Top 10 Darkest Moments in Teen Movies

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#10: Charlie Gets Overwhelmed by Traumatic Memories
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)

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This drama follows a teen named Charlie as he deals with mental illness and befriends a pair of older step-siblings at his high school. The narrative’s darkest moment comes near the end when Charlie has a romantic encounter with his new friend Sam. Unfortunately, intimate touch triggers increasingly vivid and confusing flashbacks. The bad memories eventually overwhelm him and he soon needs to get help from a professional. He and the audience eventually learn these flashbacks started because he was mistreated as a kid. It’s truly difficult to see such a lovable character go through terrible struggles. Thankfully, Charlie is in much a better place by the end of the film.

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#9: School Violence
“Elephant” (2003)

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While this film received a lot of praise and even won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, it’s far from an easy watch. The movie initially focuses on high school students focusing on dark issues like parents with addictive behaviors and body image struggles. However, things soon take a turn for the worse when two students endanger the lives of their schoolmates. The twelve-minute scene centered around this event is absolutely grueling. And while some characters we’ve met survive, others meet a tragic fate. “Elephant” was definitely seen as controversial then and may even be more divisive in modern times. Its raw depiction of violence is understandably hard to stomach.

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#8: Brian Learns a Horrific Truth
“Mysterious Skin” (2004)

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Auf Dino-Spurensuche mit Brian Switek

A scene in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Neil is violently attacked was incredibly harrowing. Seeing that visceral sequence makes a later movie scene hit so much harder. The movie’s main characters decide to fully talk about a horrific experience they were both subjected to. Although Brian chalks up his strange memories to an alien abduction, Neil finally reveals that they were both forced to do horrible things by someone they trusted. The weight of this revelation caused Brian to break down in Neil’s arms. Although this is how the film ends, viewers know the duo are only beginning to come to terms with their past.

In “The Hate U Give”, Amandla Stenberg’s Starr Carter is a high schooler whose life drastically changes while on the way home from a house party. She and her friend Khalil are pulled over by a police car. During the stop, the officer falsely assumes the young driver has a gun and fatally wounds him. That violent act was already heartbreaking enough. But watching Starr get handcuffed while Khalil desperately needed help was sad and rage-inducing. Throughout this film, the characters discuss and dissect issues surrounding how police treat people of color. The tragic scene of Khalil’s passing made it crystal clear why these conversations need to happen.

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#6: Neil Takes His Own Life
“Dead Poets Society” (1989)

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After a teacher with radical methods reveals he was part of a secretive poetry society years ago, star student Neil Perry decides to resurrect the organization. The main students who spend time in this unique club feel more empowered to pursue their passions. When society member Neil tries to get into acting, his disapproving father prepares to send him to military school. In the wake of this threat, the student tragically takes his own life. Neil’s passing made for this classic film’s saddest and most sobering scene.

One of the bleakest scenes in this turbulent story takes place after a church fire. During the incident, Johnny sustains severe injuries. Unfortunately, he eventually succumbs to his wounds. His friend Dally is left despondent and desperate to process his emotions. The heartbroken youth lashes out by sticking up a local business. After leaving the store, a group of police officers find him. When the cornered Dally purposefully points his gun at them, he’s fatally wounded and dies. Matt Dillon’s perfect portrayal of the character’s pain and desperation made this one of the film’s most distressing sequences.

Although this cult classic leans more on dark comedy than other teen films, it still boasts some tremendously morbid moments. After protagonist Veronica Sawyer becomes enchanted with a bad-boy newcomer named J.D., the pair takes part in truly horrifying antics. One of the worst crimes the duo gets involved in revolves around the demise of the popular Heather Chandler. Veronica had intended to slip the high school royal a gross concoction that would cause someone to lose their lunch. However, J.D. ensured Heather actually drank a substance that had fatal consequences. The elaborate way the pair covers up the incident makes their actions so much worse.

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#3: Mary Attacks Precious
“Precious” (2009)

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Thanks to incredible performances from Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe, we were deeply affected by every bad turn that this drama took. But the most dismal moment took place after Precious returned with her newborn second child. Her mother Mary responds to this development with violent actions. In order to protect herself and her child, Precious is forced to flee the apartment. Her vengeful mother continues to attack until they’re both far away from each other. This devastating display showed just how dangerous a toxic family dynamic can become.

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#2: The Intervention
“Thirteen” (2003)

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At the beginning of this film, 13-year-old Tracy Freeland already feels neglected by her well-intentioned mother Melanie. But the pair’s relationship goes from bad to worse throughout the film. Tracy befriends the rebellious Evie and becomes increasingly hostile towards her mom until the story’s final minutes. Their guardians eventually stage an intervention where Tracy is named as the cause of the pair’s bad behavior. What makes this scene even worse is that Evie sells her out. Actress Evan Rachel Wood makes Tracy’s pain and anger extremely palpable. Fortunately, this intervention is followed by the teenager finding some form of peace.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Cecilia’s Fall, “The Virgin Suicides” (1999)
This Tragic Event Kick-Stars the Mysterious Downfall of the Lisbon Sisters

The Prom, “Carrie” (1976)
A Harassed High Schooler Lashes Out at Her Classmates With Her Terrifying Powers

Taking Out Bobby, “Bully” (2001)
A Group of Mistreated People Ensured a Bad Person Lost His Life in a Gruesome Way

Doughboy’s Fate, “Boyz n the Hood” (1991)
We Learn That Doughboy Didn’t Make It at the Very End of the Story

Much of this infamous film written by Harmony Korine is designed to shock. However, that still might not prepare viewers for the extremely disturbing final scene. During the narrative, Jennie learns that she is HIV positive after she’s been intimate with Telly. She wants to tell him before he puts someone else at risk. Unfortunately, Jennie is unable to tell Telly before he gets with another person. To make matters worse, she eventually passes out and suffers an agonizing and terrible fate. “Kids” was a thoroughly distressing depiction of teen life when it first came out. But bleak scenes like this ensure that it will continue to disturb audiences in the future.