A Collection of Disturbing Documentaries You May Not Have Seen....Yet

Shoah (1985)

40 years after end of WW2 and the liberation of many concentration camps, director Claude Manzmann put together this 9-hour documentary of the aftermath to discover what exactly happened in these camps. This film does not rely on archival footage, so dont expect stuff you may have seen in high school. This relies completely on testimonies from the locals, previous SS officers, witnesses and holocaust survivors. They explore the landscape and its original locations to discover the troubling past.

The Day After Trinity (1981)

Scientists and witnesses involved in the creation and testing of the first ever atomic bomb reflect on the Manhattan project and its fascinating leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer, who upon completion of his wonderful and horrible invention became a powerful spokesperson against the nuclear arms race.

Trinity & Beyond (1995)

A documentary presenting mankind's most ambitious effort at perfecting the means to its own annihilation. Featuring newly unclassified atomic test footage.

An American Experience: Radio Bikini (1988)

It starts with a live radio broadcast from the Bikini Atoll a few days before it is annihilated by a nuclear test. Shows great footage from these times and tells the story of the US Navy Sailors who were exposed to radioactive fallout. One interviewed sailor suffered grotesquely swollen limbs and he is shown being interviewed with enormous left arm and hand.

The Imposter (2012)

Missing children happen everyday. But when a family is finally reunited with their child who was missing some 10 years ago, the family is thrilled despite knowing the truth. The Imposter is two parts mystery and one part WTF.

Making of a Murderer (2016)

I have a feeling many of you have seen this already. Still a fucked up documentary. This is a 10-part series going 10-hours in length, yet, binge watching has never been so satisfying.

Dear Zachary

Probably one of the most disturbing documentaries I have ever watched. The story of Andrew Bagby as told by one of his closest friends. It is completely amateur filmmaking, but no professional storytelling needs to be done with a story so appalling and shocking as this one. I dont like spoilers and this one has it.

Paradise Lost Trilogy: The Child Murders of Robin Hood Hills (1996-2011)

The story of three teenagers led by Damien Echols who were arrested as suspects in the killing of three young boys. With a botched investigation within the heart of the Bible Belt, these three teenagers who were considered to be Devil Worshipers. The complete trilogy follows the boys from the trial, interviews with parents and many other strange and suspicious people. Some graphic photos are shown.

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)

Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district.

Capturing the Freidmans (2003)

In the late 1980's, the Friedmans are seemingly your typical middle class American family. They all admit that the marriage was by no means close to being harmonious. This façade of respectability masks the fact that Arnold was buying and distributing child pornography. Following a sting operation to confirm this fact, the authorities began to investigate Arnold for sexual abuse of the minor-aged male students of his computer classes, which he held in the basement of the family home. Based on interviews with the students, not only was Arnold charged with and ultimately convicted of multiple counts of sodomy and sexual abuse of these boys but so was eighteen year old Jesse, who was mentioned by many as the aggressor of the two in the acts. Arnold admitted that he is a pedophile, but that he did not abuse the boys in his class as charged and convicted. The trial process brought out the dysfunction that previously existed within the family. But the issue of Arnold and Jesse's guilt of these acts is hotly debated among the family, among the authorities, among the media and among the students of the computer classes.

Who Took Johnny (2014)

If there was one documentary that shook my core, it would be this one. Johnny Gosch went missing some 1982 morning delivering newspapers and this sent the mother on a trail to discover what happened to him. What you find out is one of the most disturbing cover-ups happening in America. (Incidentally, it was Johnny Gosch who was the first missing child to appear on a milk carton).

The Chesire Murders (2013)

When a home invasion happened to this family, the shit hit the fan. By the end of the day, two were dead and house had burned down.

Team Foxcatcher (2016)

An original Netflix documentary after ESPN's 30/30 and the movie version starring Steve Carral comes this full length documentary with never before seen footage displaying the slow demise of Foxcatcher coach DuPont, heir to the chemical company.

Jesus Camp (2006)

Jesus Camp follows several young children as they prepare to attend a summer camp where the kids will get their daily dose of evangelical Christianity. Becky Fischer works at the camp, which is named Kids on Fire. Through interviews with Fischer, the children, and others, Jesus Camp illustrates the unswerving belief of the faithful. A housewife and homeschooling mother tells her son that creationism has all the answers. Footage from inside the camp shows young children weeping and wailing as they promise to stop their sinning. Child after child is driven to tears. Juxtapose these scenes with clips from a more moderate Christian radio host (who is appalled by such tactics), and Jesus Camp seems to pose a clear question: are these children being brainwashed?

Grizzly Man

A docudrama that centers on amateur grizzly bear expert Timothy Treadwell. He periodically journeyed to Alaska to study and live with the bears. He was killed, along with his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, by a rogue bear in October 2003. The films explores Treadwell's compassionate life as he found solace among these endangered animals.

Team Foxcatcher (2016)

"Team Foxcatcher" is a documentary about how John DuPont used his money in a nefarious way, supposedly to help the USA Olympic Wrestling Team by building expensive training facilities, on his home property, called "Foxcatcher". Dave Schultz, the USA's most successful wrestler at the time, was among the closest to DuPont, defending him when DuPont's bizarre activities began to cause concern among those living on the Foxcatcher estate. Eventually, Schultz's loyalty to DuPont would cost him his life.