Renowned director Darren Aronofsky is well-known for his strange and occasionally spooky films.
He has gained notoriety recently with roles in movies including Mother!, The Whale, and Black Swan.
However, despite being hailed as one of the greatest films in history, there is another early Aronofsky picture that is hardly ever discussed.
One user commented, “I don’t know how many times I watched it but it f***ed me up a little worse each time.”
Another says: “A brutal masterpiece, a must-watch but be prepared to be emotionally wrecked.”
“Unlike most f***ed up’ movies, this is expertly directed, acted, and has a very poignant story that leaves you very empty by the end,” comments a third viewer. “It very much sucks the hope and happiness out of you. The Dementor of films.”
Somebody else pens: “The most traumatic movie I have ever watched.”
A fifth person adds: “Brilliant but deeply unsettling and draining…”
Starring Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher McDonald, and Marlon Wayans, the psychological drama is based on Hubert Selby Jr.’s 1978 novel of the same name. Aronofsky co-wrote the screenplay with Selby Jr.
It shows how heroin addiction affects four persons and changes their emotional and physical states.
They all decline during the film, leading to a tragedy in the end.
Following comedian Rose Matafeo’s question on X, formerly Twitter, “What is the best film that you never want to see again? Or at least for a very long time?”
The drama was a clear winner, with one person responding: “I just do not think I will be able to watch it again. It is so heavy and unflinching in the depiction. Great piece of cinema. But tough.”
In agreement, another adds: “Never – and I do mean NEVER – again.”
Over the years, Requiem for a Dream has gained a following despite being viewed as a box office flop.
It is rated 8.3/10 on IMDb and boasts an amazing audience score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is ranked 91st among its “Top 250 Movies,” according to the latter.
In an interview with The Talk, Aronofsky said he goes ‘as far as he can’ to torture his audience, explaining: “In today’s world, it is very hard to create images and ideas that people remember more than right in the moment so you want to create an experience that lasts. That usually has to be a pretty intense journey.
See the Requiem for a Dream trailer below.
You can watch Requiem for a Dream on Apple TV and Prime Video.
