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Horror films are designed to evoke fear and discomfort, and while we can appreciate their special effects, intriguing storylines, and iconic villains, many viewers primarily seek out these movies for the thrill of being scared. Throughout the history of horror, certain scenes have left a negative impact, often standing out even in films with otherwise compelling and exceptional qualities. Some of these moments are so unsettling that they overshadow the rest of the movie, leaving audiences contemplating whether they should continue watching. In this updated article for October 9, 2023, we’ll explore even more controversial horror scenes in honor of Halloween, shedding light on 15 good horror movies that were marred by a particular scene.
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15 Good Horror Movies That Were Ruined by a Controversial Scene
The Hallucination Scene – Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
“Rosemary’s Baby” has been shrouded in controversy at every stage, from the release of Ira Levin’s book to Roman Polanski’s film adaptation just a year later. In the movie, Mia Farrow takes on the role of Rosemary Woodhouse, a housewife married to actor Guy Woodhouse. The couple aspires to start a family while residing in a peculiar yet captivating apartment building.
During a planned “baby night” with her husband, Rosemary becomes unconscious after consuming a tainted dessert. She experiences hallucinations of a disturbing sexual encounter with a demonic figure, portrayed from her perspective on camera, which many viewers might find unsettling.
Freddy’s Identity – A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Freddy Kruger is an iconic figure in the horror genre, particularly in his original portrayal in the first Elm Street film, where he’s depicted as the culprit behind the murders of local children. The 2010 reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street took a different approach to his character. Many sources, including TVOverMind, have reported that Wes Craven originally intended for Freddy to be portrayed as a child predator, although this aspect was ultimately left out, though the subtext was present.
In the new film, there was an initial shift in perspective, suggesting that Freddy might be an innocent man wrongly accused, which would have been a significant departure from the original narrative. However, the remake eventually revealed that Freddy was indeed a child predator, essentially making it a rehash of the original film and failing to bring anything substantially new to the table, other than making explicit what had previously been implied.
The Brick Scene – Antichrist (2009)
Lars Von Trier’s mind is a scary place, and we don’t want to know what dwells in there. We are glad he’s allowed to explore his creative venues in film, but he sure can offer some disturbing sights. In Antichrist, Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg play a couple who have lost a child, so they seek refuge in a cabin to grieve their loss by inflicting pain and torturing each other. One of the most poignant scenes in the film happens when the distraught woman smashes his partner’s genitals with a brick to make him pass out. She would later masturbate him on the floor to make him ejaculate blood. Now, that’s nasty.
The Impaled Woman – Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
By today’s standards, the sight of the impaled woman in “Cannibal Holocaust” may appear less shocking, as does much of the content in the film. It’s worth noting that the film’s director faced legal consequences for its creation. Nonetheless, what remains unsettling about the movie is not the explicit violence and gore, but rather the human response to the unfolding events. When the documentary crew discovers the impaled woman on the riverbank, they eagerly rush towards the body, reminiscent of a YouTuber searching for a corpse in the Aokigahara Forest. They proceed to film the lifeless body, their eyes filled with a disturbing fascination, which speaks more to their psychological state than anything else.
The Eye Scene – Hostel (2005)
“Hostel is a film that’s been criticized for its graphic content, with some critics even categorizing it as ‘torture porn.’ The movie follows a group of travelers who find themselves in a gruesome situation, being sold into a torture ring for the amusement of the wealthy. Director Eli Roth gained recognition in Hollywood through this film, and one particularly disturbing scene involves an unnamed torturer using a blowtorch on a girl’s face. The main characters eventually intervene to stop the torturer, but instead of immediately freeing the girl and escaping with her, they allow him to continue until he pops her eye out of its socket. This scene has left viewers puzzled about its purpose in the movie.”
Jennifer’s Assault – I Spit On Your Grave (2010)
The premise of I Spit on your grave is pretty straightforward: a girl who only wanted to write a book in peace is raped by a pack of rednecks in the woods. She makes a run for it after being beaten to an inch of her life, only to return a few weeks later and kill every single one of her abusers. The original film premiered in 1978, but we got a remake in 2010, and director Steven R. Monroe made sure to go one step ahead of its predecessor by making the rape scene as graphic and brutal as possible. Quite frankly, that stuff works best when it’s implied by the story, not outright told graphically.
Gwen and Finney’s Abuse – The Black Phone (2022)
“The Black Phone, a standout summer horror film of 2022, brought well-deserved attention to Joe Hill’s original short story that served as its inspiration. The movie follows Gwen and Finney Blake, siblings who face terror both at home and in school long before the menacing Grabber enters the picture. The depiction of the physical abuse inflicted by their father is deeply disturbing, with Madeleine McGraw delivering an exceptionally authentic and emotionally-charged performance as Gwen.”
Cathy and Chris – Flowers in the Attic (2014)
The Flowers in the Attic story would have been unsettling and grim even if it had focused solely on the sense of confinement in the house and the existing family abuse. However, the plot takes a disturbing turn as it depicts an incestuous relationship between the two older siblings, Cathy and Chris. This element of the narrative significantly lowers the film’s overall quality and makes it deeply uncomfortable to watch. It’s worth mentioning that the 1987 version of the movie, written and directed by Jeffrey Bloom, handled this aspect of the story more effectively.
Pearl’s Crime – X (2022)
X and Pearl are tightly linked as the initial two installments of Ti West’s upcoming trilogy, which will be completed with the release of MaXXXine. In X, viewers are introduced to Pearl, who is surprisingly portrayed by Mia Goth. She appears as an elderly woman living on a farm with her husband Howard. However, those familiar with her character understand that her initially innocent facade doesn’t last long. Pearl stealthily approaches the location where the film crew is accommodated and pays a visit to the sleeping Maxine, engaging in a sexually suggestive action that lacks consent. This action is just one more addition to her extensive list of transgressions, and it further solidifies Pearl’s role as an antagonist in the narrative.
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Kara’s Growth – Old (2021)
M. Night Shyamalan’s filmography has been marked by moments of controversy and questionable plot developments, and his recent movie, “Old,” is no exception. When Kara arrived on the island, she was just a little girl, but due to the effects of the rapidly aging beach, she rapidly transformed into a young adult. After eloping with Trent, who had also aged similarly, they returned to the rest of the group, and it becomes evident that Kara is pregnant. The abrupt and unsettling nature of her childbirth experience is unsettling in itself, but the fact that she’s technically still a child during this process adds an additional layer of complexity to the narrative.
The Home Movies – Sinister (2012)
“Sinister,” a standout horror film from the 2010s, features Ethan Hawke in the lead role and embodies the quintessential haunted-house movie vibe. As Ellison Oswalt delves deeper into a perplexing assortment of eerie homemade films, he edges closer to uncovering the secrets surrounding an old murder case he’s investigating. The increasingly gruesome and disturbing images depicted in each of these home movies become more visually intense and unforgettable, leaving a lasting impact on the audience, sometimes more so than elements of the primary storyline.
The Baby’s Fate – mother! (2017)
Darren Aronofsky’s movie “mother!” has been described as an allegory for climate change and stands out as one of the director’s distinctive and striking projects. The film revolves around a committed couple who are joined by an ever-growing group of unwelcome guests in their idyllic home, much to the dismay of Mother. One of the most unsettling moments in the film is the tragic outcome of Mother’s newborn child, which is attributed to the actions of the intrusive crowd. This scene carries profound symbolic significance in the movie’s narrative.
The Car Scene – Hereditary (2018)
When you first watch the movie “Hereditary,” you might initially believe that the main death occurs off-screen with the passing of Annie’s mother, Ellen. However, when Charlie unexpectedly dies in a violent and shocking manner, it leaves the audience in a state of disbelief. While Peter is driving Charlie home from a party, she suffers a severe allergic reaction, and a sudden swerve to avoid a deer on the road leads to her gruesome death, with her head being severed. This real-time and horrifying scene is intensified by Annie’s frantic screams for Charlie, which are intercut with a disturbing shot of Charlie’s decapitated head, making it one of the most disturbing and intense moments created by the filmmaker, Ari Aster.
Religious Offenses – The Exorcist (1973)
“The Exorcist holds a significant place in the horror genre and cinematic history. Ever since its initial release, it has stirred controversy and elicited intense reactions from audiences. Regan’s disturbing behavior after falling under the devil’s possession is difficult to describe in detail, but it played a pivotal role in cementing the film’s reputation as one of the most terrifying movies ever made. This feat was achieved by portraying a range of physical manifestations in Regan’s transformation into a vessel of demonic forces, not to mention the memorable and shocking green projectile vomiting scene.”
The Ending – Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Sleepaway Camp is a highly controversial horror film with a memorable ending and a complex underlying message. The shocking reveal at the conclusion, where the character Angela is actually Peter, who was compelled to transition from male to female due to the actions of an abusive doctor and aunt, remains a topic of debate. In today’s climate, marked by a rise in transphobia in 2023, it is crucial to critically examine media featuring transgender individuals. Sleepaway Camp has received mixed reviews from trans writers, with some appreciating it while others, as highlighted in an article from Dread Central, criticize its problematic ending. According to the latter viewpoint, the film’s cult status is rooted in this problematic conclusion, and they argue that if Peter hadn’t been forced into living as “Angela,” the events of the movie could have been avoided.
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