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10 Mind-Bending Movies To Watch Right Away

by Devin Caldwell

While a classic blockbuster or a comedy is often satisfying, sometimes a mind-bending movie is just what the doctor ordered. Wrapping your brain around an insane movie can be exhilarating! If you're looking for the next thrilling film to watch, here are ten mind-bending movies to watch right away.

1. Memento

Memento is known as one of the seminal works of Christopher Nolan, and for good reason. It gives the audience a sense of what the main character, who has anterograde amnesia, is experiencing by weaving two timelines together. It shows him having difficulty figuring out where he's been, which is a reminder of how important using safety systems like GPS fleet tracking is. Since one plot moves chronologically and the other goes backwards, viewers are left scrambling to make sense of the intriguing film.

2. Fight Club

While not much can be said about this film without revealing a major spoiler, the entire watching experience provides twists and confusion galore. The film follows an unnamed narrator who meets a wild soap salesman. The two start a, well, fight club and escalate further into violence. Odd plot threads are slyly introduced and then left unexplained, at least until later. The twist is definitely worth the watch!

3. Black Swan

Ballet can be frightening, and few movies encapsulate this better than Black Swan. It shows the story of Nina Sayers, a professional ballet dancer who is struggling to master a role she's been cast in. As the rehearsal process goes on, the film gets more and more fantastical. This leads the viewers to doubt whether or not Nina is losing her mind, which makes for a compelling watch.

4. Donnie Darko

This cult classic is an exploration of how human choices affect everything in the world. It depicts aesthetically dark and dreamy scenes that give the viewers a sense of apprehension. It also delivers a highly emotional ending, so be prepared to cry!

5. Ex Machina

Ex Machina is a film that explores the humanity of artificial intelligence. It follows a man that's asked to give the Turing test to an AI robot. Several twists and turns occur along the way, and the film progresses into an exciting thriller. It isn't one to miss if you're a fan of robotic philosophy and completely random (yet satisfying) dance scenes.

6. Shutter Island

Shutter Island is another movie with a famous twist. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it follows a detective that investigates a psychiatric facility after a prisoner escapes. Similar to Fight Club, it provides numerous confusing scenes and thrilling moments that aren't explained until the end. If you want a psychological thriller with some mystery, this is the flick for you.

7. Requiem for a Dream

This movie is, admittedly, hard to get through. However, its artistic brilliance may make it worth the watch. It depicts the experiences of four people struggling with drug addiction, all of whom become trapped in delusions and difficult situations. If you have a strong stomach, check this film out.

8. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

The television show Black Mirror delivers mind-bending stories on a yearly basis, and it's interactive film is no exception. Bandersnatch asks the viewers to make choices for the main character. This brings the audience through a multitude of storylines, each one more twisted than the next. By the end, you may even feel responsible for what the characters have gone through.

9. Inception

Inception is another movie of Christopher Nolan's. It centers around a thief that operates by entering other people's dreams. This concept would be mind-bending enough on its own, but the stunning visuals add another layer to the experience. Inception can be hard to grasp, but it's very satisfying once you do.

10. 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most prolific and confusing films of all time. It depicts a crew journeying to Jupiter after an alien monolith that affects evolution is discovered. This is the ultimate mind-bending sci-fi movie to watch, so get on it!

Mind-bending films can be hard to watch, but the experience will give you something to think about for days. Pick one and have fun watching!