Is there anything that pairs better with an expertly packed bowl than movies that reshape how you see the world? Give yourself an ethereal high with these ten movies that make you question your reality.
Photo: Flickr
Stalker (1979)
Director Andrei Tarkovsky’s body of work is widely known for its dreamy, evocative, and atmospheric qualities. And while Stalker is more muted than his other works, it retains that quality all while telling a dystopian tale that is deeply philosophical.
The film follows a “Stalker” on an expedition. He guides a writer seeking inspiration and a professor in search of scientific discovery through a wasteland. At the end of this journey is The Room, a space that grants one’s deepest desires.
Stalker is a clever take on themes of humanity, faith, and desire. And beyond that, it is an absolutely mesmerizing experience.
Another Earth (2011)
If you woke up one day and learned there was another Earth out there, possibly with an alternate version of you, what would you do?
Like most sci-fi films, this one includes some wildly cool concepts and interpretations of reality. But unlike them, the focus of this film is on identity, regret, and yearning to fix the past. Without the need for high-budget visual effects or flashy sequences, this is definitely in the top ten of movies that make you question reality.
The Discovery (2017)
Alternate universes have become an incredibly common theme in modern films. Exploring multiverses is one of many takes on it. But there is another, less common theme that explores similar aspects of the human condition: the afterlife.
The Discovery follows a scientist who discovers definitive proof of an afterlife. With this newfound information, countless people decide to take their lives and move on. Others, however, decide to stay the course.
This isn’t necessarily an easy film to sit through, largely because of its exploration of death, human consciousness, and our perceived realities. It is, nonetheless, a stunning watch and definitely recommended for anyone looking to disrupt their view of the world.
The Nines (2007)
Alternate universes and the afterlife can be mind-bending enough on their own. But throw in parallel universes, gods among men, and the possibility that you’re trapped in your own mind, and you’ve got yourself a life-altering experience.
The Nines is an intriguing story broken into three interconnected parts. The fractured storytelling makes it similar to movies like Memento (2000) and Tenet (2020). Its core plot of a man whose reality keeps unraveling around him likens it to movies like The Truman Show (1998). And its twists and turns and final reveal make it a pretty solid reality-altering film perfect for the stoner in search of something unique.
Primer (2004)
Primer is an indie science fiction movie about two engineers who accidentally invent a time machine. Despite its evidently low budget and seemingly simple premise, it is a cult classic. And with good reason.
The movie is a mind-bending exploration of time travel, causality, and the nature of reality. It adopts an experimental approach to unraveling its core mysteries. The plot can be a little complex and the dialogue quite technical. But if you’re in the mood for a mind-bending movie, it’s worth checking out.
The Endless (2017)
The Endless is a science fiction horror movie about two brothers who return to a cult they left years ago. As one would expect, things don’t go too smoothly once they arrive.
Unlike many modern horror films, The Endless foregoes tropes and jumpscares in favor of clever visual storytelling. The result is a kaleidoscope of time loops and alternate dimensions, making this one of the best movies that make you question reality.
Add in a mysterious plot and an eerie atmosphere, and you’ve got yourself the perfect spooky film to go with your smoke sesh.
Coherence (2013)
Coherence is a science fiction thriller about a group of friends who experience strange phenomena during a dinner party. The movie then transforms into a thrilling journey into parallel universes and quantum mechanics.
This is the kind of film some people might overlook because it doesn’t offer an immediate draw. But it’s a wonderfully surreal, sometimes creepy experience.
The One I Love (2014)
At first glance, The One I Love appears to be a romance. But this surreal film is so much more than what it appears. And that makes it impossible to categorize.
A couple whose marriage is on the rocks heed their therapist’s advice and decide to spend the weekend at a secluded vacation home. What could possibly go wrong?
The One I Love is delightfully strange, in the best ways possible. With an excellent, twisty plot and stellar performances, this film is sure to have you rethinking what you know about love.
Frequencies (2013)
The notion that we operate on frequencies is not new. And while most would assume the concept is largely pseudoscience and spiritualism, research has found some basis for this theory. In Frequencies, we see the concept taken to new heights in some rather intriguing ways.
In a world where one’s luck is determined early on by their frequency, the unluckiest boy strives to change his fate.
The movie has earned some criticism for being a little flat and detached. But its exploration of a unique concept makes it worth watching nonetheless.
The Man from Earth (2007)
The Man from Earth opens with Professor John Oldman packing his belongings into a truck when he is interrupted by colleagues who wish to see him off. As the group settles into an impromptu farewell party, the group presses Oldman till he reveals his true reasons for leaving. He is, in fact, thousands of years old, and must relocate to avoid being found out.
Soon, each member of the party begins trying to prove or disprove his claim. What makes for an intriguing watch, however, is the party members themselves. Each comes from a unique academic or theological background that prompts them to approach the Professor’s story in a different way.
Ultimately, we find that there really is no one way to view the world. And that makes for a wonderfully thought-provoking film.
What If God Was One of Us?
Joan Osborne’s familiar refrain was, oddly enough, never meant to be a religious statement. It was simply meant to question perceptions of god as an all-knowing deity, instead framing them as a regular individual capable of being as hurt as any human. In other words, not everything is what it seems, and the alternative can be quite a strange twist. And it is this quality that makes these ten movies that make you question reality so delectably good.
