Top 10 "WTF Did I Just Watch!?" 90s Movies

Top 10 WTF Did I Just Watch 90s Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the most elusive, disturbing, and/or confusing movies in the 1990s.

#10: Jacobs Ladder (1990)

Tackling a complex theme with psychological horror elements, Jacobs Ladder juggles a lot during its runtime. A Vietnam veteran tries to find the line between nightmare and reality. The visuals only add to this sometimes-terrifying experience. Tim Robbins protagonist tries to learn if hes become an unwitting test subject or hes just losing his mind. The movie pushes you to the brink, with the main character going through hell and back. This all builds up to a bold ending thatll test your patience or render you speechless. Leaving you without easy answers, this trippy film doesnt give you much room to breathe.

#9: Pi (1998)

In his first film, Darren Aronofsky proved that he was a visionary director. Max Cohen slowly crumbles under the weight of his own intellect. Hes a math expert, but hes also caught up in his theories. While his mental health deteriorates, the character starts to wonder if his calculations could change the stock market or even life as we know it. This probably sounds insane because it kind of is. Regardless, Aronofsky puts you in the middle of a downward spiral. You might become confused or even start to think about math a little differently. Either way, this theoretical thriller makes you feel like youre stuck in an advanced college course.

#8: Nothing but Trouble (1991)

What exactly happened here? Dan Aykroyd directs this somewhat disturbing horror comedy. Chevy Chase and Demi Moore play two unlucky souls that end up being held by a strange judge. Before long, they meet oddball characters played by John Candy and Aykroyd under some creepy makeup. Despite the talent on display, nobody seems to be able to do anything right. The dialogue, plot, and overall vibes are continuously off-putting as the heroes struggle to escape. Theres also the inexplicable cameo by Digital Underground and a young Tupac Shakur. Testing your patience, Nothing but Trouble is an absurd trainwreck.

#7: Tank Girl (1995)

While the comic has a fun art style, this movie crumbles under the weight of the plot. It cant quite decide whether its goofy sci-fi or semi-serious. Like many films of its kind, you might be wondering how they got the budget to make it. The post-apocalyptic setting lets the title hero encounter several strange characters played by random musicians like Iggy Pop and Ice-T. The latter wears some interesting makeup, having transformed himself into a role thats part kangaroo. That alone might either scare you or make you curious for more. Aside from the visuals, this one fumbles around with its anti-corporate message before fizzling out by the end.

#6: Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

To put it lightly, this movie is about humanitys relationship to machines. The hero finds himself slowly turning into some kind of human/metal cocktail. Tetsuo: The Iron Man blends sci-fi, horror, and even dark comedy into one unforgettable experience. The main character transforms into some kind of awful mix between The Terminator and a mechanized tragedy. You may or may not have had the stomach to see this one during its stateside release in 1992, especially with Shinya Tsukamoto crossing the line many times over. Some low-budget effects also turn this into a memorable event. If youre not a fan of watching bodies being disfigured, you might want to skip this altogether.

#5: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Blending gonzo journalism and surreal images, Terry Gilliams adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson book is a rollercoaster ride. The director finds a way to turn a trippy tale about drugs and Las Vegas into a shock to the senses. Johnny Depp plays a fictionalized version of Thompson, bouncing off the walls in one of his craziest performances ever. He also has Benicio Del Toro as a scene partner to further stretch the concept of reality. Gilliam knows how to turn hotels and casinos into nightmares, with Vegas setting the stage for a hallucinatory journey. It might even make you question whether or not youre sober yourself.

#4: Naked Lunch (1991)

David Cronenberg is known for body horror, but he also finds a way to adapt difficult books. Naked Lunch doesnt exactly beg for a screen adaptation or make enough literal sense to have one. William Burroughs constructs perhaps the strangest statement of the Beat era, but Cronenberg twists it even further. The central hero and exterminator makes his way through the Interzone while dealing with all kinds of creatures. To call some images unsettling would be an understatement, with even a typewriter becoming a gross insect-like creature. The directors unhinged vision might haunt your dreams or make you more afraid of bugs.

#3: Being John Malkovich (1999)

From the mind of writer Charlie Kaufman, this film needs to be seen to be believed. What happens when a man finds a portal into John Malkovichs brain? In this movie, John Cusacks hero starts selling tickets and eventually comes to possess the actor. Things only get more bizarre from there in this cerebral comedy. Director Spike Jonze envisions the increasingly wild scenarios that make for an ingenious idea. This includes a scene where Malkovich himself journeys into his own mind, finding a meta nightmare inside. Its one of the most original, strangest, and entertaining works of its kind.

#2: Lost Highway (1997)

Is this the most abstract David Lynch movie? It certainly boggles the mind in ways youre not even expecting. The filmmaker shows a musician having a breakdown after a mysterious man starts tormenting him. That isnt all because theres also a mechanic that falls for a gangsters mistress. Leave it to Lynch to delve into the surreal aspects of your subconscious. When you arent watching Bill Pullmans hero play saxophone, you can watch Robert Loggias villain get serious road rage. It wasnt the only sinister trip the director made in the 1990s either, revisiting Twin Peaks for a prequel. Consider it another in a series of singular and confusing works by a master.

#1: Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubricks final film is about jealousy, obsession, and conspiracy. A doctor seeks to understand his marriage and ends up at a shadowy party. After a creepy night out, Tom Cruises character discovers a party that wishes to remain secret. His curiosity gets the best of him until hes lost down a rabbit hole. Eyes Wide Shut is full of scenes that might disturb you, but its also a mystery worth examining. Its full of twists thatll have you on the edge of your seat. With all of its dark subject matter, Kubricks vision will be hard to get out of your mind.

Did we forget another film that confused you? Let us know in the comments below!