Not all are hack and slash gore fests, take Threads (1984), for instance:
Threads actually wasn’t a feature film. It was a BBC mini-series that aired in 1984 that detailed in excruciating detail the after effects of a nuclear war between the United States and Russia that escalated to include the UK. The movie follows two families as they all basically die for various reasons (medical, economic, etc.) in the months and years following the attack, culminating in the devastating conclusion that showed a UK with a completely broken civilization where kids can’t even read just thirteen years after the bombs dropped.
Re-reading the above paragraph I realize my words really aren’t doing justice to how incredibly bleak Threads is, you really need to watch the movie to get the full effect. Luckily, (or not depending on how you want to look at it) the full film is on Google Video.
http://movies.popcrunch.com/the-15-most-disturbing-movies-ever-made/
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by redsfaithful.
'The Cement Garden' would definitely be on the list. This movie is 'ick', on so many levels. Remember, this stars Charlotte Gainsbourg--the daughter of the goy who sang 'Lemon Incest'...