Hard to Watch: How to Fall in Love with Difficult Movies

by Matthew Strohl

We’ve never had better access to movies than we do today. Thanks to streaming services, video-on-demand, boutique physical media, repertory theaters, and the wild frontiers of the internet, we have ready access to a huge range of titles—Hollywood classics, art films from around the world, and audacious contemporary works are all right at our fingertips.



Yet, despite this embarrassment of riches, most of us gravitate to the popular and familiar, barely scratching the surface of what’s available. According to philosopher Matthew Strohl, we’re doing ourselves a disservice by overlooking the range of so-called “difficult” movies. Hard to Watch is a joyous celebration of cinema that might seem boring, pretentious, or offensive at first glance but that offers its own distinctive rewards when we give ourselves over to it. Writing with infectious enthusiasm—and a refreshing lack of condescension—Strohl discusses everything from the challenging late works of beloved directors like Terrence Malick and David Lynch to such visionary but divisive films as Alain Resnais’s Muriel, or the Time of Return, Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, and Julia Ducournau’s Titane, evocatively showing why they're worth the time and effort to engage with, and how to get the most out of them.

Whether you’re a film lover looking to step up your game or just someone who’s bored with Netflix, Hard to Watch is a brisk and accessible guide to expanding your horizons.

Genres: Philosophy, Media Tie In, Film

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book last year right after reading Claire Bishop's Disordered Attention, and I was moved to write a review of both books, which is now out:

https://mid-theory.com/2025/09/11/dis...

Here's an excerpt on Strohl:

But what about works that demand more than a “relaxed distribution of focus,” work that we want to give more of ourselves to? Matthew Strohl provides recommendations for how we can create distraction-free media niches that make giving our undivided attention to difficult art possible. In Hard to Watch, Strohl, a philosopher and voracious viewer (his Letterboxd account shows that he watched 90 movies in January 2025 alone), makes an argument for the value of prolonged, attentive engagement with “difficult” movies—those that are complex, opaque, long, or grotesque. Demonstrating the value of deep engagement, he meditates on ambiguous or seemingly inaccessible films, like Terrence Malick’s critically maligned late film Knight of Cups (2015), Alain Resnais’s elusive Muriel, or the Time of Return (1963), Julia Ducournau’s body-horror movie Titane (2021), and the provocative, slow cinema of Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielmann, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975). Strohl’s expansive, enthusiastic interpretations of these movies is the central attraction of the book, but it is his practical tips for overcoming what he calls “weakness of will in the age of streaming” that puts his book in productive dialogue with Bishop’s endorsement of selective inattention.

[Ethan Karschnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as enlightening as his last book, but this still provides good avenues of thought. I especially appreciated his views on immediate accessibility of large swaths of films is not necessarily a good thing, and how deeply anti-intellectualism (specifically in regards to art analysis) has rotted our culture in the last few decades.

[Dustin Wilson V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as informative as it is cinematically invigorating. I only hope the level of movie-watching excitement Strohl's writing has injected into my veins remains long enough to get me through the final 8 months of film school.

[Michael Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to Watch completely changed the way I think about challenging films. Instead of treating difficult movies as something only critics or film scholars can appreciate, Matthew Strohl makes a convincing case that anyone can learn to enjoy them with the right mindset. His enthusiasm for cinema is contagious, and what I appreciated most was how welcoming the book feels. It encourages curiosity rather than making readers feel like they need an advanced knowledge of film to understand what makes these works special.

I also liked the variety of films and filmmakers discussed throughout the book. From well-known directors to more experimental and divisive works, Strohl explains why these movies can initially feel inaccessible while showing the rewards that come from engaging with them more patiently. The writing is clear, thoughtful, and often entertaining, striking a nice balance between philosophy, film criticism, and practical viewing advice. Even if you don't end up loving every film mentioned, the book gives you a new way of approaching cinema that makes the experience much richer.

Overall, Hard to Watch is an enjoyable and insightful read for anyone who loves movies or wants to explore beyond mainstream entertainment. It's approachable, thought-provoking, and filled with genuine passion for the art of filmmaking. Whether you're just beginning to explore world cinema or you're already a dedicated film fan, this book offers plenty of reasons to step outside your comfort zone and discover films you might otherwise have overlooked.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the title, hooked by the first sentence, and owned the book within minutes. This is a movie lover's book. For people who treasure TCM and the Criterion Channel, physical media and repertory theaters. It is full of wonderful insight on how to ignite (or re-ignite) an adventurous moviegoing spirit. Strohl addresses the challenges of attention and boredom in the streaming era, while also balancing the pros/cons of social media. It's the perfect recipe as one year ends and resolutions commence. It's very accessible and easy to read. A book that puts cinema first and the reader in the perfect mood for movies: in the dark at maximum volume.

[Julesreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to Watch is easy to read….hiyo! I don’t think this is a 5-star book, but I really appreciate how it fights against anti-intellectualism and the rotting of the culture at large and film culture. It’s easy to connect accessibility with a golden age for film, but it’s not that simple. I’m glad Strohl can and did lay out his case so clearly. But I really didn’t need to read this at all. I’m not the target audience. still, good bedtime book

[Curt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strohl makes the case for spending time and mental effort on difficult movies - and provides ideas about developing your cinephilia. Longer takes on Titane, Jeanne Dielman, Muriel or the Time of Return. Not a difficult book however!

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun reminder that art in cinema can and should be challenging in the same way some music, architecture, literature, dance and theater challenges audiences.