sadism

His films like *Se7en* and *Gone Girl* meticulously explore the psychology of sadistic killers and the pleasure derived from inflicting suffering.

Films such as *Funny Games* deliberately implicate the viewer in sadistic pleasure, forcing uncomfortable examination of violence and entertainment.

His provocative cinema (*Irréversible*, *Enter the Void*) unflinchingly depicts extreme cruelty and suffering as central to human experience.