Top 10 Movie Torture Scenes
Written by Cory Sage Wednesday, 01 April 2009 16:23
10. Casino (1995) Movie Poster: 
Who’s in it: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone
The back-story: This Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci piece of work based on two mobsters and their egos trying to make it in Vegas provides plenty of insight into the not so glamorous side of Vegas. As De Niro’s Ace and Pesci’s Nicky face the repercussions of shaking things up, Nicky cuts loose on all who stand up to him with whatever "weaponry" he can get his hands on.
The blood: Pesci hammers the shit out of a bar shooter for two days to get information before placing his head in a vice… and tightening it until his eyeballs nearly POP. Buy Casino on DVD
9. The Last King of Scotland (2006) Movie Poster:
The back-story: Young Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan visits Uganda on a mission trip and encounters new President Idi Amman (Forest Whitaker in an Oscar winning performance). Although initially welcomed among Amman’s top advisors, Garrigan eventually loses the trust of the maddening ruler and makes a final attempt to escape.
The blood: Amman ends up following a tradition he explains to Garrigan, which involves being hung by one’s skin, each scream releasing evil. Not an easy demise for a protagonist we have grown this close to for most of the film. Buy The Last King of Scotland (Full-Screen Edition) on DVD
8. Hostel (2005) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Eythor Gudjonsson, Barbara Nedeljakova, Jan Vlasak
The back-story: Two American college kids head to Amsterdam then around Europe, looking for drugs, sex, and good times. Quite sadly, big angry Europeans have a little system running to make money off of psychos butchering visitors just like them. If it sounds like a simple premise to rip on American cultural imperialism and more importantly rip Americans into little pieces, that’s because it is.
The blood: The worst of it comes as Derek literally has holes drilled into him and has various body parts, including his Achilles tendons cut up. Other characters lose eyes and fingers, and conflicts are only resolved with characters striking back just as violently Buy Hostel (Unrated) on DVD
7. A Clockwork Orange (1971) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Malcolm Mcdowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke, John Clive, Adrienne Corri, Carl Duering
The back-story:
In Stanley Kubrick’s futuristic Britain, a young man named Alex and his three followers enjoy participating in hobbies including (but not limited to) narcotics, gang wars, plundering, murdering, and raping. Things become interesting thematically as doctors attempt to “cure” Alex of his insensitive ways and he tries to make it again in the world he brutalized not so long ago.
The blood: The most initially shocking scenes still come along early on, particularly as Alex and his gang break into an old man’s house,tie him down and explicitly rape his wife in front of him ; and it is probably safe to say you will never hum “Singing in the Rain” again. Buy A Clockwork Orange (Special Edition) on DVD
6. Requiem for a Dream (2000) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Ellyn Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
The back-story: Harry Goldfarb, his mother Sarah, girlfriend Marion, and best friend Tyrone are each trying to follow a dream in present day Brooklyn while dealing at the same time with life-threatening addictions. As each character pushes their limits to the point of no turning back, physical and mental traumas create barriers, driving each to a personal hell of sorts.
The blood: Without giving the entire ending away, Harry, Marion, and Sarah all endure tremendous physical suffering within the film’s final moments, and director Darren Aronofsky’s brutal style and quick edits make it torture for us to watch above all else. Buy Requiem for a Dream (Director's Cut) on DVD
5. The Passion of the Christ (2004) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Jim Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov, Francesco De Vito, Monica Bellucci
The back-story: Mel Gibson depicts the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life, starting right after the Last Supper but spending the vast majority of the time on his trial and crucification. Gibson’s later comments may have confirmed his anti-Semitic feelings but do not let that take you away from the powerful experience Jim Caviezel’s performance creates for anyone.
The blood: Christ is whipped, torn, and nailed to the cross all quite explicitly. It’s not so much excessive gore as the pain Caviezel’s reactions communicate that is heart-wrenching. Buy The Passion of the Christ on DVD)
4. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen, Luca Barbareschi, Salvatore Basile
The back-story: A documentary film crew working to uncover primitive cannibalistic tribes in Africa makes a wrong move or two, as is seen by a professor who uncovera their film reels and plays them through for the studio.
The blood: The films crew’s final reels display some of the most graphic and disturbing footage one can imagine, from castrations to beheadings to gang rapes and everything in between. Buy Cannibal Holocaust on DVD
3. Audition(Odishon) (1999) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki
The back-story: After the death of his wife, Shigeharu Aoyama’s friend sets up a fake film audition to help him find someone and get back in the game. Unfortunately, the girl who intrigues him most, Asami Yamazaki, is not quite the innocent beauty she appears to be.
The blood: One might say the relationship takes a turn for the worst when Asami begins stabbing needles into Aoyama’s eyeballs, or perhaps cutting his leg off with wire, all the while lecturing him on the value of pain. It makes for one disturbing, and intensely, gone-wrong climax. Buy Audition (Uncut Special Edition) on DVD
2. Braveheart (1995) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Mel Gibson, Catherine McCormack, Angus Macfayden, Patrick McGoohan, Sophie Marceau, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson
The back-story: After having a peaceful life brutally stolen from him, William Wallace
sets out for vengeance and to win independence from the crown in 13th century Scotland. After nearly three hours of bloody hacking and inspirational speeches set amongst one of the most beautiful backdrops ever, Wallace is betrayed by the Scottish noble Robert de Bruce and handed over to the English. It is only then that they can attempt to get even and use him as an example for those who defy the crown.
The blood: Wallace serves as a first-hand lesson to the crowd why not to mess with the crown, and a lesson to us in the art of medieval torture. He is stretched, throttled, and gutted to no avail in the English’s attempt to make him plead. One of the most horrifying yet inspirational scenes ever filmed. Buy Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition) on DVD
1. Reservoir Dogs (1992) Movie Poster:
Who’s in it: Harvery Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney
The back-story: A diamond robbery has gone terribly wrong in Quentin Tarantino’s classic breakthrough, leaving the surviving con men holed up in a warehouse. Known only by their
colorful code names, Mr. White and Mr. Pink leave their hostage cop with Mr. Blue as they fetch the diamonds, not understanding just what it means to be under his “watch.”
The blood: Michael Madsen’s Mr. Blue utilizes tape, blades, and gasoline to get up close and personal with the captured cop, all the while jamming to Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle with You as K-Billy’s Super Sounds of the 70’s continues. Buy Reservoir Dogs (15th Anniversary) on DVD
