Surrealist Movies

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Rated R

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 dystopian crime film written, directed, and produced by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The film follows the violent exploits of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a charismatic delinquent living in a near-future Britain. After committing a few heinous crimes, Alex is arrested and convicted, and is then offered an experimental therapy as an alternative to serving his sentence in prison. The therapy, which involves conditioning him to be violently ill at the thought of violence, works, and Alex is released back into society. Despite his newfound aversion to violence, Alex finds himself in dangerous situations and is eventually forced to confront the consequences of his past actions. Ultimately, Alex must decide whether he will continue down his path of destruction, or embrace a newfound morality.

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

2001: A Space Odyssey is an evocative science-fiction masterpiece from acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick. Taking place in the distant future, the film follows a voyage to Jupiter of a spaceship piloted by a sentient computer named HAL 9000. Along the way, the crew encounter mysterious black monoliths that seem to be responsible for the evolution of mankind. The film is a thought-provoking exploration of technology, evolution, human potential and the nature of existence. It stands today as a lavish, surreal and often bizarre cinematic experience, and is considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Rated R

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky. The film follows four characters in Brooklyn who become addicted to drugs and their descent into addiction and despair. The protagonists are Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), his mother Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), Harry's girlfriend Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly) and his friend Tyrone C. Love (Marlon Wayans). Harry and Tyrone become involved in a drug-dealing venture, while Marion and Sara descend into addiction. As their addictions become increasingly difficult to control, their lives spiral out of control and they face dire consequences. The film explores themes of addiction, mental illness, and the power of dreams.

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 film stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who have each undergone a procedure to erase their memories of each other. The story follows their struggle to rekindle their relationship amidst the fading memories, and explores the nature of memory and love. The film takes place in an alternate reality where a company called Lacuna, Inc. provides a service to erase unwanted memories. When the couple, Joel and Clementine, break up, they visit Lacuna to have each other erased from their memories. As the procedure begins, Joel realizes he still loves Clementine and attempts to sabotage it. The film follows his efforts to rescue the memories of Clementine he still has and to recreate their relationship. The film has been praised for its innovative narrative structure and its exploration of memory and relationships. It was nominated for four Academy Awards and won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

From Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Rated R

Amélie is a 2001 French romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The film follows the story of Amélie Poulain, a young woman with an active imagination and a curious nature, who lives in Montmartre, Paris. After finding a lost treasure belonging to a boy, Amélie becomes obsessed with helping people find happiness. While she helps others around her, she discovers love and learns to trust people for the first time. Along the way, she discovers the power of her own actions to influence the world around her, and ultimately finds her own happiness.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe
Rated Not Rated

The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in Sweden during the Black Death, it follows a knight (Max von Sydow) and a group of compatriots as they journey across the landscape, facing the various moral and existential questions that arise from death's looming presence. Along the way, the knight challenges the figure of Death (Bengt Ekerot) to a chess match for his life. The film also examines the themes of faith, fate, and the existential aspects of death. With its stark imagery and iconic scenes, The Seventh Seal is one of the most renowned films of all time, and is widely considered a masterwork of world cinema.

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. It follows two women: Alma, a nurse, and Elisabet Vogler, an actress who has stopped speaking. Alma is assigned to care for Elisabet at a beach house. As Alma attempts to understand Elisabet, their identities begin to blur as they share their innermost thoughts and experiences. Through the course of the film, Alma and Elisabet explore the complexities of human relationships and the power of communication. Ultimately, the film questions the nature of identity and the relationships between the self and others.

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

Mulholland Drive is a surrealistic neo-noir mystery film directed by David Lynch. The movie follows the journey of a young woman named Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) who moves to Los Angeles and is quickly caught up in a complex web of mystery and intrigue. She meets a mysterious amnesiac woman (Laura Harring) who was involved in a car accident on Mulholland Drive and is trying to piece together her identity and her past. Together, the two women investigate a sinister plot involving a movie studio, a corrupt director, and a devious hitman. As the plot unravels, Betty and the amnesiac woman find themselves caught up in a surreal dream world filled with clues and revelations that will alter their lives forever. The film is a thrilling and haunting exploration of identity, dreams, and the dark underbelly of Hollywood.

From Luis Buñuel, starring Fernando Rey, Delphine Seyrig, Paul Frankeur, Bulle Ogier
Rated PG

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) is a surrealist comedy film by Spanish director Luis Buñuel, starring Fernando Rey, Paul Frankeur, Bulle Ogier, and Delphine Seyrig. The film follows the attempts of a group of upper-class friends, who are constantly thwarted in their attempts to have dinner together. Each time they attempt to have dinner, they are interrupted by bizarre events, strange characters, and surreal dreams. As their attempts to have dinner together become increasingly convoluted, their initial attempt to dine together starts to seem more and more like a dream itself. Along the way, the film satirizes the pretensions of the bourgeoisie and the absurdities of the social class system.

From Spike Jonze, starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich
Rated R

"Being John Malkovich" is a 1999 comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze, and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film stars John Cusack as a down-on-his-luck puppeteer, Craig Schwartz, who finds a portal that leads into the mind of the famous actor John Malkovich. Through the portal, Craig and others are able to inhabit Malkovich's body for fifteen minute intervals, before being ejected into a ditch near the New Jersey Turnpike. As Craig and his co-workers explore the portal, they find themselves in the midst of a bizarre love triangle involving the puppeteer, his pet-obsessed wife, and his co-worker. The film is a darkly humorous and surreal exploration of identity, love and sexuality, as well as the idea of living vicariously through others.

From Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough
Rated R

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a 2014 American dark comedy-drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Michael Keaton as the title character. The film follows a washed-up Hollywood actor, Riggan Thomson, as he attempts to reclaim his former glory by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of a story by his idol, Raymond Carver. The film is a complex and surreal exploration of art and fame, as Riggan battles self-doubt, ego, and the external pressures of a world that no longer values him.

From David Lynch, starring Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern
Rated R

Blue Velvet is a 1986 American mystery thriller film written and directed by David Lynch. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern. Set in the small town of Lumberton, North Carolina, the film tells the story of college student Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan) as he investigates a strange and surreal disturbance in the town, where the harsh realities of crime, fear, and the darkness of human nature are exposed. Jeffrey discovers a severed human ear in a field and sets out on a journey to uncover the mystery behind it, leading him to the seedy underworld of Lumberton and to the dark secrets of a beautiful and disturbed lounge singer, Dorothy Vallens (Rossellini). The film explores themes of death, violence, voyeurism, and sexuality, as Jeffrey becomes entangled in a web of intrigue and danger.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack
Rated R

Eyes Wide Shut is a psychological thriller starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a married couple whose relationship is tested after the husband's jealous fantasies are stirred up by a chance encounter. The couple, Dr. William and Alice Harford, are forced to confront their innermost secrets and desires as they embark on a night-long odyssey through the streets of New York City. Along the way, they are caught up in a mysterious and dangerous underworld of secret societies, sexual rituals, and a high-stakes game of blackmail. The film explores themes such as loyalty and fidelity, power and control, and the unpredictable nature of human relationships.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov, Leo G. Carroll
Rated Approved

Spellbound is a 1945 suspense-thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It follows the story of a young psychiatrist, Dr. Constance Petersen (Ingrid Bergman), who is hired to help the director of Green Manors mental hospital, Dr. Anthony Edwardes (Gregory Peck). After the sudden disappearance of Edwardes, Petersen discovers that the man she has been working with is an impostor, an amnesiac named John Ballantyne (also played by Peck). As Petersen helps to unravel the mystery of Ballantyne's identity and the motives behind the switch, she not only unearths a possible murder, but also a passionate romance between her and Ballantyne. With the help of a fellow psychiatrist, Petersen is determined to uncover the truth and prove Ballantyne's innocence. Along the way, she is faced with treachery, deceit, and the very real possibility of losing the man she loves. Spellbound is a riveting story of love, deceit, and murder that will keep viewers guessing until the very end.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart
Rated R

From Dario Argento, starring Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé
Rated R

From David Lynch, starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates
Rated Not Rated

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Sean Patrick Thomas, Ellen Burstyn
Rated PG-13

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent, Sarah Gadon, Isabella Rossellini
Rated R

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer
Rated R