The Movie: No Country For Old Men (2008)

The Stomach Churningly Violent Bit That Should've Put Off The Academy: Bowl-coiffed killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is arrested by a Texan sheriff’s deputy, and proceeds to strangle the cop with handcuffs. That he’s wearing.

He escapes, steals a police car and then kills someone else with his signature captive bolt pistol.

Why It Won An Oscar Anyway: The Coens’ bleak, gritty adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s book won plaudits for its peek into darkness and the sheer skill with which the pair handled the book’s dark themes head on. 

It was that, or There Will Be Blood, friendo. Which clearly didn't have enough blood in it.

If you liked this, you should probably check out our 7 Tacky Horrors That Deserved Oscars, in which we make a case for Halloween, The Thing, Susperia, Evil Dead II and more...