The Top 10 Best Anti-Drug Movies

January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Patrick Sessoms cannibalism, cult, David Cronenberg, Dora Madison, drug addiction, drugs, Gaspar Noé, hallucination, hallucinogens, horror, Joe Begos, Johnny Depp, Katia Winter, Lovecraftian horror, mad scientist, narcotics, Peter Weller, sci-fi, William Hurt

5. Bliss

Hallucinogens aren’t always the best muse.

Artists and drugs go together like peas and carrots, with most acclaimed creators having experimented with some sort of mind-altering substance at one point or another. So, when a brilliant painter named Dezzy (Dora Madison) runs out of creative steam while working on her masterpiece. Desperate to finish the piece, she decides the best way to get the creative juices flowing again is with a hallucinatory drug. You can probably guess how that goes for her since Bliss is on this list of anti-drug movies, and she soon descends into the hellish underbelly of Los Angeles. Dezzy’s experiences with various drugs and their consequences will make your skin crawl, especially since director Joe Begos uses such a gritty and surreal aesthetic in his films. Bliss takes all the glamour out of the sex, drugs, and rock n roll lifestyle, and serves up a pretty jarring warning that too much of a good thing can be a nightmare.

4. Midsommer

It’s all fun and games until the ritual sacrifices start.

Some cultures are a little more liberal when it comes to recreational drug usage and a few even view drugs as a gateway to spiritual or even religious experiences. However, the “when in Rome” philosophy can go very wrong very fast, as shown in Midsommer. When a group of grad students visits a small Scandinavian village to observe their midsummer festival, they quickly learn how warmly the community embraces the use of hallucinogens. While the students are pretty open-minded, their hosts are soon slipping them all sorts of drugs without giving them a heads up first, which causes the festivities to take an ominous turn. Despite the bright colors and beautiful weather, Midsommer is an incredibly dark and malevolent film with a warning about the spiritual side of drugs, that you might think you’re on the road to heaven only to find yourself strolling right into hell.

3. Climax

Dance like nobody is watching, and you’re tripping balls.

Gaspar Noé is a director known for making films that are incredibly difficult to sit through because of their gut-wrenching themes and imagery. So, it’s no wonder that his “based on a true story” imagining of a French dance troupe that unknowingly drinks sangria spiked with a ton of LSD earned a spot on this list of anti-drug movies. The actual story behind the incident isn’t nearly as horrifying as Noé’s tale (which was mostly improvised), which delved into the darkest parts of human nature brought to the surface thanks to the psychoactive effects of the drug. The dancers go from having a fun-filled party to a night of terror as they lose control of their inhibitions, become paranoid, and eventually turn on each other in the worst ways imaginable. Climax is the sort of well-crafted film that I appreciate the artistic merits of, but never want to watch again.

2. The Evil in Us

RAARGH! You’re harshing my mellow, brah. RAARGH!

Few anti-drug movies have left me as devastated as The Evil in Us. The film focuses on a group of college kids who are expecting a fun-filled 4th of July weekend with booze, a bit of fornication, and some drugs. Little did they know that the new and exciting party drug that they were given contained a bio-activated virus that would lead to terrifying fits of rage, diminished compulsion control, and a bit of cannibalism. They essentially become rage zombies willing to brutalize anyone they come in contact with and even themselves. As though that wasn’t scary enough, the film ends with the few survivors who took the drug coming down and realizing that they have to live with the consequences of that night forever. For some, that means seeing a mutilated reflection staring back in the mirror for the rest of their lives as a haunting reminder. Just goes to show that you never know what’s actually in drugs sold on the streets.

1. Requiem for a Dream

When it comes to anti-drug movies, Requiem for a Dream is the perfect flick to scare you straight-edge. Like a lot of the other films on this list, it’s incredibly well written, with brilliant performances, and flawlessly executed. It’s also a movie I never want to watch again. The all-star cast (Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans) starts the film as promising youths with bright futures ahead of them until they discover the wondrous world of narcotics. Director Darren Aronofsky pairs each of their downward spirals with haunting imagery, nightmarish metaphors, and the last act will shake you to your core. You could completely replace the D.A.R.E. program with this horrifying movie, and it would probably be twice as effective. Fair warning, Requiem for a Dream is not a film I recommend for anyone with delicate sensibilities or those who have recently eaten.

Honorable Mention: Jacob’s Ladder

Even government drugs have their downside.

I’m giving an honorable mention to Jacob’s Ladder on this list of anti-drug movies because all the horrors in it stemmed from an experimental drug the government used on soldiers in Vietnam. The military wanted something to make their soldiers more aggressive and, supposedly, more effective killing machines, and boy did they get exactly that. Turns out the drug was a little too effective and when you’re basically a rage zombie, it’s kind of hard to tell the difference between friend and foe. So, remember kids, the next time the military offers you experimental drugs to turn you into a super-soldier, just say no. It could save you from an existence plagued by paranoia-induced demons, who may or may not be real.

Shout-Out: The Evil Bong Franchise

This is what happens when you smoke too much weed and decide to make a movie.

Hey, I won’t argue that the Evil Bong flicks are “good” anti-drug movies, but I have to respect their fortitude. I mean, guess how many entries there are in the series? Go ahead. Did you guess five? Because you’d be wrong! There are seven so far, including a crossover with The Gingerdead Man series of films and an upcoming installment titled The Gingerweedman. So, why the shout-out on this list of anti-drug movies? Well, these films are perfect examples of why you shouldn’t do drugs. One minute you’re having fun at a party, enjoying a few party drugs, and the next thing you know you’ve signed a contract to star in something called The Gingerweedman that you somehow have a writing credit for.

Dishonorable Mention: Reefer Madness

We’ve seen some anti-drug movies with some pretty mind-bending plots, but I draw the line at the absurdity of Reefer Madness. I’ve known plenty of potheads in my time, and I’ve never felt like any of them could kill anything while stoned… Unless you count them “murdering” a box of pizza rolls. Reefer Madness is a shameful propaganda film produced to turn Americans against weed so that rich white guys with stakes in the lumber industry wouldn’t lose money from hemp competition. I actually encourage the use of mind-altering substances to help people get through this dreadful film because seeing it sober can feel like you’re going through skin-crawling drug withdrawal.

Well, that concludes my list of the best anti-drug movies of all time. If you know of some other great films that I might have missed, let me know in the comments below. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new anti-drug movies make their big-screen premiere. So, be sure to check back in the future to see how the rankings might change. Until then, remember to get ripped out of your mind responsibly, my friends.

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