mind trip movie

32 Trippy Movies or Shows To Take You Out of This World… Sober or Not

Prepare to embark on a mind-bending journey as we unveil some of our favorite surreal and otherworldly psychedelic films and television series…

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

2. rick & morty (2013–present), 3. adventure time (2010–2018), 4. samsara (2011), 5. waking life (2001), 6. dr. strange (2016), 7. love death + robots (2019–present), 8. a clockwork orange (1971), 9. yellow submarine (1968), 10. 2001: a space odyssey (1968), 11. fear and loathing in las vegas (1998), 12. fantastic planet (1973), 13. inception (2010) , 14. black mirror (2011–present) , 15. altered states (1980) , 16. greener grass (2019) , 17. maniac (2018) , 18. naked lunch (1991) , 19. enter the void (2009) , 20. russian doll (2019–present) , 21. the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy (2005) , 22. the holy mountain (1973) , 23. stranger things (2016–present) , 24. fantasia (1940) , 25. midnight gospel (2020), 26. alice in wonderland (1951).

• 27. The Umbrella Academy (2019–Present)

28. Spirited Away (2001)

28. avatar (2009), 29. bill & ted’s excellent adventure (1989), 30. rupaul’s drag race (2009–present), 31. avenue 5 (2020–present), 32. interstellar (2014), related: psychedelic-inspired movies & documentaries.

Psychedelics have influenced art for millennia. Psychedelia refers to works of art — from paintings and sculptures to music and film — inspired by hallucinogenic substances and the altered states of consciousness they produce. 

Psychedelic cinema began as part of the 1960s counterculture, and it has stuck around ever since. From the 1968 Beatles film “The Yellow Submarine” to more recent cult animated series such as “Rick and Morty,” psychedelia has had a firm and mind-bending grip on TV for over six decades. 

In this article, we’ll look at 32 of the best trippy movies and TV series to watch, both new and old…

Fantastic Mr. Fox was written by Roald Dahl in 1970 and later adapted into an 87-minute-long movie by Wes Anderson in 2009. It’s a whimsical and visually stunning journey portrayed in stop-motion animation, and the vibrant, bizarre characters and surreal world-building make it a psychedelic experience for viewers of all ages.

Wes Anderson is famous for his unique narrative style, eccentricity, and visually stunning films. Fantastic Mr. Fox isn’t as iconic as some of the other “psychedelic” movies on this list, but it deserves a spot for its unusual color palette, unique animation style, and surrealist dialogue. 

Other Trippy Wes Anderson Films:

• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Moonrise Kingdom
• The Darjeeling Limited
• Isle of Dogs
• The Royal Tenebaums

Rick and Morty is a psychedelic sci-fi animated series created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. This animated series explores the misadventures of an eccentric scientist, Rick, and his good-hearted but easily influenced grandson, Morty. 

With its mind-bending sci-fi concepts, dark humor, and surreal dimensions, Rick & Morty is a must-watch for fans of psychedelia. This series is visually stunning and extremely “trippy.” Psychedelic visuals, mind-bending concepts, and paradoxical storylines make this a gripping and visually entertaining series for the sober and intoxicated mind.

Adventure Time is an animated children’s television series created by Pendleton Ward, but this seemingly innocent show has a much darker backstory. Adventure Time is set in a nuclear wasteland and takes viewers on a journey through the “Land of Ooo,” where a boy named Finn and his magical dog, Jake, encounter bizarre creatures and surreal landscapes.

Adventure Time’s colorful, imaginative world set in a post-apocalyptic future after the “Great Mushroom War” makes it an intriguing watch for those looking for a deep, trippy tale to sink their teeth into. 

Samsara is a cult classic created by Ron Fricke in 2011. A little different from the average piece of psychedelic fiction, Samsara is a visually breathtaking documentary that explores the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth across various cultures and landscapes. 

This wordless film invites its viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all existence. Entirely shot in stunning 70mm and backed with an intense and emotionally beautiful soundtrack, Samsara transports you across the globe to sacred grounds, disaster zones, and natural wonders. 

This film is often described as the closest representation (perceptually speaking) of psychedelic perception without consuming a mind-altering substance. Whether you watch Samsara intoxicated or sober, it’ll leave you questioning our entire existence. 

Created by Richard Linklater and released in 2002, Waking Life is a groundbreaking rotoscoped film that blurs the line between waking life and the dream world. 

This animated drama challenges the viewer’s perception of reality by exploring concepts such as life and death, reality and dreams, existentialism, and “the meaning of life.” The protagonist of Waking Life engages in surreal, philosophical conversations with a range of characters, making it a thought-provoking and visually captivating journey from start to finish.

Dr. Strange — created by Scott Derrickson and released in 2016 — introduces viewers to the mystical side of the Marvel Universe. With mind-bending visuals, alternate dimensions, and psychedelic imagery, Doctor Strange is a trip into the world of sorcery and spirituality.

Doctor Strange is unlike any other superhero movie out there. A story about a neurosurgeon with a destroyed career (Dr. Strange), the film takes you on a familiar Marvel “world-saving journey.” However, the villainous threats are interdimensional rather than physical…

Love Death and Robots is a Netflix Original series created by Tom Miller and David Fincher. Each episode features a new story by a different director and boasts a variety of different animation techniques, from traditional 2D animation to stop-motion and claymation — all with trippy visuals and utterly strange storylines, many of which don’t include dialogue. 

This anthology series explores a wide range of science fiction and fantasy themes. Each episode is a unique and often psychedelic experience, blending cutting-edge animation with thought-provoking storytelling.  

Not every episode offers a psychedelic vibe, so here are some of the really “trippy” episodes:

• Beyond the Aquila Rift: Directed by Léon Bérelle, Dominique Boidin, Rémi Kozyra, and Maxime Luère
• Sonnie’s Edge: Directed by Dave Wilson
• Zima Blue: Directed by Robert Valley
• The Witness: Directed by Alberto Mielgo
• Good Hunting: Directed by Oliver Thomas
• Helping Hand: Directed by Jon Yeo
• Lucky 13: Directed by Jon Yeo
• The Secret War: Directed by István Zorkóczy

This cult classic was created in 1971 by Stanley Kubrick and is an adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s novel of the same name. It’s a disturbing exploration of violence and free will set in a near-future society. 

Anthony Burgess wrote the novel in the early 1960s at a time when experimentation with various substances, including LSD , was taking place in certain cultural and scientific circles. Burgess was supposedly inspired to write the novel after his real-life involvement in a CIA-run mind-control program that many speculate was the infamous “MK-Ultra” experiment .

The story revolves around the protagonist “Alex DeLarge” and his gang of “droogs.” In the dystopian society depicted in the story, the government attempts to control crime through a controversial rehabilitation program that seeks to “cure” criminals — raising questions about the ethics of state control and the right to freedom.

The film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange depicts Anthony Burgess’s story beautifully. Its surreal, dystopian imagery and haunting soundtrack create an unsettling and thought-provoking experience.

The Yellow Submarine is an animated musical journey directed by George Dunning featuring the pioneering psychedelic band “The Beatles.” Filled with psychedelic visuals, iconic Beatles tracks, and an eccentric narrative, the Yellow Submarine captures the spirit of the 1960s counterculture.

Yellow Submarine is known for its vibrant, surreal, and visually striking animation style. The plot revolves around The Beatles’ journey to save the peaceful and colorful “Pepperland” from the music-hating Blue Meanies.

The movie was released during the height of the psychedelic era and counterculture movement and reflects the spirit of the 60s. It captures the peace, love, and exploration of psychedelic-induced altered states of consciousness that characterized that period.

1968 was a good year for psychedelic films. A Space Odyssey — created by Stanley Kubrick — was released less than a month before The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.”

This psychedelic masterpiece takes viewers on a mind-bending journey through human evolution and encounters with extraterrestrial intelligence. Its iconic visuals and enigmatic storyline have made it a classic of psychedelic cinema.

Set in the futuristic landscape of 2001 (yes, 2001), A Space Odyssey offers viewers a cinematic journey that challenges perceptions and invites contemplation. Although the special effects may seem a little weak in modern times, this film’s transcendent and surreal journey through time and space creates a visually stunning and mind-bending experience. 

The film is most famous for its climatic sequence, where the astronaut “Dave Bowman” undergoes a transformation beyond the confines of time and space. This scene resonates with the sense of awe and expanded consciousness associated with consuming psychedelics.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas — created by Terry Gilliam in 1998 — is based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (1971).”

The film follows two journalists — Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo — on a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. The film quickly devolves into a wild and hallucinatory adventure fueled by an array of drugs, including LSD, cocaine, and various other substances.

As the main characters navigate the chaotic landscape of Las Vegas, they encounter some utterly bizarre characters and grapple with their own distorted perceptions of reality. Terry Gilliam’s visually arresting style mirrors the disorienting and hallucinatory experiences of Raoul and Dr. Gonzo. The film’s use of exaggerated and distorted visuals amplifies the psychedelic quality of the narrative and makes it a truly “trippy” and gripping watch.

Fantastic Planet — based on the novel “Oms en série” by Stefan Wul (1957) — was created by René Laloux in 1973. It’s a surreal and thought-provoking animated Sci-Fi film set on the distant planet of Ygam, where humans are subjugated by a dominant, giant, blue-skinned alien race known as the “Draags” — sounds pretty trippy, right?

The film follows the story of “Terr” — a human who is taken as a pet by a young alien Draag named “Tiwa.” Terr becomes part of a group of rebellious humans who seek freedom from the oppression of the Draags. The film explores themes of power, oppression, and the struggle for freedom as Terr and the other humans challenge their alien overlords.

The unique art style, philosophical themes, trippy soundtrack, and dreamlike narrative of Fantastic Planet make it a quintessential psychedelic film that has become a cult classic. 

Inception — directed by Christopher Nolan — is a mind-bending thriller that revolves around the concept of entering and manipulating people’s dreams. Dom Cobb — played by Leonardo DiCaprio — is a skilled “extractor” who enters the dreams of his targets to obtain their secrets. The film tells the story of Cobb’s challenging task of planting an idea in a person’s mind by entering their subconscious — this process is known as inception…

Inception’s intricate narrative and psychedelic dreamscapes make it a trippy, visually stunning, and exciting watch. The film explores the depths of the human subconscious, creating a labyrinthine of dreamscapes where reality and illusion blur. The mind-bending scenes and the concept of “a dream within a dream” contribute to its utterly trippy nature.

Black Mirror — created by Charlie Brooker — is an anthology series comprised of standalone episodes. Each installment tells a unique story that explores the dark side of society, technology, and human nature. The series presents a near-future dystopian world where various episodes tackle themes like surveillance, social media, virtual reality, and the consequences of advanced technology on humanity. 

Black Mirror delves into the uncomfortable and nightmarish possibilities of our technological future — some of which seem quite “close to home.” Each episode presents a unique, mentally challenging vision, leaving viewers questioning the potential consequences of their actions in a rapidly changing world. 

The mind-bending concepts and often psychedelic visuals of Black Mirror make it a trippy watch. It’s probably best to avoid this series if you’re tripping though — it’s a bit deep and occasionally scary.

Altered States — directed by Ken Russell — is a classic 1980s Sci-Fi horror film that tells the story of Dr. Edward Jessup (William Hurt), a scientist who experiments with sensory deprivation tanks and psychoactive substances in an attempt to explore altered states of consciousness. These experiments lead to bizarre and surreal transformations through hallucinatory experiences…

This film’s exploration of altered states of consciousness and the visual effects that accompany these experiences make it a mind-bending, psychedelic watch that leaves the viewer questioning reality. As Dr. Jessup’s sensory deprivation experiments escalate, the film takes viewers on a psychedelic journey through his mind, filled with surreal and visually trippy sequences.

Greener Grass is a dark comedy film directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe. The film is set in a surreal suburban neighborhood where the residents lead seemingly perfect lives. However, the story takes a bizarre turn as two friends Jill and Lisa (played by the directors), navigate strange social norms and peculiar “psychotic politeness” in a world filled with “fake people.” 

This film is utterly absurd. Its otherworldly setting and bizarre character interactions make it a trippy and thought-provoking watch. The narrative is an exploration of societal norms and conformity, all presented with a surreal and deadpan sense of humor. It’s a complex yet simple film that’s worth a watch if you enjoy films with unusual concepts.

Maniac is a limited series created by Patrick Somerville. It follows the lives of two strangers, Owen (played by Jonah Hill) and Annie (played by Emma Stone). The two participate in a pharmaceutical trial conducted by “Neberdine Pharmaceutical Biotech.”

The trial involves a series of mind-bending drug-induced experiences, each uniquely crafted to address the participants’ personal issues as a form of “psychedelic-assisted therapy” (if you can call it that). Maniac is full of surreal and psychedelic sequences, taking viewers through alternate realities, dreamscapes, and hallucinogenic trips.

The film explores the boundaries of reality and delves deep into the psyches of Owen and Annie, creating visually stunning and psychedelic landscapes. This short series (10 episodes) is well worth a watch if you enjoy TV series with psychedelic scenes and mind-bending concepts. 

Naked Lunch is a surreal adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel (1959) by the same name. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film follows the life of William Lee (played by Peter Weller) — an exterminator and drug addict who becomes entangled in a bizarre, nightmarish world of espionage and addiction. 

Reality and drug-induced hallucinations blur as William delves into a bizarre world filled with a variety of visual textures. 

Naked Lunch is famous for its nightmarish, psychedelic visuals that reflect the chaotic and disjointed writings of William S. Burrough. From scene to scene the feel of the film changes — going from “drab and muted” to “colorful and vibrant” in the blink of an eye. The film explores themes of addiction and control, presenting a surreal and disturbing experience. 

Enter The Void — directed by Gaspar Noé — follows the story of a young drug dealer named Oscar who is shot and killed in Tokyo, Japan. The film explores his journey as a disembodied spirit, witnessing the lives of his friends and sister after his death. 

The story is immersive and surreal — exploring the idea of the afterlife and the altered states of consciousness present through life and death…

Enter The Void is a visually intense experience. It offers a continuous, first-person perspective that immerses the viewer in a psychedelic journey filled with bright, neon colors and disorienting visuals.

Russian Doll is a Netflix Original series created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler. The series is centered around Nadia Vulvokov (played by Natasha Lyonne). In the first series, Nadia finds herself trapped in a time loop where she keeps dying — sometimes from the most unlikely of events — and reliving the same night over and over again. Each time she dies, she returns to the same moment at her birthday party.

The second series follows a similar time-oriented theme but sees Nadia traveling back in time to periods that greatly affected her and her family. 

Russian Doll is extremely trippy. The exploration of existential themes, time loops, and multiple realities make it a psychedelic experience for the viewer. The repetitive nature of the plots in both series, coupled with philosophical and surreal elements, creates a unique and thought-provoking viewing experience. This is definitely a binge-worthy series for fans of trippy storylines. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a Sci-Fi comedy directed by Garth Jennings. Based on Douglas Adams’ novel of the same name, the film follows the adventures of Arthur Dent (played by Martin Freeman), who is unexpectedly swept off Earth by aliens just before its destruction.

Arthur embarks on a journey through space with an eccentric group of alien and human characters, including Ford Prefect (played by Mos Def) and Zaphod Beeblebrox (played by Sam Rockwell).

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is known for its bizarre and absurd humor as well as its depiction of the nonsensical nature of the universe. This comedic journey through a whimsical intergalactic world is a must-watch for Sci-Fi, comedy, and psychedelic film fans.

The Holy Mountain — directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky — is a surrealist film that follows a Christ-like figure named “The Thief” as he embarks on a journey with a group of eccentric individuals, each representing a planet in the solar system. The story explores themes of spirituality, mysticism, altered states of consciousness, and the search for enlightenment.

The Holy Mountain is full of surreal and symbolic imagery. It’s visually stunning and filled with bizarre, dreamlike sequences that challenge conventional narrative structures, cinematography, and editing. 

Stranger Things is a hit Sci-Fi horror series created by the Duffer Brothers. Set in the 1980s, this multi-season Netflix Original series follows a group of kids in the town of Hawkins, Indiana. The children encounter supernatural forces, government conspiracies, and a dark, mystical parallel dimension known as “the Upside Down.”

The show’s “trippy” nature is a result of its blend of supernatural and science fiction elements, along with its references to 1980s pop culture. The alternate dimension of the Upside Down, supernatural creatures, and the show’s mind-bending chain of events creates a surreal and suspenseful atmosphere. 

If you haven’t watched this one yet, set some time aside — it’s gripping for people of all backgrounds, not just those who enjoy a trippy series…

Fantasia is an animated feature film produced by Walt Disney in 1940. It offers a unique blend of classical music and animation, featuring various segments set to different pieces of music — including a scene where a group of Fly Agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) mushrooms uproot and dance… Trippy, right?

This isn’t your “usual” psychedelic film. Fantasia’s innovative and abstract animation sequences that interpret classical music in surreal and imaginative ways make it a great watch for those under the influence of something a little psychedelic. 

Unless you’re a huge Disney fan, you’re probably not going to sit down and watch the film from start to finish. However, if you like trippy visuals and classic stop-motion animation, it’s a great movie to put on in the background to set the scene while you’re chilling, tripping, or are lost for what to watch.

“The Midnight Gospel” is a vibrant and profoundly existential animated series created by Pendleton Ward, known for “Adventure Time,” and comedian Duncan Trussell.

Each episode follows Clancy, a spacecaster (podcaster in space), who uses a malfunctioning multiverse simulator to interview beings living in other worlds. These interviews are illustrated versions of real conversations recorded between Duncan Trussell and his various podcast guests. Each episode delves into complex topics like spirituality, death, rebirth, and the human condition.

What sets “The Midnight Gospel” apart is its ability to juxtapose deep, existential, and sometimes dark conversations with bright, chaotic, and often humorous psychedelic visuals.

“Alice in Wonderland” is Disney’s animated adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel — which was first released in 1951. This movie is the quintessential trip down the rabbit hole of psychedelic storytelling. 

The film follows Alice, a young girl who falls into a fantastical world filled with peculiar, often nonsensical characters and experiences that defy all logic.

This film is renowned for its colorful, vivid animation and imaginative character designs, from the enigmatic Cheshire Cat to the temperamental Queen of Hearts. The narrative is a series of bizarre and whimsical encounters, including a mad tea party, a hookah-smoking caterpillar, and an enigmatic (albeit creepy) magical cat.

Alice in Wonderland is a mind-bending journey — leaving viewers wondering whether it was a dream, a psychedelic adventure, or an exploration of the unconscious. 

27. The Umbrella Academy (2019–Present )

“The Umbrella Academy,” a Netflix original series that premiered in 2019, is an adaptation of the comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. It combines elements of superhero lore, time travel, and family drama in a quirky, often surreal narrative.

The show revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted siblings, each with unique superpowers, who reunite to solve the mystery of their father’s death and prevent an impending apocalypse. The Umbrella Academy stands out for its unconventional storytelling, eccentric characters, and anachronistic visual style.

“Spirited Away” is an animated masterpiece directed by the acclaimed Hayao Miyazaki. It’s a pinnacle of animated fantasy films and a journey into a richly imaginative and surreal world. It touches on themes of growth and resilience, identity, environmental consciousness, and the clash between tradition and modernity.

This film is celebrated for its lush and detailed animation, bringing to life a world filled with spirits, witches, and mythical creatures.

The film’s dreamlike quality, combined with its allegorical storytelling, makes it a transcendent experience. The blend of traditional Japanese folklore with a modern narrative creates an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere that captivates and transports viewers into its magical realm. It’s a visual and emotional journey that embodies the essence of a psychedelic adventure, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.

One of our favorite podcasts —  Very Bad Wizards  — recently did an excellent philosophical breakdown of this movie that’s definitely worth listening to if you dig this movie as much as we do.

Other Trippy Hayao Miyazaki Films:

• Howl’s Moving Castle
• My  Neighbor Totoro
• Princess Mononoke
• Kiki’s Delivery Service
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Avatar (directed by James Cameron) is known for its revolutionary visual effects and immersive 3D experience. 

The story takes place on a far-away planet called “Pandora” — a lush, bioluminescent rainforest filled with extraordinary creatures and floating mountains. The vivid and detailed CGI creates an enchanting and believable alien world that’s both visually spectacular and narratively engaging.

This movie explores themes of environmentalism, colonialism, and the connection between beings and their ecosystem. The spiritual and cultural practices of Pandora’s natives, the Na’vi, their deep bond with nature, and the visually mesmerizing landscape of Pandora contribute to the film’s psychedelic allure.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is the “ultimate time-traveling buddy comedy.” 

The story revolves around two friends — Bill and Ted — who discover a time-traveling phone booth and use it to meet key figures throughout history. Their adventure involves kidnapping Napoleon, jamming with Beethoven, and partying with Lincoln.

Their experiences are just as absurd as they are entertaining.

While not psychedelic in the traditional visual sense, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” is a cult classic that takes a lighthearted approach to what could otherwise be a complex sci-fi concept. The film’s charm lies in its simplicity, the comedic chemistry of its leads (Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter), and its creative take on time travel.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” created and hosted by the iconic RuPaul Charles, premiered in 2009 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. This reality competition show is not only a celebration of drag culture but also a vibrant showcase of creativity, fashion, and performance art.

Each season, a group of talented drag queens competes in various challenges that test their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. The show is known for its dazzling runway looks, over-the-top challenges, and the dramatic, often comedic interactions between contestants.

While “RuPaul’s Drag Race” may not be psychedelic in the traditional sense, it’s trippy in its visual extravaganza and flamboyant display of colors, costumes, and make-up.

Avenue 5 is a science fiction comedy television series created by Armando Iannucci. 

Set in the future, the show revolves around the misadventures of the crew and passengers of a luxury space cruise ship, the Avenue 5, which encounters a series of technical difficulties.

The series is known for its satirical take on space travel and the absurdity of luxury consumerism in an extraterrestrial setting. Hugh Laurie stars as the ship’s captain, Ryan Clark, who must manage a dysfunctional crew and increasingly restless passengers as they grapple with the reality of being stuck in space.

What makes “Avenue 5” trippy is its blend of futuristic sci-fi elements with outrageous comedy. The show presents a humorous yet somewhat plausible depiction of space tourism gone wrong, complete with over-the-top characters and bizarre situations.

Interstellar is a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating science fiction film. The story follows a group of astronauts, led by Matthew McConaughey’s character, Cooper, as they journey through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new habitable planet for a dying humanity.

The film is renowned for its scientifically informed depiction of space travel, black holes, and time dilation. “Interstellar” presents a realistic yet awe-inspiring vision of the cosmos, brought to life with groundbreaking visual effects and theoretical physics, courtesy of consultant Kip Thorne, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist.

Beyond its scientific grounding, “Interstellar” delves into profound themes of love, survival, and the human spirit. The narrative’s exploration of time as a non-linear dimension and its impact on the characters’ lives adds a deeply emotional and philosophical layer to the movie.

32 Psychedelic-Inspired Movies & Documentaries To Expand Your Mind

The Dark Side of Existence: Understanding the Link Between Existential Anxiety & Doomerism

The Colorful World of Ketamine Slang: Origins & Street Names For Ketamine

What Are Psychobiotics?

Top 9 Places to Trip in America

What Is Santo Daime & Why Can It Legally Use DMT?

List of 48 Trippy Websites To Explore

Sananga: Amazonian Eye Drops For Clear Vision

Psychedelics & Virtual Reality: A Chat With Zeus Tipado

Journey beyond the physical body: an introduction to astral projection, subscribe for more psychedelics 🍄🌵.

This will close in 20 seconds

The 25 Best Mind-Bending Movies of All Time

Mind-bending movies – stories that deliberately target the audience’s brain as their plaything, either by making us work through their abstract mysteries, or by pulling the rug from underneath the audience in its final moments, or taking us on a spiralling dream-like journey like no other film could.

Let’s examine the best of the best from this exclusive sub-genre, with a criteria of only one entry permitted by its director (otherwise this would just be a David Lynch and Christopher Nolan list). Prepare your mind…

25. Altered States (1980)

Ken Russell was already Britain’s ‘Enfant Terrible’ before he went to the United States for this troubled production that quickly killed his chance of working there again. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky (disowned by him as well), the film follows a Harvard scientist (William Hurt) who becomes obsessed with finding human nature’s true role in the universe. How does he set about doing this? By locking himself in an isolation chamber and taking hallucinatory drugs – as you do.

The film devolves into silly nonsense as Hurt’s physical state regresses to primal form as a reaction to this ordeal, yet where the film flourishes is with its incredible ‘vision’ related imagery; here Russell is truly in his element as he creates an awe-inspiring world that likely stands as the most stunning and elaborately made hallucinogenic sequences put to celluloid, as well as his strongest work in that specific field (which is saying something). The plot is interesting even if some of the execution is flawed, yet it’s more than worth your time for its trippy mise-en-scene and hellish imagery.

24. Triangle (2009)

This strong little thriller from underrated director Christopher Smith makes for a loopy and memorable experience that squeezes the most out of its premise – a group of travellers are stranded on an empty cruise ship within the Bermuda Triangle. It isn’t soon after that they’re all stalked by a hooded axe-wielding killer – yet things aren’t all that they seem.

Playing with the standard ‘slasher’ tropes Smith knows so well, “Triangle” plays up the facade of the familiar and then slowly strips away those elements and introduces a cracking labyrinth-like plot that will leave most dumbfounded by its conclusion. It’s helped by some gripping direction and a game performance by its lead Melissa George, in what is a must-watch for genre fans in the mood for something different with their kicks. Just be prepared for something closer to “Donnie Darko” than “Friday the 13th.”

23. Predestination (2015)

One of the more recent and overlooked entries in this article, Ethan Hawke reunited with his “Daybreakers” directors, the Spierig brothers, for this sci-fi mystery with a hell of an end twist that stands as one of the best in recent memory.

Ultimately, to discuss this film in high capacity would to do it a giant disservice, so in simple terms, Hawke is a time-traveling enforcer on an adamant mission to hunt down the “Fizzle Bomber,” a terrorist who attacks specifically in 1975 New York. Sounds high concept enough? Well things get suitably strange when his story intertwines with Sarah Snook’s, a young woman with a troubled past and even more complex gender issues.

A tense and clever thriller with juicy sci-fi elements and a nutty third act. Slickly directed by the Spierigs and anchored by two fantastic central performances by Hawke and Snook, resulting in the best time travel thriller in recent times (sorry “Looper”).

22. Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher’s masterpiece satire on the pre-millennial male deserves a spot here, regardless of carrying one of cinema’s most known twists.

If you didn’t know already, Edward Norton’s aimless office worker has his life flipped upside down as he becomes involved with a dysfunctional love interest (a hilarious Helena Bonham Carter) and, more importantly, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), an enigmatic yet frightful mentor.

Fincher’s source material was already chock full of Chuck Palahniuk’s vivid opinions and acidic humour, yet the director is able to add to the colourful text in an incredible exercise in take-no-prisoners style, balancing its black comedy within an insane mind puzzle. Every moment of the movie is building up to its third act twist in such an eclectic manner that on repeat viewings it’s amazing you didn’t see it coming – it’s the most famous ‘mind screws’ in celluloid, but it can back up all that the hype with a cracking (if often referenced) piece of cinema.

21. Abre los Ojos (1997)

In the late 90s, filmmaker Alejandro Amenabar had a penchant for twisty thrillers that bitch slapped your brain, with no better example than with this buzzworthy hit – an impactful morality tale of a wealthy playboy (Eduardo Noriega) who beds the wrong lady and ends up mutilated in car crash for his troubles. With his physique and mind severely traumatised, things dive into paranoid thriller territory with a helping of sci-fi.

Beautifully and carefully made with an airtight script to match its far-flung twists, “Abre los Ojos” still stands as Amenabar’s best work, so much so that even when Hollywood did a big budget Tom Cruise remake (“Vanilla Sky” in 2001), it could only feel like a decent copy shrouded by the shadow of the original. This just helped assert that it’s a mission impossible to replicate the magic of something this fresh, original and balls-out weird.

20. Identity (2003)

A typically dark and stormy night where a handful of strangers end up stranded in a musty motel. A mysterious killer picks them off one by one, and then they all realise they’re connected in more ways than one. So far, so Agatha Christie, right?

Well, therein lies the fun factor with this piece – as formulaic genre fodder, it’s solid and executed way better than it deserves, directed by James Mangold with a loving handle on genre tropes and moody atmospheres, plus a cracking good cast (John Cusack, Ray Liotta, John Hawkes). Yet what really pushes this one to ‘mind fuck’ levels is its third act, which opens a door to very fresh and completely unexpected territory. To delve into it too much would do a disservice but for those who’ve missed this one, give it a look for a wonderfully pulpy yet equally clever horror/thriller.

19. Mind Game (2004)

Anime has a great tradition of making completely insane movies that can fascinate yet confuse, and none would be more appropriate than this mid-2000’s effort that should’ve changed its title to ‘mind fuck’ since it so definitively manifests that category.

Nishi is a dorky aspiring manga artist whose infatuation with his high school crush eventually leads him on a crazy journey where he ends up everywhere, from a gangster’s car to a whale’s belly, to even the afterlife itself (before being resurrected, of course).

Director Masaaki Yuasa throws a shed worth of concepts and thematics at us at once, all felt even more schizophrenic by its constant flippant styles of animations, from floaty hand-drawn to CGI, to even live-action melding. Thankfully it lacks pretension somehow and manages to be a hilarious and sometimes touching adventure that, well, happens to be weird as all hell.

18. Primer (2004)

This indie has split several opinions on it – some feel it’s a refreshingly mature take on the sci-fi genre, whilst otherwise feel it’s an unnecessary complicated mess with amateur acting and boring direction. To be honest, both could be true, but somewhere in the middle lies a gripping mind puzzle, one that sheds any high-concept gloss for its subject in a stripped bare examination of how someone could realistically build a time machine, and the dire repercussions it would have in turn.

Shane Carruth’s directorial debut can feel frustrating at times, as it purposely makes the plot difficult to follow. The first 30 minutes are fairly make or break, as we have tech talk thrown at us at a rapid overlapping pace, with a jarring handheld style and non-conventional plot structure. Does it feel unnecessarily dense? Perhaps, but the work the audience does becomes satisfying as things pay off in its third act, and unravels a whip-smart plot in what might be the definitive film on the mechanics of time travel.

30 Replies to “The 25 Best Mind-Bending Movies of All Time”

I can’t respect a ‘best of…’ list that includes Fight Club.

We will try to survive.

I’m sure they’re devastated by that

*oh, no! Someone please dial 911!

Last Year at Marienbad (1961)

Haha, predestination

Shut up, Dipshit.

All movies of David Lynch can fit here.

Los Cronocrimenes

TimeCrimes is AMAZING. I actually think that Triangle, which came out a couple of years later, actually plagiarised some parts of that movie.

Upstream Color

Eraserhead? Mulholland Drive? This list needs at least one Lynch.

Resolution, coherence

Cool list! But personally I’d replace `Identity’ with Ex Machina… Reason: I just didn’t find `Identity’ a good movie; let alone a good mindbender movie. And remember the cool moment in Ex Machina in the mirror? It’s not even a major part of the story! (omg so cool.) Also I would add `Eyes Wide Shut’ and both Blade Runners… Should be more P K Dick movies in here. Just my $0.02. Anyway – great list, don’t get me wrong… 🙂 And yeh `Fight Club’ has to be on the list. …Happy to start a fight with anyone who disagrees, actually, wait – they started it LOL 🙂 More mindbendery coolness: https://storyality.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/storyality-4b-on-mindbender-movies/ Also `Edge of Tomorrow’ should be on this list…

And hey yeah where’s the David Lynch movies? Anyway, everyone’s a critic 🙂 hehe

Am I the only one to think that TimeCrimes (2007) was actually plagiarised by Triangle (2009)? By the way, TimeCrimes is far cooler and much more mind bending. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ebb611f907acc1bf79ed77188b40388a2bf5f2a51152fee3d6582aec98e13127.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1090b71eea25313315b996919417d983e806d22dce23600ed69289ddd07bec2b.jpg

I thought so, too.

…and the “Taste of Cinema” never-ending blowjob to Chris Nolan continues…

“Triangle” sucked balls.

Seems like Last Year At Marienbad is a pretty bold omission. And while I’m fond of both, I don’t think Triangle or Jacob’s Ladder are really too mind bending, what goes down in both is ultimately simple and accessible to most, and the plotting and details just take a bit of concentration. Would take off Pi as I don’t think it’s very good. Tetsuo I think deserves a place. And heck, why not drop the best in the title and highlight stuff like Wax, Or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees? Or Meet the Hollowheads or Dandy Dust or Decoder or Arcana or probably a whole bunch of other films that aren’t already on multiple lists on this site. Most of these are good to great films, well worth watching, but it seems like these lists are descending into pure repetition.

When has Identity ever made a “best of” list? Wasn’t that the movie written by the stupid brother from Adaptation?

I thought “Cube” had a great opening 20 mins then fell to bits….no pun intended.

Triangle is complete garbage. How the fuck is that movie on this list? And I am not too sure about Predestination either.

It has one. 13 – Lost Highway

Predestination is solid. Not a masterpiece, not fu****up like Upstream Colours, but definitely the definition of a mind bending story!

The Prestige is a really solid movie, but maybe not THAT mind bending, I have to admit.

That being said, Nolan deserves all the praise… and the happy endings you refer to from reviewers! 😉

I thought “The Prestige” was very mind bending …and the acting was superb.

this list have mind blowing movies i will watch them but check these movies https://apkplate.com/news/10-best-mind-bending-movies-that-are-hard-to-understand/

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Browse A24 Horror Movies Gore Horror New Zombie Movies Movies About Bullying Wes Craven Movies Underwater Movies Movies About Aliens Buried Alive Movies Movies About Witches Movies About Private Schools Scary Movie Hand Movies About The Holocaust Scary Alien Movies Marx Brothers Movies Blue Aliens Movies Movies About Marilyn Monroe Movies About The Moon Treasure Hunt Movies Movies About The Bible Movies About Viruses Disturbing Horror Movies Movies About Immortality Movies Like Top Gun Movies About Autism Movies About Teachers Movies About AI Summer Horror Movies Sasquatch Movie Egypt Movies Movies About Redemption Movies About War Shark Horror Movies 1980 Horror Movies Dysfunctional Family Movies Mafia Romance Movies Movies About The Future

Mind Trip Movies On Netflix

Have you heard all of these Mind Trip Movies On Netflix? We know you'll find some new movies. Here are 25 of our favorites.

Fight Club (1999)

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier Rated R

Fight Club is a 1999 American film directed by David Fincher and starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter. It follows the story of an insomniac office worker and a soap salesman who form an underground fight club and spiral out of control. As their lives become more chaotic and dangerous, a secret society is born with a mission to bring down modern-day consumer culture. The film explores themes of masculinity, nihilism, and anti-consumerism while taking a darkly humorous look at contemporary society. It has become a cult classic, and its influence on popular culture is seen in its style, dialogue, and themes.

Inception (2010)

From Christopher Nolan, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Ken Watanabe Rated PG-13

Inception is a science fiction action film directed by Christopher Nolan. The movie follows Dom Cobb, a professional thief with the ability to enter into people’s dreams, as he is hired by a business mogul to plant an idea into the mind of a rival businessman. Cobb and his team must create a dream within a dream as they attempt to plant the idea while dealing with the subconscious resistance of their target. With an all-star cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and Ken Watanabe, Inception is a thrilling journey through the world of dreams and the boundaries of reality.

The Matrix (1999)

From Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving Rated R

The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film directed by the Wachowskis, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. In the film, a computer hacker named Neo discovers that the world around him is a simulated reality created by intelligent machines to keep humans under control. He joins a group of rebels led by Morpheus and Trinity who fight against the machines and their agents to save humanity. With help from Morpheus, Neo discovers that he has the power to manipulate the Matrix, a computer-generated dream world, and ultimately to defeat the machines. The Matrix is an exploration of the nature of reality, free will, and fate and features ground-breaking special effects, philosophical musings, and action sequences that remain some of the most memorable in film history.

Se7en (1995)

From David Fincher, starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Kevin Walker Rated R

Se7en is a 1995 psychological thriller directed by David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The film follows two detectives, Somerset (Freeman) and Mills (Pitt), as they try to catch a serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins as a modus operandi for his murders. As the two detectives work together to solve the case, their own lives become intertwined with the killer's victims, forcing the two men to confront their own inner demons and their own mortality. The film's climax is considered to be one of the most shocking and memorable in cinema history. Se7en is a dark, suspenseful and thought-provoking look at justice, faith, and the human condition.

Interstellar (2014)

From Christopher Nolan, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy Rated PG-13

Interstellar is a 2014 science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine. The story follows a group of explorers who use a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in interstellar space travel. As the Earth’s resources start to diminish and the planet becomes increasingly inhospitable to human life, the explorers set out to find a new home for humanity. They travel through a wormhole to another galaxy, encountering various obstacles and discovering a planet that could be humanity's new home. Along the way, they uncover secrets about the universe and the power of human relationships. Interstellar is an epic science fiction adventure that explores the possibilities of space travel and the power of love. The film has earned numerous awards and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The Prestige (2006)

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 mystery-thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan. The story follows two rival magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), in late 19th century London. In their quest to one-up each other, both men embark upon a dangerous quest for the ultimate magic trick, leading them to uncover a dark secret about the nature of their rivalry. Along the way, their rivalry turns deadly, as the stakes escalate and their obsession with the trick threatens to destroy them both. The film also stars Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson, and is based on the novel by Christopher Priest. It is a dark, psychological exploration of the lengths to which people will go in pursuit of their desires.

Psycho (1960)

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin Rated R

Psycho is a 1960 psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, John Gavin, Vera Miles, and Martin Balsam. The film follows a young woman, Marion Crane (Leigh), who steals $40,000 from her employer in order to run away with her boyfriend. She stops for the night at the eerie Bates Motel, run by the disturbed Norman Bates (Perkins). The motel is situated near the home of his deranged mother, and soon Marion finds herself the victim of a horrifying crime. The film is widely considered to be among the greatest horror films of all time. Hitchcock’s use of suspense and surprise, combined with Bernard Herrmann’s iconic score, make this a truly unforgettable film.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

From Bryan Singer, starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin Rated R

The Usual Suspects is a 1995 neo-noir crime thriller directed by Bryan Singer, and written by Christopher McQuarrie. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, and Kevin Spacey. The film follows the interrogation of Roger "Verbal" Kint, a small-time con artist, who is one of only two survivors of a massacre and fire on a ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. He tells an interrogator a convoluted story about events that led to the massacre, which ultimately leads to a mobster and his mysterious and powerful employer, Keyser Söze. The interweaving of the complex plot, the nonlinear narrative structure, and the memorable characters have made the film a critical and commercial success.

Memento (2000)

From Christopher Nolan, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Boone Junior Rated R

Memento is a 2000 psychological thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows Leonard Shelby, a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia, as he attempts to find the person responsible for the rape and murder of his wife. He is unable to form new memories and relies on polaroid photographs and jottings on his body to help him remember his mission. He is also followed by two men, Teddy and Natalie, whom he believes are helping him, but in reality, they are manipulating him. In parallel with Leonard's story, there are scenes shown in reverse chronological order, which depicts how he got his condition. At the end of the film, it is revealed that Leonard was actually the killer and was trying to cover up his crime.

Oldboy (2003)

From Park Chan-wook, starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok Rated R

Oldboy is a South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. The story follows Oh Dae-su, who is mysteriously abducted and imprisoned in a hotel-like room for 15 years without knowing his captor's motives. After his sudden release, he embarks on a quest to find out who locked him away and why, leading to a surprising, violent, and twisted story of revenge. Along the way, Dae-su must confront not only the forces behind his imprisonment, but his own inner demons as well. Ultimately, this is a story about self-discovery, revenge, and redemption.

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

From Billy Wilder, starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester Rated Approved

In "Witness for the Prosecution," Billy Wilder tells the story of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), an upstanding citizen accused of murdering an elderly widow. Vole's only hope of being exonerated lies in the hands of his lawyer, Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton), who must prove in court that Vole is innocent. With the help of his devoted wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), Sir Wilfrid goes on a search for the real killer. But Christine's testimony may be the key to Leonard's acquittal. As the trial progresses, Sir Wilfrid finds himself caught up in a complex web of lies and deceit. With the stakes rising, will he be able to save his client, or will Leonard Vole be found guilty?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction comedy-drama film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry. The story follows Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), a couple who have recently broken up. When Joel discovers that Clementine has undergone a procedure to erase all memories of him from her mind, he decides to do the same. As the procedure begins, however, the two re-experience their relationship in reverse, and Joel eventually realizes he wants to keep the memories of their time together. The story is told from the point of view of Joel's subjective experience, as he revisits moments of the relationship in his mind. Through the course of the film, Joel and Clementine come to terms with their relationship and ultimately find a way to move forward together.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter Rated G

2001: A Space Odyssey is a Stanley Kubrick-directed science fiction film set in the future. The film follows the journey of a group of astronauts and scientists as they explore a mysterious black monolith and its effects on human evolution. The monolith eventually leads the crew of Discovery One to an alien world called Jupiter, where they encounter a powerful, intelligent entity known as the "Star Child". The film follows the crew's journey to the outer reaches of the universe and the philosophical implications of their journey. The narrative is punctuated by three interludes: an ape discovering the use of a bone as a weapon; a space mission to Jupiter; and a monolith appearing in the prehistoric past. The film also features Vangelis's electronic score, which was influential in the development of electronic music in the 1970s.

Shutter Island (2010)

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley Rated R

Shutter Island is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Set in 1954, the film follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like mental institution on an island in Massachusetts. As they uncover more and more clues, Teddy begins to suspect the hospital may not be what it seems, and he and Chuck soon find themselves in a terrifying situation as they struggle to uncover the truth about the hospital and its inmates. With its intense, mind-bending plot, Shutter Island is a haunting and suspenseful film that will keep you guessing until the very end.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

From Ron Howard, starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer Rated PG-13

A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 biographical drama film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling 1998 biographical book "A Beautiful Mind" by Sylvia Nasar, about the life of American mathematician, John Nash. Directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman, the film stars Russell Crowe as John Nash, alongside Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, Christopher Plummer and Vivien Cardone. The film follows the story of the mathematical genius John Nash and his struggles with his mental health. Nash begins his academic career as a promising math prodigy at Harvard University, but soon starts to experience debilitating symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. Despite the challenges of his mental illness, Nash becomes a Nobel Laureate in 1994 in Economics. He is eventually able to regain control of his life and continues to make great contributions to mathematics and economics. The film is a powerful and inspirational story of a man's remarkable journey of resilience in the face of illness and adversity.

The Truman Show (1998)

From Peter Weir, starring Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich Rated PG

The Truman Show is a 1998 comedy-drama film directed by Peter Weir, starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank. It tells the story of a man whose life is a fake reality TV show that is broadcast around the world. Truman is unaware that his life is actually a show, and is constantly monitored and directed by a television producer (Ed Harris) and a team of actors, writers and technicians. As Truman slowly discovers the truth, he begins to question the world around him and ultimately rebels against the artificiality of his environment. The Truman Show is a poignant exploration of the power of television, the loss of innocence and the search for identity and freedom.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

From M. Night Shyamalan, starring Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams Rated PG-13

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 supernatural horror film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film stars Bruce Willis as Malcolm Crowe, a psychologist attempting to help a troubled boy, played by Haley Joel Osment, who claims to be able to see and communicate with the dead. As Malcolm attempts to uncover the truth behind the boy's supernatural abilities, he discovers secrets about his own life and eventually learns that the boy can see those who have died but have been unable to accept their own death. In the end, Malcolm helps the boy find peace and closure within himself.

The Father (2020)

From Florian Zeller, starring Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams Rated PG-13

The Father is a 2020 drama film directed by Florian Zeller, written by Zeller and Christopher Hampton, and starring Anthony Hopkins. The film follows an aging father, Anthony (Hopkins), as he struggles to come to terms with his worsening dementia. As his condition deteriorates, his relationships with his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman) and his caretaker (Imogen Poots) become increasingly strained. The film is told from Anthony's point of view, and his confusion and frustration become increasingly prominent as he struggles to understand and accept his situation. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that the help he needs is difficult for his daughter to provide, and his confusion and anger become more pronounced. The film is ultimately a heartbreaking and honest look into the reality of living with dementia.

Persona (1966)

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Margaretha Krook, Gunnar Björnstrand Rated Not Rated

Persona is a 1966 Swedish psychological drama directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullmann. The film focuses on two women: Elisabet Vogler, a stage actress who has suddenly and inexplicably stopped speaking; and Alma, a nurse assigned to care for Elisabet. As the two women spend more time together, their personalities appear to merge and the film's narrative structure becomes increasingly fragmented and nonlinear. The film touches on themes of identity, repression, and the power of communication, or lack thereof.

Donnie Darko (2001)

From Richard Kelly, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne Rated R

Donnie Darko tells the story of a troubled teenage boy, Donnie, and his journey to unravel the mysteries of a dark and twisted world. After waking from a strange dream one night, Donnie is visited by a giant rabbit called Frank, who informs him of a coming apocalyptic event in 28 days. With the help of his therapist, Donnie embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about the strange events that are happening to him. Along the way, he learns about time travel, the power of fate, and the importance of the choices we make. In the end, Donnie is able to save the world, while also coming to terms with his own identity.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans Rated G

Planet of the Apes is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle and tells the story of three astronauts who crash land on a mysterious planet ruled by intelligent, talking apes. The humans are treated as inferior creatures and struggle to survive while attempting to escape. The astronauts soon discover that the planet is actually a future version of Earth, which has been destroyed by nuclear war. In the end, the astronauts are able to escape, but the experience has changed them forever.

12 Monkeys (1995)

From Terry Gilliam, starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Joseph Melito Rated R

12 Monkeys is a sci-fi thriller directed by Terry Gilliam. It stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt and Madeleine Stowe. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the story follows a convict (Willis) who is sent back in time to save the future from a deadly virus that has wiped out most of mankind. He is tasked with finding out the source of the virus and preventing its spread. Along the way, he meets a mental patient (Pitt) who helps him on his journey. Together, they unravel a conspiracy that stretches back generations and determine the fate of humanity.

Black Swan (2010)

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman. The story follows Nina Sayers, a perfectionist and deeply dedicated dancer who is in the lead role of her company's production of Swan Lake. As she prepares for the role, Nina is pushed to her physical and mental limits by her demanding artistic director (Vincent Cassel), while at the same time facing competition from a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis). The pressure intensifies as the opening night draws nearer and Nina's life spirals out of control as she begins to hallucinate and becomes increasingly paranoid of her own identity. In the end, Nina must decide whether to stay within her own boundaries or venture into the unknown and embrace her inner "Black Swan" and risk losing herself in the process.

Brazil (1985)

From Terry Gilliam, starring Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond Rated R

Brazil is a surrealist, darkly comic film set in a dystopian future. It follows Sam Lowry, a low-level government bureaucrat, as he attempts to find the woman of his dreams. Along the way, he gets caught up in a bureaucratic nightmare that leads him to discover the horrifying truth about his own existence. Along with its many darkly comic elements, Brazil's surrealist imagery and dreamlike sequences explore themes of totalitarianism, bureaucracy, and the power of imagination.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

From David Lynch, starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Jeanne Bates Rated R

Mulholland Drive is a psychological thriller directed by David Lynch. Set in Los Angeles, the movie follows two women - Rita (Laura Harring) and Betty (Naomi Watts) - as they find themselves embroiled in an ever-involving mystery. After a car crash, Rita is left with amnesia and Betty comes to her aid, giving her the name “Rita” and helping her piece together her identity. As they search for clues, they become deeply entrenched in a complex plot involving a shadowy figure, a Hollywood director, and a dark secret. Along the way, they must confront their own dreams and desires and explore the notion of identity in the face of an ever-changing reality.

Related Articles

Popular Articles

29 Best Trippy Movies on Netflix (April 2024)

It is always great to watch a film or two where all you want is to be blown away by crazy, trippy, and hallucinatory visuals that expand your mind into other dimensions. These films possess something unique that will take you on an incredibly profound and ecstatic journey. They can be strange, weird, set in surrealistic worlds, or distort our reality. But, at the same time, they can also be clean, pure, and potent in their depths. Either way, these flicks will trip your brains out and never be forgotten.

29. Pineapple Express (2008)

If you want something trippy, there is only a handful of yet-undiscovered stuff that can surpass James Franco and Seth Rogen escaping goons in a car while being high on weed. Directed by David Gordon Green, ‘Pineapple Express’ follows Dale Denton (Rogen), a stoner/process server, and his drug dealer Saul Silver (Franco), both of whom smoke the “Pineapple Express” strain of weed, a rarity. We follow them as they embark on an escapade after Denton witnesses a murder by a drug lord (Gary Cole). He can’t leave his weed and provider behind so he drags Silver along as well. What happens to them is not the point. It is what they undergo that makes the movie a worthy addition to our list. You can watch it here to understand what we mean.

28. The Interview (2014)

‘The Interview’ is a political satire/comedy directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as host David Skylark and producer Aaron Rapaport, respectively, who, assisted by their team, run a popular talk show named Skylark Tonight. The film shows what happens when an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leads to the CIA reaching out to David and Aaron and requesting them to assassinate the leader and prevent a nuclear attack on the West Coast.

A movie due to which the American government received a threat from the North Korean government, ‘The Interview’ was released digitally, followed by only a limited release in some theaters. So you can imagine the content. To get a clear picture, you can stream it here .

27. Anima (2019)

‘Anima,’ a musical short film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, features Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead. Released in 2019 as a companion piece to Yorke’s album of the same name, the film is a visually stunning and abstract journey through a dystopian landscape. With choreography by Damien Jalet, ‘Anima’ seamlessly blends Yorke’s mesmerizing music with inventive dance sequences, offering a unique audio-visual experience. The film explores themes of conformity and individuality, providing a captivating and thought-provoking artistic collaboration between Yorke and Anderson. Feel free to stream it here.

26. What Did Jack Do? (2017)

Directed by David Lynch, ‘What Did Jack Do?’ is a surreal short film featuring Lynch himself as a detective interrogating a capuchin monkey named Jack Cruz. Shot in black and white, the film unfolds as a peculiar conversation between the detective and the monkey, delving into Lynch’s signature enigmatic storytelling. With its offbeat premise and Lynch’s distinctive style, the film becomes an intriguing blend of absurdity and mystery, offering audiences a surreal experience that showcases Lynch’s penchant for the unconventional and the surreal in a concise and enigmatic narrative. You can watch the movie here.

25. Velvet Buzzsaw  (2019)

This satirical thriller film directed by Dan Gilroy plunges deep into Miami’s elite art scene. Critic Morf Vandewalt and his associate Josephina stumble upon the enigmatic works of Vetril Dease. As these artworks captivate the industry, mysterious events surround those who seek to capitalize on Dease’s pieces. The art world’s elites who profited from Dease’s work soon realize that greed comes at a supernatural and deadly cost. With its surreal imagery and harrowing narrative, ‘ Velvet Buzzsaw ‘ weaves a tale where the lines between art and vengeance blur, making it a compelling addition to any list of trippy movies. You can watch the movie here .

24. The Wandering Earth (2019)

Directed by Frant Gwo, ‘The Wandering Earth’ is a Chinese science fiction film that presents an audacious vision of Earth’s future. Facing an impending apocalyptic scenario, the nations of Earth unite to implement a grandiose plan: use massive engines to shift Earth away from an expanding sun. As humanity retreats underground to escape the freezing surface, Liu Qi embarks on a dangerous mission to reactivate dormant thrusters. Simultaneously, in the vastness of space, astronaut Liu Peiqiang confronts a malfunctioning AI on an international space station. The intertwined fates of father and son play out against a backdrop of global unity and survival as Earth begins its treacherous voyage through the cosmos. You may watch the film here .

23. Time Trap (2017)

This action-adventure sci-fi film, directed by the duo of Mark Dennis and Ben Foster, features Andrew Wilson and Cassidy Giffordi in prominent roles. It delves into a mind-bending journey through a mysterious cave system, where time moves differently than on the surface. When archaeology professor Hopper disappears in search of lost hippies from decades past, a group of students, Taylor, Jackie, and others, venture to find him. Discovering anomalies in time, they confront cavemen, spacemen, and harrowing challenges while trying to decipher the cave’s secrets. The film’s unique narrative and exploration of time distortion make it a standout entry in this list. Feel free to check out the film here .

22. Stowaway (2021)

Starring Anna Kendrick , Toni Collette, and Daniel Dae Kim, this sci-fi thriller film directed by Joe Penna launches us into the profound vastness of space on a two-year journey to Mars. When launch support engineer Michael Adams is accidentally trapped aboard, the crew grapples with life-threatening oxygen depletion. With intense decisions to make and sacrifices on the horizon, the team confronts dilemmas that question the very nature of humanity and survival. Combining the vast expanse of space with gripping human drama, Stowaway effortlessly secures its spot on this esteemed list. You can check out the movie here .

21. The Coldest Game (2019)

‘ The Coldest Game ‘ is a Polish spy-thriller film directed by Łukasz Kośmicki. Amidst the pulsating background of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, a hazy grandmaster chess match ensues between an American, Joshua Mansky, and his Soviet counterpart. When the original American contender mysteriously dies from supposed Soviet poisoning, Mansky, a former chess champion and mathematic genius, is thrust into the heart of this geopolitical conflict. His turbulent past, marked by alcoholism, becomes both a crutch and a gift. But the game he’s playing is far more intricate than chess, entangled with espionage, trust, and betrayal. The chessboard’s squares hide secrets far more profound than moves and countermoves. This film impeccably captures the suspense of the Cold War era, blending political tensions with personal drama. You can watch ‘The Coldest Game’ here .

20. Entergalactic (2022)

A film’s visual appeal contributes a lot to its trippiness. ‘Entergalactic,’ created by musician/actor Kid Cudi, is an adult animated special that follows Jabari, a graffiti artist, as he navigates his personal and professional life against the urban illumination of a metropolis. The colorful animation style adds to the overall story, which, accompanied by Cudi’s music, makes ‘Entergalactic’ a true-to-form, trippy film that explores the dreamy vibe of life. The voice cast includes Cudi, Jessica Williams, Laura Harrier, Jaden Smith, and Timothée Chalamet. You can watch the film here .

19. In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)

Written by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock, ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ is a science fiction thriller film that stars Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, and Michael C. Hall. The movie revolves around a Philadelphia detective named Thomas Lockhart, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he begins the investigation into the seemingly unrelated deaths of several people due to hemorrhage. Even though he meets the culprit very soon, the drama that follows makes the murder mystery even more complicated as the Philadelphia detective gets obsessed with the time-traveling series killer in the process. You may watch ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ here .

18. ARQ (2016)

Directed by Tony Elliott, the science-fiction thriller film introduces viewers to a world conflicted by an energy crisis. With corporations fighting against corporations for the remaining energy supplies, an engineer named Renton, who has developed a technology that could potentially solve the current situation, is targeted. His life gets further complicated as he gets stuck in a time loop soon afterward and relives the same day over and over again with his friends. You can watch the movie here .

17. Awake (2021)

The world is taken over by an existential crisis when a mysterious catastrophe not only takes away humanity’s sleep but also causes a malfunction of electronics all over the planet. With little to no time on their hands, the scientists race against time to find a cure, but they are met with unexpected challenges. However, when a soldier finds out that her daughter may hold the key to solving humanity’s existential crisis, she realizes that she has a tough call to make. Will the former U.S. Army Medic choose his daughter over mass extinction? Or will she put her child on the line for the greater good? To find the answers, feel free to check out the movie here .

16. iBOY (2017)

Tom Harvey is a young adult who struggles to get by until he is encouraged by one of his friends to pursue his crush, Lucy. When the two decide to study together, Tom is excited about the surprises that the future has in store for him. Unfortunately, things take a dark turn when he finds Lucy sexually assaulted and her brother unconscious when he visits her home. As he tries to inform the law enforcement agencies, Tom is shot in the head by the assailants. He later wakes up in a hospital where, after discharge, he learns that he has now gained the strange power to visualize digital signals and hear phone transmissions. Now, with his newfound abilities at his disposal, Tom decides to hunt each of the assailants down one after another. To know what happens next, you can check out the film here .

15. Bardo (2022)

Mexican auteur Alejandro González Iñárritu ’s most personal film to date, ‘ Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths ’ tells the story of Silverio Gama (Daniel Giménez Cacho), an accomplished Mexican journalist turned documentary filmmaker and a stand-in for Iñárritu. Having spent the last 15 years in Los Angeles, Silverio returns to his native country to celebrate the release of his most recent and self-reflecting project just before he is to become the first Latin American to receive a prestigious award for his work in America.

The film’s narrative is depicted through Silverio’s perspective, which is highly surrealistic and not always rooted in reality. ‘Bardo’ is not necessarily an autobiography but a fictionalized version of certain truths. The surrealistic and fictionalized aspects of the story have allowed Iñárritu to explore themes such as identity, immigration, death, memories, and dreams in a very independent and free-flowing manner. You may watch the film here .

14. Bird Box (2018)

The post-apocalyptic horror-thriller film revolves around a mysterious entity that has decimated human civilization by taking the form of people’s worst fears. Now, those who have survived must live a life blindfolded at all times and search for a safe sanctuary. But with the ever-present danger of the entity that chases them, is survival even possible? The Susanne Bier directorial is based on Josh Malerman’s novel of the same name and is a captivating film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. You can watch ‘Bird Box’ here .

13. I Am Mother (2019)

The mother-daughter relationship is an important one. But ‘I Am Mother’ takes it to a completely different level. Clara Rugaard stars as a girl named Daughter, who lives with a robot that aids in the repopulation of Earth after an extinction event. It is referred to as Mother. When Daughter gets curious one day and leaves the bunker, she comes across Woman (played by Hilary Swank ), who is not fond of androids, to say the least. What unfolds is a certain tension between Mother and Daughter, and the film will hold your attention for its taut psychological thrills. You may watch ‘I Am Mother’ here .

12. Circle  (2015)

What would you do if, along with 50 people, you woke up in a dark room and saw people dying every few minutes? In fact, what would you do when you realize that the whole group calls the shots and has to decide who lives and who doesn’t? Scary, right? Well, this is precisely what happens in ‘Circle.’ The reason this premise makes for one mind-boggling movie is that it brings the human psyche to the forefront in a very raw and impactful manner. Plus, you will be more invested because you could see yourself as a part of this ill-fated group. You can watch the movie here .

11. The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)

The third installment in the ‘Cloverfield franchise takes on an energy crisis on Earth in 2028. A group of scientists is at the Cloverfield space station, preparing to test a particle accelerator that could power the planet with infinite energy. However, when Earth seemingly vanishes, they must work together to escape this situation. This film looks at the concepts of a parallel universe and multiverse and also correlates the story to its predecessors in the franchise. Although it is seen as the weakest film in the trilogy (as third productions usually are), we believe that it packs a punch and is worth your time. You may watch it here .

10. IO  (2019)

Jonathan Helpert has directed ‘IO,’ another science fiction film that looks at life after an apocalyptic event, which (let’s be honest) has started feeling like a possibility in recent times. Essentially, the air on Earth has become toxic, and most humans have fled to Io, Jupiter’s moon. But Sam Walden, played by Margaret Qualley, has not given up hope yet. When she sends out a radio transmission to find other people around her, a man named Micah arrives.

We then see the characters as they make their decisions to either stay on Earth or not. At its core, ‘IO’ is a movie that looks at how people choose to define what home means to them. But it is also a thought-provoking piece. It may not make you reevaluate your priorities or change your life completely, but it is a worthy contender on this list. Feel free to check it out here .

9. The Midnight Sky (2020)

Directed by George Clooney , ‘The Midnight Sky’ is a science fiction film based on Lily Brooks-Dalton’s debut novel. The movie revolves around Augustine Lofthouse, a reclusive academic who has survived a global catastrophe and is now facing its aftermath. When he learns that a clueless crew of astronauts is returning to the planet, the Artic-dwelling scientist has to take the responsibility to stop them from returning to their homes that are no longer safe. You can check out the film here .

8. The Wonder (2022)

Set in post-famine Ireland, ‘ The Wonder ‘ is a psychological drama film directed by Sebastián Lelio. An English nurse, Elizabeth Lib Wright, is sent to observe a young fasting girl, Anna O’Donnell, who claims to survive without food due to divine intervention. As the layers peel back, Wright discovers harrowing truths about the community and the enigmatic Anna, leading to desperate actions. The trauma of the Great Famine casts a haunting shadow over the tale, adding depth to the complex relationships between characters. As Wright delves into the mystery of Anna’s fast, the film confronts beliefs, trauma, and redemption. An engrossing narrative set against the stark backdrop of rural Ireland, the movie masterfully intertwines historical events with human emotions. You can watch ‘The Wonder’ here .

7. Oxygen (2021)

Starring Mélanie Laurent Mathieu Amalric and Malik Zidi, ‘Oxygen’ is a science-fiction drama movie. The Alexandre Aja directorial revolves around Liz Hansen, a clueless woman who wakes up in an air-sealed cryogenic unit whose oxygen content is depleting rapidly. With no memories of her arrival there, Hanse struggles to make sense of her present situation. Realizing that the oxygen in the unit will soon be used up, she, with the pod’s state-of-the-art A.I., tries to figure out a way out of her claustrophobic nightmare. But will she be able to do it in time? To find out, you may watch it here .

6. Cargo (2018)

Featuring stand-out performances by Martin Freeman, Simone Landers, and Anthony Hayes, ‘Cargo’ is a post-apocalyptic horror drama film that recounts a heartwarming story of survival and fatherhood. After a pandemic pushes humanity into survival mode, an unfortunate father who is infected desperately looks for a refuge for his young child. Sadly, as time passes, he is increasingly becoming aware of his changing nature, which can put the life of his kid at risk. Will the conflicted father find a way out of his current dilemma? To know, you may watch ‘Cargo’ here .

5. Mute (2018)

The movie focuses on the escapades of Leo, a mute bartender who is looking for his girlfriend, who has mysteriously disappeared. His search takes him deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly of a dystopian Berlin in the future. The cinematography and the noir undertones of the film make it stand out. Moreover, the plot delves deep into the themes of parenthood, loneliness, isolation, and love. ‘Mute’ also features an ensemble cast of Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd , Justin Theroux, Robert Sheehan, Noel Clarke, Florence Kasumba, and lastly, Dominic Monaghan. If you like Duncan Jones’ ‘Moon,’ then you’d be happy to learn that Mute is its sequel. You can watch the movie here .

4. The Discovery  (2017)

If you’re looking for romance in the science fiction genre, then ‘The Discovery’ will not disappoint. When Dr. Thomas Harbor ( Robert Redford ) declares that the afterlife does exist, the suicide rates shoot up as people want a reset. His son, Will (played by Jason Segel), holds him accountable for this. Rooney Mara plays Isla, a woman whom Will has recently met on a ferry. The two go to Dr. Harbor’s compound, where they find out more about his experiments while falling for each other. This movie deals with the themes of death, second chances, and love, and it will be on your mind even after it ends. Feel free to check it out here .

3. Mirage (2018)

It seems to be the case that alternate universes are pretty dangerous to travel to. If you manage to create a new reality or make your way to one where you don’t belong, you can be stuck in limbo from where there is no getting out. This is the theme of Oriol Paulo’s ‘Mirage’. The story begins with a young boy called Nico. He witnesses a murder in a neighbor’s house and goes there to see what has gone down. When the perpetrator notices his presence, Nico runs outside. However, he gets hit by a car and dies. This was also the time when an electrical storm was raging for 72 hours straight.

Precisely 25 years after this incident, a woman called Vera moves into Nico’s house and learns about the horrible fate suffered by the boy. She discovers that there is an old television where a space-time glitch can be created. So, she uses it to go 25 years behind to warn Nico about his tragic fate. But what repercussions will time travel have on Vera? This is the question that the film tries to answer. While it is wonderfully made, the plot is not anything entirely new. Yet somehow, ‘Mirage’ is interesting enough to keep one hooked till the very end. You may watch the film here .

2. The Platform (2019)

If there is a movie that will trip you out solely based on its relevance in society today, it is ‘ The Platform .’ Goreng is a man stuck in a vertical prison structure, which is called “the pit.” The residents are fed through a system where ample food is placed on a platform that gradually descends to everyone. As expected, the people on the higher floors feast, and by the time it reaches the lower levels, the residents are surviving on scraps.

Such an arrangement is bound to give birth to injustices and, with it, dissatisfaction. This film is a compelling case against unabashed capitalism and consumerism, and what makes it so mind-boggling is that it can potentially be extrapolated to our society for many more decades if things don’t change. You can watch ‘The Platform’ here .

1. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

Netflix’s ‘ Black Mirror ,’ which is a Channel 4 original series, is one of the best and most innovative television shows of all time. Charlie Brooker and his team have always surprised us with new and thought-provoking content, which, while keeping the philosophy of the show in mind, has covered an array of topics. The showrunners truly outdid themselves when they went on to create the first feature film based on the series called ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.’

The story is based on the life of a video game developer who wants to build an interactive video game where the player can decide how to proceed. Now, the best part is that this movie has an interactive feature as well. So, it becomes a two-way experience for both the audience and the main character himself. ‘ Bandersnatch ‘ is not only a milestone in terms of new-age filmmaking, but it also has the potential to counter piracy and bring a new aesthetic into the industry. As the tragedies of the main character collide with yours, and the line between fiction and reality blur, you shall realize this is a zone you have never reached before. You may watch ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’ here .

Read More: Best Movies Like Porn on Netflix

SPONSORED LINKS

• Movie Explainers
• TV Explainers
• About The Cinemaholic

• Trippy Movies That Make You Feel
• Weird Things People Do on Ambien
• The Greatest Documentaries About Drugs
• Discoveries Made on Drugs
• The Greatest TV Shows About Drugs
• The Secret Code of Drug Dealers
• Why You Shouldn't F with Salvia
• The Greatest Movies About Drugs
• The Best Movies About Drug Abuse
• Comedy Movies About Drugs
• Most Insane Tweekers in Film History
• Withdrawal from Heroin
• Foods That Cause Hallucinations
• Drug Movies That Sparked Major Controversy
• Really Bad Trips Caught on Video
• Songs You Never Know Are All About Drugs
• Drugs That Will Ruin Your Life
• Drugs Kids Are Doing These Days
• Shows That Made Drugs Look Goofy
• The Best Songs About Drugs
• Things to Touch While on Molly
• Movies with Hard Fictional Drugs
• The Greatest Songs About Cocaine
• Things People Saw on DMT
• Fun Drug Slang from History
• Celebs Who Have Tried Ayahuasca
• Druggiest Rock Stars of All Time
• LSD Myths You Might Have Heard
• People Describe Their Scariest Hallucinations
• Drug Myths That Just Aren't True
• Flakka and Bath Salt Nightmares
• Most Dependency-Forming Drugs on Earth
• How to Sneak Drugs in Anywhere
• Crazy Things Celebs Have Done High
• How Long Every Drug Lasts
• What Are Bath Salts Really Like?
• Jobs with High Using Rates
• This Is Your Brain on Cocaine
• The Best Dealers in Film
• What to Take at Music Festivals
• Songs About Shooting Up Heroin
• Devil's Breath, The Zombie Drug

Trippy Movies That'll Make You Feel Like You're In An Altered State

Movies have the magical ability to take audiences to the moon, any country in the world, or any time in history. They can also make you feel like you're high. Directors use techniques like distorted images, trippy music, bright colors, and complex, layered montage to achieve a stoned effect.

Some films that feel like a trip are straight-up stoner movies. No one is going to wax poetic after viewing Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke , but you may get contact high. Others, like Richard Linklater’s Waking Life , pose existential (AKA stoner talk ) questions about the mysteries of life. There are movies like Enter the Void , which was inspired by mind-altering substances and uses specific imagery to make audiences feel like they're on DMT. Finally, there are a few befuddling films on this list that don’t involve substance use at all.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Terry Gilliam's 1998 adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's literary classic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas takes spectators on a road trip to find the American dream. It's well-known Thompson indulged in large amounts  of various substances while writing his acclaimed novel. Gilliam was able to successfully translate Thompson's words with distorted, often animated hallucination-filled imagery. Want to get a sense of what a trip is like? Let Gilliam show you the way.

• # 20 of 98 on The Best Movies Of 1998, Ranked
• # 659 of 703 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 190 of 379 on The Best Movies Of The 1990s

Enter the Void

Enter the Void  is perhaps Argentine writer/director's Gaspar Noé's most well-known movie (his second film, Irreversible , may be as infamous as Enter the Void is famous). The first person narrative takes place in seedy Tokyo nightclubs, and the story is told from the point of view of Oscar (Nathaniel Brown), a dealer and user who is shot by the police. But that's not where his story ends; Oscar floats out of his body, spirit moving from place to place, dropping in on friends and family.

Enter the Void is a three-hour visual exploration of what it's like to take various substances. It's also way, way deep. To quote Noé on the origins of his ideas for the film : 

One day, in my 20s, I... had done too many mushrooms. I turned on the TV as I was coming down, and it was showing  Lady in the Lake , the Robert Montgomery film noir that’s filmed entirely through the character’s eyes. I wasn’t so much hallucinating at that point, but I thought it would be great to make a movie like this and add all the experiences I had... on mushrooms — telepathic perception, strange colors around people, the sense of floating. 

• # 252 of 425 on The Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
• # 13 of 45 on Great Movies with a Neon Aesthetic
• # 9 of 10 on The 10 Best Existential Horror Movies

2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick's epic 2001: A Space Odyssey  moves at a slow pace, often with long stretches of no dialogue, giving viewers time to let the visuals and themes percolate. Kubrick needed the film to appear as futuristic as possible; so futuristic in fact, he wanted the technology portrayed to be ahead of what NASA was doing. One of the trippiest sequences in the sci-fi classic is the famous Stargate scene, with its colored lights and ground breaking visual effects, which won the film an Oscar for Best Effects.

You won't know exactly why the Stargate scene is there or what it means, but you'll enjoy the light show nonetheless, and it may even make you question the great mysteries of the universe.

• # 104 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 26 of 178 on The 150+ Best Movies With Aliens
• # 26 of 166 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies

Donnie Darko

If you have no idea what's going on in Donnie Darko , you're getting it just fine. In many ways, the weirdness is the point. What exactly is the purpose of sinister, man-sized bunny Frank, who befriends alienated Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal)? Then there's the time travel thing, and that plane engine. Richard Kelly's underground classic is a stoner's delight, and has produced dozens of websites that exist for the sole purpose of trying to figure out the film's many mysteries. If you think you have it figured it, think again.

• # 63 of 125 on The 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
• # 656 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 9 of 113 on The Best Movies Of 2001

David Lynch's 1977 directorial debut Eraserhead is weird. Very, very weird. It's also totally illogical and opts to forego traditional storytelling. The tone is dark, the imagery meant to disturb, but also awaken, the audience. The lead character, Henry (Jack Nance), is a total loner who gets forced into marrying Mary X (Charlotte Stewart), who gives birth to a severely deformed baby. Then the incessant screaming begins.

Eraserhead is basically one big fever dream. However, it's also endlessly compelling.

• # 199 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 346 of 396 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 73 of 125 on The 100+ Grossest Movies Ever

Yellow Submarine

The groovy animated musical Yellow Submarine was inspired by The Beatles, and features several of their songs, including "Eleanor Rigby" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."  The illogical narrative takes spectators on a colorful and surreal journey, and is humorous, in a dry, British sort of way. When the Blue Meanies threaten Pepperland, The Beatles are enlisted to save the day.

Yellow Submarine is filled with odd, delightful characters and, of course, oodles of references to using.

• # 76 of 204 on Musical Movies With The Best Songs
• # 287 of 448 on The 400+ Best Animated Kids Movies
• # 194 of 703 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

No one uses in Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), but they do endure some supreme confusion. Joel (Jim Carrey) chooses to undergo a procedure to erase the painful memory of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet). The procedure is a form of brain damage.

Charlie Kaufman's script is inventive and odd in the best ways imaginable. Because Joel's memories are being erased, his mind plays tricks on him with juxtaposing imagery. For example, we see Joel and Clementine's bed in the middle of a beach, and somehow the couple is able to take a bubble bath in a kitchen sink.

Through surreal imagery, a trippy structure, and heartbreaking narrative, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind asks probing questions about the nature of memory and identity. 

• # 98 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 713 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 88 of 136 on The 100+ Best Movies For Date Night

Requiem for a Dream

If you ever had the desire to know what it's like to take something, but were afraid to take the plunge, check out Darren Aronofsky's sophomore effort Requiem for a Dream . But first, you must know, it's one of the most disturbing movies to hit the silver screen. Aronofsky tells the tale of three young adults hooked on smack and one aging mother who gets addicted to uppers in an effort to lose weight for a TV appearance that will never happen.

Through the rapid editing style of hip hop montage and multiple CGI shots, Aronofsky shows audiences the bodily effects of use and the hellish nightmare of dependency.

• # 57 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 1 of 125 on The 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
• # 13 of 133 on The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made

Brazil  is another warped gem from Terry Gilliam, whose films could easily fill most spots on this list (he got his start with Monty Python, after all). The movie takes place in an absurd Orwellian world inundated with exceedingly strange visuals.  Brazil brilliantly blends black comedy, science fiction, and satire with way over-the-top fantasy elements.

Its inventive visuals are a delight to behold, even when combined with overtly graphic imagery. It will make you feel like you're tripping, in a good way. 

• # 181 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 60 of 166 on The 150+ Best Futuristic Dystopian Movies
• # 45 of 53 on The Best Movies Where The Bad Guy Wins

Waking Life

Ever wonder how a person can tell the difference between waking life and dream life? That's just one of the philosophical questions Richard Linklater poses in his animated drama Waking Life . Often times, substances lead a person to spiritual and existential quandaries. That is the essence of Waking Life , in which a man sorts through several dream-like realities in order to find out the answers to life's greatest mysteries. In the end, the film doesn't answer any questions, but that's not the point. The point is to learn how to expand your own mind and figure out your own answers.

The animation style used in the film - a rotoscoping-based process layering actual footage and animation - further adds to the trippy feel of Waking Life .

Trainspotting

Plenty of films make using seem glamorous and fun. Trainspotting  is not one of them. It's raw and real. The story follows a group of low-income young men in and around Edinburgh, Scotland as they use, get in fights, break the law, get blind drunk, and otherwise waste their lives. The film covers many years, and looks at the social and economic conditions that led to an epidemic and a potentially wasted, forgotten generation. 

A lot of Trainspotting is breezy and hilarious, despite unflinching depictions of the horror of withdrawal and the struggle to get clean. Danny Boyle's film pulls no punches in its depiction of hte realities of using.

You may have to watch the film a dozen times to understand what the characters are saying with their thick Scottish accents, but it doesn't really matter, the images say it all. 

• # 630 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies
• # 508 of 703 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 137 of 379 on The Best Movies Of The 1990s

Beyond The Black Rainbow

Writer-director Panos Cosmatos's 2012 sci-fi horror film has a similar look and feel to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey . Both films have the power to hypnotize, with striking visuals and bold, deliberate, mood-enhancing use of color. The electronic score of Beyond the Black Rainbow sets the film's mood and trippy vibe. Cosmatos brings the spectator into the world of the film with his use of extreme close-ups. 

• # 16 of 45 on Great Movies with a Neon Aesthetic
• # 10 of 18 on Trippy Sci-Fi Movies That Aren't Mainstream For A Reason
• # 9 of 13 on The Best Horror Movie Synth Scores

Under the Skin

Director Jonathan Glazer spent longer than a decade developing Under the Skin from Michel Faber's novel, during which process he struck upon the idea of making a movie about human society as seen by an alien. If that weren't trippy enough, the movie stars Scarlett Johansson as an extraterrestrial living in Scotland who preys on human men. She seduces them, draws them into a pitch black world filled thick liquid, and consumes them. The otherworldly score, surreal imagery, and ethereal tone of Under the Skin submerses viewers in a haze. 

• # 308 of 396 on The Best Horror Movies Of All Time
• # 55 of 62 on The Best Alien Horror Movies Ever Made
• # 23 of 45 on Great Movies with a Neon Aesthetic

Apocalypse Now

Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam epic isn't your average war film. The movie opens with "This Is the End," a typically trippy song from The Doors, set to images of a burning jungle. Using layered montage, the scene transitions to the film's protagonist, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), drunk and stoned into oblivion.

Seeking refuge, many soldiers in the film turn to substances. Coppola employs surreal sets, manic lighting, and the disorienting chaos of conflict to directly bring spectators into the mood.

“My film is not about Vietnam, it is Vietnam," Coppola once famously said about Apocalypse Now . More specifically, he was trying to recreate the experience of being at war while using, as many soldiers were in Vietnam. Apropos of this, the production was fraught with use . Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack and Dennis Hopper decided his character needed to do an ounce of coke a day, so the production supplied him with blow.  

• Dig Deeper... Behind-The-Scenes Stories About Marlon Brando In 'Apocalypse Now'
• # 17 of 264 on The 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
• # 36 of 191 on The Best Movies For Men

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Another live action kid's movie that perhaps is catered to the stoner crowd. As you know from the song, Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) insists you "count to three and then you'll be in a world of pure imagination." Wonka's factory is not just a munchie utopia, it's a dream world filled with chocolate rivers, Oomapa-Loompas, and characters who float up chimneys and burp themselves down.

The film makes audiences of any age feel magical; there are no limits to the delicious delights of Wonka's factory, even with all his sinister pratfalls.

Oliver Stone's biography of legendary 1960s rock band The Doors is has several scenes featuring substance use. The most iconic, which will make you feel all trippy inside, is when the band travels to the Mojave Desert to take peyote. They hug, dance, and play in the sand. Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) in voice over recites a bit of his surreal poetry:

When the serpent appears, his head is ten feet long and five feet wide. He has one red eye and one green eye. He's deadly and he's seven miles long. As he moves, on his scales is written all the history of the world, all people, all actions, all of us our little pictures on the scales, God it's big! And it's eating as it moves all the time, devouring, digesting consciousness, power, a monster of energy!

• # 239 of 278 on 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
• # 80 of 240 on The 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
• # 22 of 86 on The Best Movies Of 1991, Ranked

What's real and what's fantasy in Italian director Federico Fellini's richly textured semi-autobiographical 8½ (1963)? The loose narrative follows Guido (a Fellini-esque filmmaker) as he attempts to make his latest cinematic masterpiece. However, the brilliance of the film comes during Guido's fantasy and dream sequences, which are filled with images that don't quite make sense.

8½ is one of the finest films ever made about filmmaking, it's endless self-reference and surreal fantasy elements will certainly make any mind spin with delight.

The Big Lebowski

Coen Brothers neo-noir The Big Lebowski  is about a guy who's perpetually stoned, made in such a way you'll start to feel pretty blazed, too. The hazy, illogical narrative follows The Dude (Jeff Bridges), who smokes tons of weed, drinks White Russians at all hours of the day, and goes great lengths to get his rug back, because, you know, it really ties the room together. Among the film's many trippy innovations is the Gutterballs sequence, in which The Dude takes a cosmic journey through a bowling alley.

The Big Lebowski  is a delightful movie about a total slacker. It doesn't make a ton of sense, and is beloved for its weirdness and originality.

• Dig Deeper... 15 Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'The Big Lebowski' That Show Why The Dude Abides
• And Deeper... 'The Big Lebowski' Fan Theories That Really Tie The Film Together
• # 4 of 98 on The Best Movies Of 1998, Ranked

Nobody uses in Memento (2000). There are no trippy substances or moody '60s music. Instead, the film's backward-moving narrative confuses the audience as much as it does the story's protagonist, Leonard (Guy Pearce), who suffers short-term memory loss. One result of taking substances is feeling bewildered, and watching Memento results in that same delirious effect.

• # 32 of 252 on The 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
• # 77 of 125 on The 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
• # 742 of 769 on The Most Rewatchable Movies

Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke

Is Up in Smoke (1978) the best stoner movie ever made? That's an argument for another list, but Cheech and Chong smoke so much weed in Up in Smoke the audience could feasibly get contact high. There isn't much plot or character development in this classic, but who needs that stuff anyway?

• # 79 of 703 on The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
• # 1 of 93 on The 85+ Best Stoner Comedies Ever
• # 102 of 104 on The Best Film Franchises, Ranked

The Wizard of Oz

Is it possible to make a live action kid's movie that makes adults feel trippy? Film critic Erich Kuersten describes The Wizard of Oz (1939) as "a metaphor for acid itself." In fact, hippies in the 1960s and 1970s interpreted Dorothy's adventure in Oz as one long trip. There are talking lions, scarlet poppies, flying monkeys, and brilliant technicolor. Additionally, some stoner genius discovered the film perfectly synchs up with Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon .

Speed Racer

The post- Matrix output of the Wachowski Siblings is maybe the most maligned oeuvre in modern science fiction, yet their films absolutely succeed as absurd, delirious, maximalist statements on the limitless possibilities of filmmaking in the CGI era. While most filmmakers use the tools at their disposal to enhance maudlin realities or breathe life into monsters and giants we've seen 1000 times before, the Wachowskis seem to have a fervent desire to drive the train off the rails, into a chasm of surreal imagery and fracturing narrative. 

Case in point:  Speed Racer . The movie's disorienting race scenes, aggressive use of color, and sense-overwhelming editing techniques gives the effect of going to a laser light show at Disneyland after taking something.

There's no denying the effects induced by watching this wild movie, which is equal parts anime, video game, Japanese game show, sci fi epic, and trip. 

• # 20 of 20 on 20 'Bad' Sci-Fi Movies That Are Actually Good
• # 5 of 18 on Visually Stunning Movies That Are Also Just Trash
• # 13 of 14 on The Most Underrated Action Movies Of The 2000s
• Entertainment
• Watchworthy

Lists about the things you can eat, pop, smoke, snort, and inject into your body to chase dat euphoria.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Link to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• The Last Stop in Yuma County Link to The Last Stop in Yuma County

New TV Tonight

• Interview With the Vampire: Season 2
• Spacey Unmasked: Season 1
• Outer Range: Season 2
• After the Flood: Season 1
• The Killing Kind: Season 1
• Bridgerton: Season 3
• The Big Cigar: Season 1
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Season 11.1
• Harry Wild: Season 3
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars: Season 9

Most Popular TV on RT

• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Doctor Who: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Blood of Zeus: Season 2
• The Veil: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Interview With the Vampire: Season 2 Link to Interview With the Vampire: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

300 Best Movies of All Time

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga First Reviews: Anya Taylor-Joy Fires Up the Screen in a Crowd-Pleasing Spectacle

• Trending on RT
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Last Stop in Yuma County
• TV Premiere Dates

Cast & Crew

Series info.

• My Quiz Activity
• Newsletters
• Sports Betting
• MY FAVORITES
• Add Sports/Teams
• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Miami Dolphins
• Minnesota Vikings
• New England Patriots
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Jets
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tennessee Titans
• Washington Commanders
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Atlanta Braves
• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox
• Chicago White Sox
• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Cleveland Guardians
• Colorado Rockies
• Detroit Tigers
• Houston Astros
• Kansas City Royals
• Los Angeles Angels
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Miami Marlins
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Minnesota Twins
• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Oakland Athletics
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• San Diego Padres
• San Francisco Giants
• Seattle Mariners
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Texas Rangers
• Toronto Blue Jays
• Washington Nationals
• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Brooklyn Nets
• Charlotte Hornets
• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Detroit Pistons
• Golden State Warriors
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans
• New York Knicks
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Phoenix Suns
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards
• Anaheim Ducks
• Arizona Coyotes
• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Calgary Flames
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Colorado Avalanche
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• Dallas Stars
• Detroit Red Wings
• Edmonton Oilers
• Florida Panthers
• Los Angeles Kings
• Minnesota Wild
• Montreal Canadiens
• Nashville Predators
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Ottawa Senators
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• San Jose Sharks
• Seattle Kraken
• St. Louis Blues
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Vancouver Canucks
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Washington Capitals
• Winnipeg Jets
• Entertainment Home
• Lifestyle Home
• More Sports
• YB on Facebook
• YB on Twitter
• YB on Flipboard
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• College Basketball
• College Football
• Entertainment
• Formula One
• Horse Racing
• Motor Sports
• Premier League
• Sports Business
• Track and Field
• More Sports ▸

Entertainment News

The 25 trippiest movies of all time

Anything can be trippy when you smoke weed. A 10-hour nature documentary? Whoa, look at those penguins ! CNN? Sure, why not? But the greatest trippy movies make you feel stoned even when you're not stoned and make you think about life even when your brain is turned off. These movies use cinematic techniques to blow your mind, expand your horizons, and take you places you've never been before. These are the movies that take you on a literal trip . 

'Daises' (1966)

Daises is a girls-gone-wild comedy on acid. Complete with colors, pranks, and montages, it follows two friends who spend their days drinking, partying, eating, and making fun of people. It breaks every rule in the cinematic rule book. There is no plot, story, or message. It also breaks every rule in the Czech rule book, which said filmmakers were not allowed to make fun of society.

'Easy Rider' (1969)

Talk about commitment! The actors in this movie took the drugs their characters took, which adds another layer of realism to an already realistic portrayal of hippie culture. And by realistic, we mean far-out. 

'2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968)

Like Lost , no matter how often we watch this, we still can't figure out what it means. Not that it matters, since the real reason we watch 2001 is for the moments of wordless grandeur. The space waltz, the monolith, the sight of a woman upside down in a spaceship. It's all ambiguous, and it's all magnificent. 

'The Red Shoes' (1948)

Powell and Pressburger had made magic with movies like Colonel Blimp , Black Narcissus , and A Canterbury Tale , but they had never made something as magical as The Red Shoes . The story of a dancer torn between her fiancé and her career is filled with dream sequences, POV shots, and blasts of Technicolor. Everyone from Scorsese to De Palma has ripped it off, and who can blame them? There's no better movie out there. 

'Fantastic Planet' (1973)

To call this movie "trippy" is an understatement. From start to finish, this movie is one long acid trip. It's about a world where monsters rule humans against a backdrop of forests, deserts, and caves. There's a reason it plays at midnight in Los Angeles — not because your kids aren't allowed to see it. 

'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' (1998)

There are movies about drugs, and then there are drug movies. This one falls in the latter category for its depiction of how drugs work, how they feel, and how they drive you mad. Terry Gilliam's adaption of Hunter Thompson's novel is mind-bending. It follows two reporters who decide to mix narcotics like a kid mixes drinks at a soda fountain, which leads to all sorts of trouble in Vegas. 

'Enter the Void' (2009)

When it comes to trippy movies, 75 percent of what makes them work is visual. You might get a kick out of Inception for its ideas, but it's not going to do much for you on a visceral level. On the other hand, watching Gasper Noe's descent into madness is going to do it for you on every level.

'Yellow Submarine' (1968)

Beginning in their Rubber Soul days, The Beatles were known to dabble in a certain kind of drug. You know, the one that rhymes with "LSD." It not only made their music better, but it also led to one of the best animated flicks of all time. 

'Un Chein Andalou' (1929)

The first surrealist movie.  Un Chein Andalou  was so ahead of its time that people passed out and vomited at the premiere. Salvador Dali co-wrote the film along with Luis Bunuel, who would become cinema's laureate of lewdness.  

'The Man With the Movie Camera' (1929)

Another movie from 1929, this Soviet production took cinematography to a whole 'nother level. No one had seen anything like it before: a whirlwind of cameras, lenses, motions, and montages. Even today, it blows your mind. There are so many how did they do that? moments that you can't keep up. 

'The Room' (2003)

Is there anything more trippy than  The Room ? This movie has the worst dialogue, costumes, and acting we've ever seen. There's a shot of spoons in a picture frame at one point. Then, there's a shot of two people playing football on a roof. None of it makes sense, which is why we love it. 

'Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' (1971)

When you were a kid, you probably didn't think twice about a grown man offering you candy or that the colors of his factory were much like the ones you see on acid. But as an adult, there's no escaping the weirdness. Even the songs sound like an advertisement for MDMA. 

'Suspiria' (1977)

Usually, when we refer to a person as "one-dimensional," it's a diss. Not when it comes to Dario Argento. The Italian director only has one lane — expressionistic horror — and he drives in that lane better than anyone else. 

'Spirited Away' (2001)

Studio Ghibli movies are notorious for their psychedelic references, and this one is no different. Spirited Away is so out-there in terms of animation that some parents won't show it to their kids. There's a lot of weird stuff in this film, but every scene is graced with such creativity and imagination that it would be a shame if children weren't allowed to see it. 

'Being John Malkovich' (1999)

You can never have too much John Malkovich. Whether it's 10 minutes of John Malkovich, two hours of John Malkovich, or 20 versions of John Malkovich, the actor is always a welcomed presence on screen. Need proof? Check out this 1999 comedy, in which two people find a portal into his brain. 

'The Matrix' (1999)

What if reality wasn't actually reality? What if we were living in a simulation? What if George Washington was in a cult, and that cult was into aliens, man? The Matrix poses questions no one had asked themselves and did so in a cool, tense, and action-packed way. 

'Performance' (1970)

Directed by Nicolas Roeg during his drug years, this movie's got it all: a baby-faced Mick Jagger, a mob of British killers, and the most jaw-dropping ending of 1970. Plus, a lot of acid. 

'A Clockwork Orange' (1971)

When you think of trippy movies, gang and street violence don't usually come to mind. But there's an element of surrealism infused into this story of a gang member and his criminal history that it forces you to watch with open eyes. 

'The Jerk' (1979)

Steve Martin plays Navin, unaware he is a white man adopted by a Black family. Not trippy enough for you? The jokes about his character certainly will be. Nothing says trippy like the time he finds his "special purpose."

'Eraserhead' (1977)

A film about a man raising an alien is going to be freaky. What's even freakier, however, is the stuff around him. David Lynch's directorial debut is set in a black-and-white wasteland where broken windows reflect shattered souls and empty factories preserve hollow minds. Maybe think twice before throwing this one on, or at least go in expecting the worst...which, in the hands of Lynch, is the best. 

'Persona' (1966)

It's the same deal with Ingmar Bergman. You're gonna want to be in the right mood to throw this one on. A woman loses her mind and is sent to an island with her caregiver, who looks a lot like her. The two start to meld into the same person as things get darker and more intense.

'The Holy Mountain' (1973)

The Holy Mountain is not a good film. It's important we acknowledge that. But if you're in the right mood (or have smoked a joint), it's got enough crazy imagery to make your eyes explode with color. 

'The Doors' (1991)

The Doors are one of the most psychedelic bands ever to do it, and The Doors is here to remind you of that fact. It's got a lot of music, drugs, and tie-dye visuals. To paraphrase Jim Morrison: it couldn't get much higher. 

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

This is a seriously trippy movie with intense psychedelic colors, flying monkeys, and a field of poppies. Some have even noted that Pink Floyd's  Dark Side of the Moon aligns perfectly with the action on screen. Coincidence? I think not. 

'House' (1977)

A haunted house movie unlike any haunted house movie. A horror movie unlike any horror movie. A drug movie unlike any drug movie. House  is on a street of its own. We don't want to give away any surprises, so we'll say that there is no trippier movie out there. Watch at your own risk. 

Asher Luberto is a film critic for L.A. Weekly, The Playlist, The Progressive and The Village Voice.

More must-reads:

• Notable TV shows about fathers and sons
• Actors who won Oscars for war movies

Trending in Entertainment

Customize your newsletter.

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Spin Me Round

A woman wins an all-expenses-paid trip to a company's gorgeous "institute" outside of Florence, and also the chance to meet the restaurant chain's wealthy and charismatic owner. She finds a ... Read all A woman wins an all-expenses-paid trip to a company's gorgeous "institute" outside of Florence, and also the chance to meet the restaurant chain's wealthy and charismatic owner. She finds a different adventure than the one she imagined. A woman wins an all-expenses-paid trip to a company's gorgeous "institute" outside of Florence, and also the chance to meet the restaurant chain's wealthy and charismatic owner. She finds a different adventure than the one she imagined.

• Alison Brie
• Jake Picking
• Stella Chestnut
• 73 User reviews
• 54 Critic reviews
• 58 Metascore

• (as Stella Chesnut)

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia The heavily advertised "Alison Brie and Aubrey Plaza riding a Vespa through Italy" scene was actually cut from the film entirely
• Connections Featured in Half in the Bag: Spin Me Round and Nope (2022)
• Soundtracks The Gold Bug Written by Alan Parsons & Eric Woolfson (as Eric Norman) Performed by The Alan Parsons Project Courtesy of RCA Records By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

User reviews 73

• roxlerookie
• Aug 21, 2022
• How long is Spin Me Round? Powered by Alexa
• August 19, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Aklımı Başımdan Al
• Duplass Brothers Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 44 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

15 Movies That Accurately Portray Drug Addiction

The following films intricately highlight the grief and pain that comes with a life of substance abuse.

Apart from entertainment, films act like a mirror, reporting the cultural and socioeconomic climate of society and throwing light on the everyday issues that are often kept under wraps. One such phenomenon that's often swept under the rug is the drug problem that’s perpetually plagued society since its inception. Drug addiction is often considered a taboo topic, with people talking about it in hushed voices without realizing the far-reaching implications of this problem on the future of society and humanity.

Update August 26, 2023: This film has been updated with even more films that tackle drug abuse head-on.

It is a difficult topic to talk about in film for a number of reasons. Along with the subject being taboo when handled poorly, it can be comically absurd at best, like in Reefer Madness , or insultingly bad, where it becomes preachy as they talk about a complicated situation they know little about. Here are some films that tackle the problem head-on, and accurately portray drug addiction .

15 Enter the Void (2009)

Enter the void.

Enter the Void is regarded as one of Gaspar Noé’s best works. The film walks on Noé’s usually stylistic tropes and depicts a psychedelic experience of what life might seem like after death. The film is set in Tokyo, where American drug dealer Oscar (Nathaniel Brown) is suddenly killed in a drug bust. The film is then shown entirely from Oscar’s point of view as his spirit journeys from the past to the present to the future.

A Psychedelic Melodrama

With its polarizing editing choices and innovative presentation, Enter the Void is a surprisingly unique film that examines Oscar's life following his sudden death, breaking down the interpersonal relationships that were created and shattered during his time in the drug trade. It's certainly an unconventional choice in how it depicts drug addiction, but the film's pervading sense of emptiness feels appropriate for its core subject. Watch the trailer for Enter the Void on YouTube

Stream on Tubi

14 A Star Is Born (2018)

A star is born.

While the relationship as well as the career of Bradley Cooper's Jack and Lady Gaga's Ally are at the center of A Star Is Born , an underlying topic is Jack's long-lasting drug and alcohol addiction. Though the film focuses on the duo's burgeoning relationship, and their subsequent musical tour, Jack's addiction never comes out of the equation. It ultimately forms the crux of the film's emotional conflict.

A Realistic Depiction of Alcoholism

Throughout the movie, the roots of his suffering become clear, as he has experienced immensely traumatic events during his childhood. He suffers regardless of his success and loving relationship, reflecting on the struggles of so many people out there. Jack's addiction is a convincing portrayal of alcoholism , reflecting what hundreds of people have to go through, and what surfaces in the end is that he needed a lot more support, especially in the form of therapy. Watch the trailer for A Star Is Born on YouTube

Stream on Hulu

13 Midnight Cowboy (1969)

In one of Dustin Hoffman’s best movies , the legendary actor plays the part of Ratso Rizzo, a heroin addict living life on the fringes along with his pal, Joe Buck (Jon Voight). The film sees these two tumble through the city with dreams in their eyes, succumbing to the allure and charm of hardcore drugs like heroin. Before long, they may come face to face with a life-changing tragedy.

Midnight Cowboy Was Raw and Gritty

Upon its release, Midnight Cowboy shocked the audience with its raw and gritty portrayal of life on the fringes. There's little optimism to be found here, with ample destitution taking its place. Its unabashed sincerity would net it an Academy Award for Best Picture, with additional wins for Best DIrector and Best Adapted Screenplay. To date, Midnight Cowboy remains the only X-rated film to ever win Best Picture, a testament to its cinematic excellence. Watch the trailer for Midnight Cowboy on YouTube

12 Four Good Days (2020)

Four Good Days tackles the overwhelming difficulty of becoming clean when being addicted to narcotics, and it is actually based on a true story about Amanda Wendler and her mother, Libby, who are known as Molly and Deb in the film. When Molly (Mila Kunis), after years of numerous detox attempts and relapses, returns back home to her estranged mother (Glenn Close), a complex period of physical and emotional suffering, betrayal, and a fight for survival begins. Molly ultimately has to stay clean for four days in order to receive her last option for recovery — a shot of an opioid antagonist.

A Real-Life Look at Addiction

Four Good Days unveils how deeply rooted addiction can be, how strenuous the path toward recovery is, and the impact it leaves on relationships. The film's basis in reality paints a harrowingly accurate depiction of the difficulties of overcoming addiction. Thankfully, with perseverance, there's a positive light at the end of the tunnel, made more impressive by one of Mila Kunis' best performances . While it would largely go unnoticed at the Academy Awards, its lead single, "Somehow You Do," would receive a nomination for Best Original Song. Watch the trailer for Four Good Days on YouTube

11 Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)

Written by Pink Floyd’s legendary vocalist Roger Waters, The Wall revolves around Boomtown Rats' vocalist Bob Geldof, who plays the role of a rock and roll star called Pink. Pink is driven insane by the amount of stardom he receives and constructs a mental and emotional "wall" to isolate himself from the world. What follows is a series of segments that flow with the titular musical album composed by Pink Floyd, ranging from haunting animations to metaphorical live-action pieces. When it all proves to be too much, Pink may find himself wanting to bring down the wall of his own creation.

The Wall Visualizes Pink Floyd's Album

The film can be viewed as an experimental indie project that touches on an array of topics such as sex, the agony of warfare, and drugs, all paired with the band’s music playing in the background. The song "Comfortably Numb" is a particular standout in terms of accurately portraying drug addiction, both in the content of the song itself and in the accompanying visuals portraying Pink's youth. The surrounding film allows the reasoning for Pink's addiction and subsequent isolation from the world to take center stage as well. Pink Floyd: The Wall is not available on streaming

10 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Fear and loathing in las vegas.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is an epic black comedy that’s adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s collection of articles of the same name. The film is fueled by a cocktail of drugs and chaos, and depicts a plethora of banned substances within its almost two-hour runtime. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro play the duo of Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, a journalist and his accompanying attorney, as their mission to cover a motorcycle race in Las Vegas is quickly sidetracked.

A Hallucinogenic Journey

While addiction is way more serious and darker than shown in the film, director Terry Gilliam tries to carve out the insanity that ensues when half-numb people attempt to function on a bevy of illicit substances. Its portrayal of reckless drug use perfectly coincides with the original series of articles it was based on . Del Toro's Dr. Gonzo in particular shows the dangers of excessive drug use, with his aggressive behaviors and near-complete detachment from reality prompting concern from Raoul. Watch the trailer for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on YouTube

Buy or Rent on Prime Video

16 Most Devastating Films About Substance Use

9 naked lunch (1991).

Based on William S. Burroughs’ novel of the same name, Naked Lunch is another cult film that depicts the madness that addiction brings with it. The film is directed by David Cronenberg and revolves around an unusual sort of drug: pest poison. William Lee (Peter Weller) accidentally comes into contact with the substance, sending him on a surreal journey to the "Interzone" in what he believes to be a secret operation.

Naked Lunch Is Incredibly Abstract

Owing to the film's source material — which was a strange collection of episodic stories that focused on heroin addiction and societal decay — Naked Lunch is as bizarre a film as they come, featuring some grotesque situations, in an attempt to provide the viewer with a peek into the mind of a user. The film relies extensively on abstract metaphors and surreal storytelling, allowing the viewer to draw their own conclusions about what may or may not be real in Lee's world. Watch the trailer for Naked Lunch on YouTube

Stream on Max

8 Cherry (2021)

Cherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq - anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the world.

When Cherry was filmed, the much admired Spider-Man actor, Tom Holland, stepped way out of his comfort zone. While many doubted that he would have the sufficient skills to leave his friendly neighborhood superhero identity on the side, he spent an incredible amount of time preparing for his portrayal of a young man named Cherry, who suffers from PTSD and a subsequent heroin addiction after serving in the Army.

PTSD Leading to Drug Abuse

Cherry really isn't for the faint of heart , consisting of unsettling images and a somber environment for the better part of the movie. It offers an almost disturbingly accurate depiction of heroin addiction, diving into delusions around being a soldier, the extreme cravings, and, eventually, also the excruciating pain of withdrawal. Watch the trailer for Cherry on YouTube

Stream on Apple TV+

7 The Basketball Diaries (1995)

The basketball diaries.

The Basketball Diaries is based on Jim Carroll’s autobiographical novel of the same name. The film documents the author/musician’s early years of addiction to heroin, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing the role of Jim. A teenage basketball prospect, Jim looks to be a star student from the outside looking in. Unfortunately, a tragedy plunges him into the depths of addiction nobody could've ever seen coming.

DiCaprio Captures the Cost of Addiction

DiCaprio does a stellar job of portraying a teenage addict, struggling to get a grip on life and reality. There's a rawness in his performance here that truly captures the kind of desperation and desolation a dangerous addiction can cause, with his gradual attempts at recovery feeling even more impressive as a result. It was an Oscar-worthy role that should've netted DiCaprio an award. This heart-wrenching biopic is one of the most intense and realistic portrayals of drug use and its long-term consequences. Watch the trailer for The Basketball Diaries on YouTube . The Basketball Diaries is not available on streaming

6 The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

The Panic in Needle Park put the great Al Pacino on the map. In his first lead role, Pacino played the role of Bobby, an addict who, along with his girlfriend Helen (Kitty Winn), oscillates in Needle Park, trying to sort out their next score. As Bobby and Helen become more codependent on each other and heroin, they fall into a darker web of desperation and betrayal.

Al Pacino's Lead Role Debut

While The Panic in Needle Park wouldn't get much attention at the Academy Awards, its technical qualities can't be praised enough. The film shows the dangers of codependency crossed with addiction, and how what was once a interpreted to be a positive relationship gradually decays into something unmaintainable. That said, the film avoids rudimentary stereotypes and instead presents a complex relationship gradually eroded away via the throes of addiction.

Stream on The Criterion Collection

5 A Good Person (2023)

A good person.

The captivating drama A Good Person focuses on the multiple layers of addiction, and behavioral changes emerging from it. Casting Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman as the two main characters was a fantastic choice, especially considering that Pugh is known for diving straight into her role and elevating it to the best of her abilities. Allison (Pugh) has a wonderful life, a healthy relationship, and a great job; however, when an accident changes her entire life, she becomes addicted to opiates, and loses even more than she already has.

A Painful Aftermath

A Good Person is a painful depiction of the aftermath of grief and the dangerous path of using drugs as a means of relief, made all the more emotional via one of Florence Pugh's best performances . Allison takes the viewers on a heart-wrenching and real journey of fighting her way out. Watch the trailer for A Good Person on YouTube

Stream on Prime Video

4 Rocketman (2019)

Rocketman tells the story of the world-famous and incredibly talented singer Elton John (Taron Egerton). Apart from the highs of his career, including famed singles like "I'm Still Standing" getting a full-on recreation within the film's itself, the biopic also taps into the downsides of his life. To the viewers' relief, John's long and difficult struggle with addiction is predicated in a genuine way.

Rocketman Avoids Stigmatization

Rocketman successfully avoids the use of any stigmas and focuses on potential causes and treatments. As for Elton John's case, the movie revealed how traumatizing events during his childhood, as well as further incidents in his adulthood, created and fueled his addictive behavior. Taron Egerton practically disappears into the title role, and knowing that Elton John himself served as an executive producer, you can expect an authentic depiction of his difficulties with addiction. Overall, it's a fantastic musical biopic . Watch the trailer for Rocketman on YouTube

10 TV Series That Deal With Addiction

3 beautiful boy (2018), beautiful boy.

Contrary to popular belief that despondency fuels drug use, Beautiful Boy works on a completely different tangent. Based on the life of Nic Sheff (Timothée Chalamet) and his relationship with his loving father, the film captures Nic’s teenage years as he struggles with his meth addiction while trying to cope with the help of his doting dad. The film is notable for featuring one of Steve Carrell's best performances as Nic's father.

A Realistic Depiction of Addiction

Beautiful Boy is an intense piece of cinema that views addiction through an empathetic lens. While it wouldn't make a huge splash at the box office, its ensuing critical praise — including multiple Best Supporting Actor nominations for Timothée Chalamet — makes for an impressively realistic depiction of addiction at a young age. Seeing it primarily through the eyes of Nic's father makes the ensuing struggle all the more heartfelt. Watch the trailer for Beautiful Boy on YouTube

2 Trainspotting (1996)

Trainspotting.

Director Danny Boyle sets the tone of Trainspotting by starting the film with a rant about the everyday complications of life before finally having the lead character, Renton (Ewan McGregor), concluding in a cathartic way: “Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?” Danny Boyle's dark comedy follows the lives of a group of Edinburgh heroin addicts, whose addictions open the door for a wider examination of squalor and economic depression within the city itself.

Trainspotting Was Influential

Cut to more than two decades later, and the cultural impact of Trainspotting is undeniable. Boyle brilliantly captures the ethos of poverty in Britain and uses that as a setup to explain the mental state of the drug addict. It is a film that is honest and frank with its viewer, made more impressive via the lead performance of Ewan McGregor. The film would subsequently put director Danny Boyle on the map. Watch the trailer for Trainspotting on YouTube

1 Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Requiem for a dream.

Arguably one of the scariest films to have ever been made about drug use, Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream looks at addiction through different age groups and multitudes. Specifically, the film focuses on four specific characters: Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly), Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans), and Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), whose stories intersect at specific points. However, the unifying theme of addiction and the distress that led to their addiction can be found throughout.

A Horrifying Film About Addiction

Using drugs as a gateway to highlight the more pertinent issues faced by humans, the film provides a shocking insight as to why people do what they choose to do. It's one of the most intense movies of all time , with each character featured tragically collapsing inward until their lives are fully enveloped by their addiction. It's a film you'll likely see once, and never want to see again due to its unrelenting nature. Watch the trailer for Requiem for a Dream on YouTube

Stream on The Roku Channel

Mind Body Spirit

Cast & crew.

Sarah J. Bartholomew

Madi Bready

Kristi Noory

• Average 6.3

Information

© 2024 Welcome Villain

Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

'Mind Body Spirit' Review: A Horror Movie That Puts a Yoga Twist on 'Hereditary'

The most terrifying thing of all in this horror movie? The dreaded wellness influencer.

The Big Picture

• Mind Body Spirit is a found footage horror that pokes fun at wellness influencers.
• The film captures isolation and the descent into darkness well, though some other elements don't quite land.
• Mind Body Spirit is best when pushing boundaries, with Bartholomew's performance never wavering.

Mind Body Spirit , the feature horror debut by filmmakers Alex Henes and Matthew Merenda , is not the first film this year to feel like it’s tapping into similar things as Ari Aster ’s Hereditary . However, it is the only one thus far to involve so much yoga alongside its story about familial trauma and how it gets passed down . This could easily sound like a joke, but Mind Body Spirit is a found footage horror that plays things mostly straight beyond a few gags about influencers. This is both a blessing and a curse. The curse is that it never takes things quite far enough to be as sly a reflection of our modern digital lives as something like the recent The Influencer . Instead, its blessings come in the more supernatural dark delights, operating in the vein of something like Rob Savage ’s Host with a slight hint of the livestream horror Deadstream .

Mind Body Spirit (2023)

Mind Body Spirit follows Anya, an aspiring yoga influencer, as she embarks on a ritual practice left behind by her estranged grandmother. What starts as a spiritual self-help guide quickly evolves into something much more sinister. As Anya becomes obsessed with the mysterious power of the practice, she unwittingly unleashes an otherworldly entity that begins to take control of her life -- and her videos. Now Anya must race to unlock the truth, before her descent into madness threatens to consume her mind, body and spirit. 

These are all promising points of comparison and fans of those other movies will likely be tickled by much of Mind Body Spirit . What must then also be said is that it isn’t quite as good as any of its predecessors that it draws from in both theme and form. While many found footage movies operate in confined spaces, this frequently feels restricting rather than fully claustrophobic here. There is still some smashing fun to be had the longer it goes on, but its persistent limitations dampen the dread. Where something like We’re All Going to the World’s Fair captured the loneliness and liberation of the Internet , this only skims along the surface. This might be an unfair comparison to make, as Mind Body Spirit is more interested in the eerie than the existential, though it still can’t quite hit as hard as it could have .

What Is 'Mind Body Spirit' About?

This all begins with a computer sitting on a table. It has a playlist of videos that seem to have been archived that we will spend the film watching. The one making these videos is Anya, played by a wonderfully sincere and sinister Sarah J. Bartholomew , who is attempting to become a yoga influencer. Through early scenes of her speaking directly to the camera, we learn that her life has recently changed quite significantly as she moved to the home of her late grandmother to get a fresh start. It is there that she begins making videos that initially are awkward before becoming more unsettling. Anya is desperately trying to create an online presence for herself and is willing to do whatever it takes to do it.

This leads her to overlook some major warning signs that something is amiss in the house. The thing that consumes her day-to-day is making videos that are genuine and more sincere, though she is struggling to figure out how to do it. When she discovers her grandmother’s diary, she decides this will be her way of expressing herself and finding out who she really is . Little does she know that the text she is diving into is not about mindfulness and is a menacing ritual that she is unwittingly taking part in.

'The Coffee Table' Review: 'Hereditary's Head Trauma Has Nothing On This Horror Film

The film is then about isolation and the descent of Anya into darkness. We observe her becoming more and more emaciated as something seems to be taking control of her body. Some visual effects take you out of key scenes , including one surrounding a string being swallowed, but Bartholomew’s performance helps to smooth over some of the flaws. You may find yourself questioning why we are seeing some things, such as occasional video calls with her mother Lenka ( Anna Knigge ) or moments where she is laying in her bed that don’t seem to be being recorded, but the bigger issue is how some of the scenes are shot.

One scene where her influencer friend Kenzi ( Madi Bready ) comes over to make a video with Anya is understandably shot in a wide so that viewers can see the exercise they do, but it still feels a little distancing. Where something like Steven Soderbergh ’s upcoming Presence was able to find a greater variety of perspectives in a single house, Mind Body Spirit often falls back on the same tricks . The camera will occasionally rotate around to show us what is lurking in a room or go mobile as we discover hidden parts of the house, though much of it remains static.

'Mind Body Spirit' Is a Horror Film Trying to Get Under Your Skin

Sometimes, this can cut a bit deeper, like when Anya speaks directly to us while sitting at a desk about her insecurities just as her door begins to open behind her. This is often undercut by ads, some with Kenzi and one with a random guy talking about a nonsense drink he’s trying to sell, sacrificing scares for silliness. The ads do a fine job of mimicking the type of empty influencers Anya doesn’t want to be, but this light skewering still comes with a cost. Scenes that felt like they were building to something disturbing are cut short, lacking the patience to let them get under our skin. Even one disquieting moment where Anya speaks in a room of candles with a wild look in her eyes ends abruptly. It’s as if there was more to the scene that was ripped away, so we could go back to scenes where we are again at a distance. It doesn’t doom the film entirely, but it does hold it back from its full potential .

Much like Anya speaks about hollowing out herself for something else to move on in, the best parts of the film come once this process starts to take hold. Once we get past the more clunky string scene, Mind Body Spirit starts to find more chilling territory. From a nighttime excursion where the camera drifts around the house to a confessional scene the next morning where we hear the creeping fear turning to obsession in Anya’s voice, these escalations kick the experience up a notch. A lot of this comes down to Bartholomew’s performance, which never wavers even when the film frequently does. She gives us insights into her character more naturally than some of the occasionally forced dialogue, showing us glimpses of her increasingly fractured mind through an embodied performance. Even when the film doesn’t fully capture the spirit, the spell she casts gets awfully close .

Mind Body Spirit is a fine found footage horror film that still can't hit as hard as it could have.

• Even as the film wavers a bit, Sarah J. Bartholomew never does as she gives a performance that casts a strong spell.
• Once we get closer to the end, the film gets more chilling and leaves behind some of the more clunky elements.
• The film does a fine job of mimicking the ads of influencers, lightly skewering them here and there.
• The film occasionally sacrifices scares for silliness.
• Some of the way the film is shot, shaky effects, and forced dialogue hold things back.

Mind Body Spirit is now available to stream on VOD in the U.S.

WATCH ON VOD

Marvel accidentally spoils Deadpool and Wolverine's plot (and it's a jaw-dropper)

E ver since the first trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine made its presence felt, the internet has been alight with speculation about what could happen in the movie to bring the two frenemies together. We know that the Time Variance Authority will be involved, and we know that they will recruit Deadpool for a multiversal mission, but little else is known about the film (other than the fact that Hugh Jackman will be making his long-awaited return as Wolverine).

However, a major plot detail about the movie has been (perhaps inadvertently) released by none other than Marvel themselves it seems. And if it turns out to be true, it not only confirms a major fan theory, it means we're in for a truly mind-blowing adventure.

Deadpool and Wolverine will take a trip into the MCU's past

A new synopsis for Deadpool and Wolverine has surfaced online and it has revealed some major plot details from the upcoming movie. Originating from Marvel's official Zazzle store, the synopsis reveals that the pair will be revisiting some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most iconic moments. It reads:

Not only will [Deadpool and Wolverine] be working to defeat a range of villains plaguing the Marvel universe, bub, but they’ll be gate-crashing the MCU franchise, too, and putting their own R-rated, 20th Century Fox-styled twist on some of our favorite moments from Phases 1-4!

Needless to say, this is a huge deal - so huge in fact that shortly after it began doing the rounds on the internet, it was updated to a more straightforward synopsis that consisted of just one sentence. Fans have been speculating about what the chaotic duo will get up to throughout the movie as most of the footage has leaned into their showdown in The Void, but this adds some more context to the plot.

It also supports the fan theory going around that Wade Wilson and Logan could find their way to the legendary battle between The Avengers and Thanos during Avengers: Endgame . The second trailer for the movie featured a closing sequence of the titular duo jumping into one of Doctor Strange's portals, which led fans to believe that they could end up landing straight in the battle sequence along with the other heroes who teleported there in that scene. Now, that seems a heck of a lot more possible.

Even if it isn't the Avengers: Endgame battle, there are a host of scenes from the other MCU movies that it could be, and quite frankly, the idea of revisiting some of them through the point-of-view of either Wolverine or Deadpool is fascinating (and exciting... very, very exciting).

The mysteries of Deadpool and Wolverine

Marvel Studios has done a great job of keeping the plot of Deadpool and Wolverine under wraps in all of its promotional material. The trailers have mostly focused on the showdown in The Void, while the artwork and promo stills haven't been spoilery either. But this new synopsis might have inadvertently spoiled it.

With so much of the story unknown, this is the biggest plot reveal we've had yet. Fans are beginning to wonder if the movie will takes its cues from the aforementioned Avengers: Endgame in having its main characters revisit some of the MCU's greatest hits? While the idea of that happening in the film wasn't totally unexpected, the belief was that they would be quick and fleeting moments, but if it is as big a part of the plot as the synopsis suggests, then that changes everything.

It also might explain why the film is expected to feature so many cameo appearances. Cameos are nothing new in Marvel's multiversal movies, but a film that makes its way back through the MCU's memories has limitless potential in terms of returns and guest appearances. Could we see some of the original Avengers make a comeback? Could they interact with Wade and Logan? And does this mean the duo could make their way to alternate realms too, giving us some What If...? scenarios along the way?

We'll have to wait and see what shenanigans Deadpool and Wolverine has in store for us, but this is one the most exciting updates yet. And we're not ready to see the enemies-turned-friends cause havoc in the MCU's timeline (but we're also so ready for it!).

This article was originally published on bamsmackpow.com as Marvel accidentally spoils Deadpool and Wolverine's plot (and it's a jaw-dropper) .