Our current pandemic worrisome at best, and on a bad day, can be debilitating to your mental health. So why not liven things up by watching a fun thriller movie that’s way too close to what’s actually happening? Here are a few stressful, shocking movies that will do the opposite of entertain right now.
Outbreak (1995)
Outbreak is the quarantine movie if you’re looking for something that rings painfully true to our current times. This movie shows researchers tracking a disease to its source, all while a small town is at risk of being blown up by the government to contain the virus. It’s a good reminder that if you’re not worried about the government letting you die, at least the government isn’t trying nuke you personally!
Contagion (2011)
This is another stressful movie about the CDC working to find a cure in the midst of a pandemic. Close to home? You betcha! Add to your daytime stress by relishing in the nighttime stress of watching a hyper-realistic film about exactly how a virus could be the downfall of humanity. Super chill!
I am Legend (2007)
While this movie involves the last surviving human on earth trying to ward off the mutant victims of a plaque, it will still hit shockingly close to home. As the protagonist experiments on his own blood to find a cure, you’ll wonder, “Should I be doing that? The government doesn’t seem to have much of a plan. Will Smith seems to have a good thing going here.”
28 Days Later (2002)
While this movie envisions a dystopic future where an incurable zombie-like virus spreads through the UK, it will seem quaint in the sense that the virus has not spread to the United States. Still, the whole thing will have you feeling pretty bad about how close this is to our life now. It might be comforting to know that we at least don’t live in a zombie apocalypse…yet.
Everyone needs a bit of escapism once and awhile, especially in the midst of a pandemic. But these movies will not really be that. Enjoy!
