Warning: Due to the nature of the question being answered, this post includes both the discussion and the presentation of scenes that depict VERY DISTURBING CONTENT. This includes, but is not limited to, extreme violence, torture, and sexual assault. We've put each film's title before the discussion of the scenes so that you can decide if you want to watch. For films where the scenes discussed were unavailable, we've included the film's trailer.
We ask that you please proceed with caution and take care of yourselves.
Can a horror movie scene go too far, or is that simply the job of true horror films? Well, we recently asked horror lovers in the BuzzFeed Community, "What horror movie scene do you think may have taken things too far? One that crossed your own personal line?" And viewers opened up about scenes they felt fit that bill.
So here are just a handful of the most popular responses shared:
1. American Psycho (2000)
"The scene where Patrick Bateman throws the chainsaw down the stairs and the girl gets sawed in half. I couldn’t get it out of my mind for days."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
2. Suspiria (2018)
"When the girl’s body starts randomly cracking and contorting. Too grotesque, and way too long."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
3. The Visit (2015)
"The diaper scene. Give me monsters, ghouls, blood — but poop is my LIMIT."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
4. The Lodge (2019)
"The opening scene. It's similar to the decapitation scene in Hereditary, but there's absolutely no warning of what is about to happen, and it's pretty graphic."
You can watch the trailer for the film here:
View this video on YouTube
5. Mother! (2017)
"The ending of the movie was so outrageous and disturbing, I was horrified and regretful of the experience. I still wish I could go back in time and not watch that movie."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
6. It Chapter Two (2019)
"I love that movie with all my heart, and Bill Hader's and Bill Skarsgård’s performances were amazing, but I have to skip the first scene every time I rewatch it. It adds nothing to the plot except for one callback later that wasn’t necessary. It was just uncomfortable and gory."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
7. The Exorcist (1973)
"The scene with the crucifix. NOPE!"
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
8. Midsommar (2019)
"The scene when the two members took their own lives by jumping off of the cliff. I didn’t think that scene could get worse until the others took it upon themselves to finish the job for the one who was still alive after jumping. That movie should have come with a trigger warning."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
9. Terrifier (2017)
"It’s generally what you would expect for a low-budget horror film: terrible acting and unrealistic/inconsistent plotlines, etc. But it scarred me emotionally when Art cut the women in half with a saw, vertically, upside down. It gave me nightmares and, IMO, went too far."
You can watch the trailer for the film here:
View this video on YouTube
10. Don’t Breathe (2016)
"Easily the turkey baster scene. I watched that movie with my best friend, and when that scene came on in the theater, we were turning to each other like, 'Is he doing what I think he is?' Honestly, I had an issue with the whole scene. I get nauseous just thinking about it."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
11. Cabin Fever (2002)
"I know Cabin Fever is supposed to be a gorefest, but the scene with the razor actually made me stop watching it. I haven't ever really felt like finishing it, either."
You can watch the trailer for the film here:
View this video on YouTube
12. Gerald’s Game (2017)
"When she was handcuffed to the bed and had to rip her hand out of the handcuffs. I’m usually into gore, but that scene is permanently in my memory as the most disturbing scene I’ve ever witnessed. It definitely went too far."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
13. The House That Jack Built (2018)
"The scene when he hunts two children and their mother, kills the kids, and props them up to have a picnic with their mother. Just what the?!"
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
14. Hereditary (2018)
"The decapitation scene. I actually SHOUTED in the theater when it happened. I have never been more shocked by something I've seen in any movie or show, ever. I gave myself a headache with how tensed up I was while watching that movie. I'm still not over it. It's incredible, but you couldn't pay me to watch it again."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
15. The Perfection (2019)
"So I consider myself to be someone with a strong stomach until it comes to anything concerning vomit. Vomit to me is 1,000 times scarier than any movie villain. So that scene from The Perfection made me close my eyes and squeal in discomfort. Ugh."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
16. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
"It's just all around a bad movie, but if you've seen it, you know exactly which scene I mean. For the lucky ones who haven't: A character gets held upside down and chopped in half vertically. It wasn't just that it was unpleasant, it was that it seemed to exist just to be unpleasant and make you queasy."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
17. Deliverance (1972)
"The piggy scene. Why, just why, did you need to put that on film? It's so messed up."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
18. The Mist (2007)
"The ending. It affected my mood for longer than I care to admit. I watch and read so much horror, but that felt mean-spirited."
You can watch the scene here (if you dare):
View this video on YouTube
And finally:
19. Antichrist (2009)
"Not one scene, the entire movie."
You can watch the trailer for the film here:
View this video on YouTube
You've read their picks, but now it's your turn. What's one horror movie scene you feel may have gone too far? Share yours in the comments below!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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