Ya I know I know I know I know… torture is bad. I’m not debating that nor am I encouraging the use thereof. But come on… ya gotta admit that when a particualry well done torture scene is pulled off well on screen… it can really make you squirm in your seat, and THAT can be a part of the overall movie going experience (in the hands of the right director and done for the right reasons).
Te guys over at Filmwad put together a nice little top 10 list of their favorite torture scenes in movies. They also give detailed descriptions of the scenes, but I’ll just give the the movies here.
10. Cannibal Holocaust (Ruggero Deodato, 1980) – The Starfish Skewer
9. Saw 2 (Darren Lynn Bousman, 2005) – The Needle Pit Swan Dive
8. Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006) – The Ball-Sac Beating
7. Braveheart (Mel Gibson, 1995) - The Hanging, Racked, Innard Twist
6. Oldboy (Chan-wook Park, 2003)
5. Hostel (Eli Roth, 2005) – The Ankle Slice
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974) – Dinner With The Family
3. Casino (Martin Scorcese, 1995) – The Big Squeeze
2. Hostel (Eli Roth, 2005) – Japanese BBQ
1. Audition (Takashi Miike, 1999) – Old Pincushion Face
You can see the full list with scene descriptions here.
Not a bad list really. Personally, I would have included the scene from Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan when they put the bugs in Chekov’s ear… or maybe that Rambo movie when they pin him up against the metal bed springs and electrocute him. Or hey… what about Han on Cloud City? Good stuff… fun for the whole family.
28 Comments, Comment or Ping
Marla Singer
torture…. i think about war movies like Saving Private Ryan.. the whole movie is torture mentally and physically, i cant even watch that movie its so SAD
and the Green Mile with the electricution with no sponge…i cant watch that movie either
Saw 2 saringe swan dive is definately on the list (cringe)
Se7en, although we didnt see it but one can only imagine the sin of Lust
I guess i try to stay away from watchiong the movies that have a lot of torture in them, so i cant really think of anymore than whats on taht list
Apr 2nd, 2007
Terry Letourneau
Huh? Not even the ‘ear’ scene from Reservoir Dogs? An other one would be from Lethal Weapon with Mel being electrocuted with the jumpers cables, sponge and water.
Apr 2nd, 2007
jason
How credible is a list of top torture scenes with no reference to “Marathon Man”?
Apr 2nd, 2007
Rafael
Endo from the first Lethal Weapon
best torture scene
He’s torturing Melly Mel with car battery jumper cables that have sponges on the ends while Mel is standing in water.
Apr 2nd, 2007
Panda
What about Rome: Open City? That was an extremely powerful scene.
Apr 2nd, 2007
mike
Good deal John, When I first thought of a Torture Scenes..My mine went to That Rambo scene also….but what about The Passion of the Christ!! I almost forgot about that one didn’t you?? keep up the awesome work!
Apr 2nd, 2007
Bill
Ah… I was really surprised not to see the “Is it safe?” scene from Marathon Man. The problem with some of these lists is that people only remember what it is they have scene recently. Someone else mentioned the scene from Resevoir Dogs which I was also surprised was not included. But gosh, Marathon Man is a classic.
Apr 2nd, 2007
edZio
This is too obvious:
Every single frame of the first two ‘Guinea Pig’ movies.
Apr 2nd, 2007
RickDaStick
Someone forgot an awful scene from “Misery”. Kathy Bates destroys James Caan’s ankles like its nobody’s business.
http://www.parliamentscouncil.com
Apr 2nd, 2007
darren j seeley
Rick is not a dick.
“Misery”!
I’d think I’d put “Extemities” in there somewhere too. Alas, sadly, it seems folks are confined only to Horror films. Because one of the best is in Lawrence Of Arabia.
Another is in The Passion Of The Christ.
Apr 2nd, 2007
darren j seeley
My bad, I didn’t see the Braveheart mention. The Casino Royale mention is there, but “Die Anther Day” opening is not; strange.
Apr 2nd, 2007
shane razey
How about the torture scene of me, stuck watching Battlefield Earth, or the time I was assulted visually while watching JLo “act”.
Apr 2nd, 2007
Paul Di Gaetano
Three Kings anybody? With Mark Wahlberg?
Apr 2nd, 2007
motherNature
Cannibal Holocaust is the most horrible piece of filmaking of all time.
Don’t watch it!!
Apr 2nd, 2007
Art
Number 6 on the list is Oldboy, but scene is listed? There are a couple very torturous scenes. For anyone who hasn’t seen this Japanese film, go find Oldboy and see it.
Also, why isn’t Battle Royale on this list?
Apr 3rd, 2007
Jesse Rosenberg
WOW YOUR MISSING SOME GOOD MOVIES AND SCENES
Hard candy: the castaration scene which is better then ball beating
Resevoir dogs: THe ear scene
Pulp Fiction: kinda weir to say but everyone knows
Pan’s Labyrinth: Getting info from the spanish guy who was caught
Pan’s Labyrinth: Farmers being tortued
MISERy: Breaking the damn ankle!!!!!!AHHHHH
ECT there are so many better ones i dont like that list
Apr 3rd, 2007
Snazzy
How can they leave out Passion of the Christ it was way more than the Casino Royale scene….
Apr 3rd, 2007
Aetherus
That list has no credibility if it doesn’t contain Marathon Man. “Is it safe?” :)
Apr 3rd, 2007
John Neal
To leave out
Reservoir Dogs (Ear Scene)
your list can’t even be discussed without that on the top 10.
Apr 3rd, 2007
Phil in DC
“Is it safe?” - Dr. Szell
Apr 3rd, 2007
Lou Sytsma
Quote - “That list has no credibility if it doesn’t contain Marathon Man. “Is it safe?”
Amen.
Apr 3rd, 2007
Justin Levine
Another shout out for “Marathon Man”. Simply a required mention if you are talking about movie torture scenes.
Apr 3rd, 2007
Justin
I remember seeing the torture scene of Marathon Man on an early 80’s horror movie compilation of scarry parts to popular slasher and thrillers of the day. I watched that show everytime it would play on HBO and the tooth torture scene was always the most frightning.
My only guess why it was not considered is todays movie watchers short term memories. Cannibal Holocaust a 1980 cult classic was released on DVD late 2005. Marathon Man came out in 1975 and has been out on DVD since 2001.
Apr 3rd, 2007
JOE
what about the punisher when that guy pulls off all those piercings with pliers.
also from punisher the one with the the popsicle is some fun torture
Apr 3rd, 2007
dave
can’t believe no-ones said man on fire.fucking excellent film.the scene where he cuts the guys fingers off and uses the car lighter to burn the stumps.brutal
Dec 23rd, 2007
mother
LOLOLOL oldboy is korean
there should be more asian flicks on that list. torture scenes from those are fucking brutal, whereas casino royale?
more like battle royale
Mar 1st, 2008
Tony S.
How about the poor guy taking a sandblaster(!) to his ankles in an effort to get him to talk from “The Bank Job” ?
Sep 5th, 2008
L
Cute!
Sep 14th, 2008
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