What's the most genuinely shocking moment in a film?

[King Herald]

srebbe64 said:

The scene where Bambi's mother is shot - horrific, chilling and so realistic.

I watched it with my daughter a few months ago, some 35 years after I first saw it as a kid, and that bit still made my eyes fill

[BERGS2]

surprised no one has mentioned come and see

utterly gripping realism

the cow scene is oddly haunting...

[Tycho]

The eye gouging scene in 28 Weeks Later is pretty gruesome.

[thebluebus]

BERGS2 said:

surprised no one has mentioned come and see

utterly gripping realism

the cow scene is oddly haunting...

Heard of it, but never seen it.

Another film I'd almost forgotten is an old Martin Sheen movie, 'The Believers'.
Two scenes remain in my mind; his wife spilling milk at breakfast and being electrocuted by the toaster.
And the woman with a zit on her cheek, that bursts and is full of spiders.

[JakeR]

jimothy said:

the "because there are too many of us" scene in Jude. Wrong, just wrong.

2nded... cold shivers down the back of the neck just thinking of that one... horrible.

[TheCarpetCleaner]

The scene in Shawshank Redemption with the piano score in the background telling the mini-story of the old guy (that had the bird in prison) up to where he hung himself. Shocking because of the hopelessness of his situation.

[Negative Creep]

BERGS2 said:

surprised no one has mentioned come and see

utterly gripping realism

the cow scene is oddly haunting...

Agreed on that one. Certainly the most nightmarish, brutal film I've seen

[no-worries88]

Dr G said:

American History X, Edward Norton, Head, Kerb, Stamp.

Ouch

That crunch noise is haunting.

yup

[AlexKP]

For me, coming second to the slave scene in Amistad is this one:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106335/

"The Baby of Macon" - Peter Greenaway.

Check the rest of the user comments/reviews above.

[Calorus]

The Fire Extinguisher Scene in Irreversible.

[danrc]

The end of "pay it forward"

Not going to spoilit for anyone in case you have not seen it, but its enough to make a grown man weep.

[crofty1984]

Last king of scotland. The hooks scene.

[_Batty_]

Lock, Stock and 2 smoking barrels,

Vinnie Jones and the car door scene.

just ouch

[thebluebus]

The end of the Korean film The Host.

I actually thought I'd misunderstood it, because I couldn't believe what had happened. I guess I'm too used to Western, Hollywood-style endings.

Won't spoil it if you haven't seen it. I f you have, you'll know what I mean

[The Black Flash]

I seem to remember lots of bits in Event Horizon had the whole cinema gasping, more with anticipation about what might happen than what actually did.

"Eyes? Where we're going, we don't need...eyes"

[off_again]

To Live and Die in LA

Ok, not the most shocking these days, but well directed and acted. The ending last 10 minutes are fantastic. I watched it after a diet of traditional US Cop's and Robbers type films and the 'twist' (need to be careful as its not a twist at all, but it is still shocking) left me gasping. Good guys don't always win....

Heat

Most of the film was OK, but managed to watch that bank robbery scene in a brand new cinema in the best seats. The intensity of the gun battle was superb and expertly executed by the director. I guess the translation to the small screen will loose some of the impact, but the way that you are placed in the action with the realism was fantastic.

Saving Private Ryan

Ok, predictable I know but the landing scene and some of the battle scenes were superb. Again, managed to watch this on the big screen and was shocked and amazed at the same time.

Memphis Belle

Again, not a particularly good film. But it was the reaction at the end that got me. Its a bit 'hooray for the USA' but at the very end in the cinema, no one knew what to do. We all just sat there in silence. Watching the titles roll, everyone (without exception) waited until the lights came up before going out. It was quite touching for a moment and will stick in my memory. Certainly NOT what I expected. I guess it was just one of those moments.

Agree about Pans Labyrinth but I guessed what was going to happen there anyway. Seen Crying Game and knew in the beginning too. Alien and Aliens were good, but didn't really get me. Seven was OK but again I guessed pretty early on that she was going to get it. I don't really go for slasher films or anything like that so I guess I have lead a sheltered life!

[wadgebeast]

The first Saw film ending - where the body on the floor gets up.... didn't see that one coming, and I normally pride myself on spotting twists. There was a lot of satisfaction watching fairly dim cinema date finally realising that Bruce Willis was actually dead in Sixth Sense when I'd worked it out about an hour earlier.

[Jewhoo]

crofty1984 said:

Last king of scotland. The hooks scene.

That was minging.

[Nobaccymaccy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Made worse IIRC by the fact that they are all chained together and a weight is attached to one end and thrown overboard and they all get dragged over like a human slinky .
Later reference is made to it being "common practice"

[Conian]

The film Hostel disturbs me, but not for any of the on screen violence, but for the casual disregard for life that the characters have.

It's chilling to be reminded that there are people out there like that.