Shocking documentaries are a dime-a-dozen nowadays, but few of them really have the ability to make a lasting impression. In a sea of lackluster documentaries that rely on clichéd shock tactics, these documentaries stand out in sharp relief.
10
High on Crack Street
Year of release: 1995
High on Crack Street details the daily lives of three crack addicts as they struggle with their addiction. Stark and engrossing with occasional glimpses of absurd humor, the documentary is an ultimately tragic look at the damage that crack causes.
9
Aokigahara / Suicide Forest
Year of release: 2012
The Aokigahara Forest in Mount Fuji is a striking natural setting that hides a gruesome secret: it is a place where people go to take their own lives. The documentary is filmed from the point of view of a geologist and the bleakness of his discoveries makes this an engrossing if somewhat tragic video experience.
8
The Iceman Tapes
Year of release: 1992
Documentaries on serial killers aren’t exactly new, but this one is especially compelling. The Iceman Tapes is an unflinching series of interviews with Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski, a serial contact killer. Conducted by psychiatrist Michael Baden, the interviews take the viewer into the mind of a killer who shows absolutely no remorse.
7
Nuit et Brouillard
Year of release: 1955
The Holocaust is one of the most tragic events in human history, and Nuit et Brouillard does a great job of covering the full depth of outrage that occurred. It takes the viewer through Auschwitz and Majdanek, and covers the eventual fate of its prisoners.
6
Atomic Wounds
Year of release: 2006
Atomic Wounds is a documentary on the horrifying effects of the nuclear bombardment of Nagasaki and Hiroshima on people that survived the attack. Compelling and brutally honest, Atomic Wounds shows viewers an aspect of war that most would rather ignore.
5
Conspiracy of Silence
Year of release: 1994
Conspiracy of Silence definitely can’t be mistaken for a big-budget Hollywood production. Nevertheless, the less-than-stellar quality of the video doesn’t detract too much from the core message, which is the abuse of power routinely done by the rich and famous.
4
The Killing of America
Year of release: 1982
The Killing of America gives viewer a close up glimpse of criminal activity that goes on in the streets daily. More than just a shock video, this documentary is seeks an explanation to a problem that still exists to this very day.
3
Interview with a Cannibal
Year of release: 2012
You’ve never seen a cannibal documentary quite like this one. The story of Issei Sagawa who has amazingly been set free despite horrific crimes, Interview with a Cannibal offers a glimpse into the mind of a cannibal like no other.
2
Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children
Year of release: 2007
The story of street children living in the harsh streets of Bulgaria, this documentary is a compelling and disheartening look into the lives of children that have largely been discarded by society.
1
Child of Rage
Year of release: 1992
The fact that this made it to the top spot in a list of truly shocking documentaries is a testament to its disturbing nature. Child of Rage is the story of a little girl who has lost all empathy as a result of a tragic upbringing.