masochism

His films like 'Antichrist' and 'Nymphomaniac' explicitly explore suffering, self-destruction, and the psychology of pain as central narrative and thematic elements.

His provocative works such as 'Irréversible' and 'Enter the Void' deliberately inflict emotional and sensory anguish on viewers, embedding masochistic endurance into the viewing experience itself.

His films like 'Funny Games' and 'The Seventh Continent' examine the psychology of violence and suffering while creating deliberately uncomfortable experiences that challenge and punish the audience's complicity.