(Guest post by B.J. Bethel)
Growing up, every year had stories of at least one film that was such an intense experience, movie-goers passed-out, threw-up or ran from the theaters shrieking.
“Jaws” supposedly had people leaving the theatre to hurl in the awaiting garbage cans due the film’s sheer intensity, then the victims scurried back to their seats in hopes of not missing a second. “The Blair Witch Project” supposedly caused epileptic seizures due to the shaky home-video quality, not to mention the scary, intimidating woods in the deep, dark heart of, uhm, Maryland.
This year it’s “127 Hours,” Danny Boyle’s gruesome account of lost hiker Aron Ralston, who after being trapped under a rock for several days, amputated his own arm with a dull knife.
New York Post critic Kyle Smith said he is “stunned” by the number of people who have told them they can’t bear to go see the film. Why the consternation? Those in Smith’s circle might be catching some of the early media reports.
According to Newsweek, not only are people passing out at early showings Boyle’s film, “two reportedly became lightheaded, and three had seizures, according to a survey on Movieline.” The movie has hit the “seizure” and “passed-out” two-fer. Vomiting is surely to begin any moment.
As a movie-goer, I can understand them being hesitant. I once saw “The Other Sister” in the movie theater. I would have gladly cut off a limb to get out.
B.J. Bethel has worked as a journalist both online and in newspapers, where he has covered news, politics, film and the environment.
(Photo: James Franco plays a hiker forced to cut his own arm off to survive in director Danny Boyle’s harrowing new film “127 Hours.” Fox Searchlight)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Speaking of appendage amputation….
“Teeth” was my last cringing moment while watching a film. I watched it at work on a slow day. My neighbor thought I hurt myself during towards the end of that flick. Just having a vicarious moment was all.
Great last line here. I think the sickest I ever felt in a theater was during the latest “Jackass.” The second half of the movie became rather obsessive about excrement pranks.