Ask anyone who has seen the Safdie Brothers' 2019 sports betting thrill ride Uncut Gems to explain their mental state after finishing the movie and they'll probably use words like stressed, anxious, and psychologically scarred. All of those adjectives are apt as the tense drama doesn't let up from before the title screen until the end credits roll. The movie, like Adam Sandler's incredible performance, is that intense.
But Uncut Gems isn't the first movie that has grabbed audiences and broke them physically, emotionally, and mentally with a pace that would break down even the strongest and most sound of spirits. Throughout the history of cinema, there have been dozens of movies that could be described as anxiety-inducing, stressful exercises that were seemingly crafted to the make audiences feel more than a little uncomfortable and unstable upon viewing.
