The average reaction to this movie.
With its no-holds-barred look at how thoroughly drugs can corrupt a life and how unchecked idealism and unrealistic standards can only lead to heartbreak, Requiem for a Dream is considered one of the most depressing films of all time for a damn good reason.
Moments pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.
- Sara's story. She's easily the biggest victim out of the four, and she's one that got into her drug-induced downward spiral completely on accident, and did nothing to deserve it, only wanting to slim down so she could fit into that red dress.
- Special mention goes to Sara's monologue about growing old. Notice how the camera seems to move out of focus? It's because Matthew Libatique, the movie's Director of Photography, was so overcome with emotion that he fogged up his viewfinder with tears and couldn't keep the shot steady, prompting Aronofsky to decide to keep that shot in the film.
- One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the movie is when Sara's friends visit her at the hospital after she's completed her downward spiral, see her horrendous, emaciated state (the look of humiliation and shame on her face is crushing), and break down sobbing and hugging at the bus stop outside (see page image). It really showcases how drugs can be destructive to not just one person, but everyone around them.
- Sara's ultimate fate, for a lot of reasons, but in particular: she's finally in a place where she can be cared for, where there are other people for her to talk to and keep company with... and she's too insane to benefit from it. How many problems could she have solved if she'd just been admitted to a retirement community?
- One of the scenes with Sara and Harry is depressing, mainly due to the fact Sara is on such a pill high that it actually unnerves Harry (ironic considering his own highs). The two have a small argument and Harry ends up storming off without saying goodbye to Sara, leaving her heartbroken. Her little small "Bye, son" makes it just worse. The most painful thing about is that it then cuts to Harry in a cab, slowly breaking down into tears for the treatment he gave Sara. Even when he gives himself a high, he still is sniffling. For how horrible Harry treats Sara, it's obvious he loves his mom. And it makes it worse that it's the last scene we see of those two together.
- Winter is one long Tear Jerker, with a bit of Nightmare Fuel mixed in as the main characters' lives are ruined beyond redemption. Sara being left semi-catatonic, lost in her own world, is bad enough, but it's just as hard to watch what happens to Marion, Harry, and Tyrone:
- When Harry and Tyrone are arrested, Harry uses his one phone call to speak to Marion (whether he tried calling Sara is unclear, but she is already in hospital at this point, so she wouldn't have answered), who is in the throes of despair at having turned to prostitution. She begs Harry to come over and visit that day, and, through sobs, he promises to do so, even though he knows that not only will he not see her that day, he'll probably never see her again.
- Harry breaking down crying in his hospital bed after getting his gangrenous left arm amputated, knowing that the nurse's promises that Marion will come aren't all that true.
- Tyrone's treatment at the hands of the racist sheriffs in jail and seeing him barely able to hold it together before becoming full-blown sick is very tough to watch, and the fact that he's completely alone in jail with nobody in a state where he knows no one is even worse. His final reminiscence of happier times as a child in his mother's arms is devastating.note
- Marion ends up forced into an unending cycle of performing degrading sex acts for drugs, and needing the drugs to cope with what she had to do to get them in the first place, all while her dream of opening her own clothing boutique has completely gone by the wayside.
- Might also fall under Fridge Horror or Fridge Brilliance (like most things about this movie, it's as scary and depressing as it is thoughtful), but the use of the word "come" in the last few scenes. It goes from "come", as in come back, to "come" as in cum, vulgar slang for orgasm. The phone call between Harry and Marion and the conversation between Harry and the nurse cement it in the end: they're past the point of no return, they've both lost their freedom, and for Marion (the only one of the main characters to hear the "new" definition), there's nothing left but degrading sex. Not to mention that Tibbons' third rule is no orgasms.
- The film's ending, with everyone having reached rock bottom, is made even sadder by the very final scene: Sara tearfully hugging a well-dressed and presumably successful Harry after winning the grand prize on Tappy's game show as the crowd gives them a standing ovation. She's found some form of happiness, but it only exists in her mind.
