates. It all culminates in a bleak finale, where the cycle starts all over again and we, the audience, are left wondering if the stories’ events will ever definitively end.
1
‘Eraserhead’ (1977)
Directed by David Lynch
Image via Libra Films International
Of course, the number one spot should go to a classic from the mind of one of the most creative and unconventional storytellers in cinematic history, the late David Lynch. This unforgettable filmmaker has left an incredible legacy with his unusual, thought-provoking experimental tales that subvert the audience’s expectations. Arguably, one that showcased his confusing talent was Eraserhead, a cult-favorite about a first-time father (John Nance) who is collapsing under the stress of his bleak, industrial environment and caring for his mutated newborn.
This mind-blowing surrealist horror film is as mind-blowing as it is mind-boggling. It’s truly one-of-a-kind, and there is nothing else quite like its story and visuals, and, sure, it is confusing and strange, but that’s what makes it so celebrated and talked about still to this day. Eraserhead may be convoluted, but it’s a standout of the horror genre and continues to captivate audiences with its uniqueness.
