Entertainment

Sundance Film Fest Horror Flick Causes Audience Members to Get Sick

Sundance Film Fest Horror Flick V/H/S Causes Audience Members to Get Sick

"V/H/S" (Photo: Sundance.org)

A horror film — “V/H/S” — shown at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah last week proved too much to bear for at least two audience members, who ended up requiring medical attention after scenes from the show made them sick.

No, it wasn’t someone actually using the archaic form of home theater entertainment that caused the shock, but potentially shaky camera footage — like that in The Blaire Witch Project — and other gruesome aspects, according to the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail reports that one man “ran from the cinema screen, collapsed and began to suffer seizures”, while his girlfriend “also ran into the lobby and began to vomit.” The night before, the Daily Mail points out, another woman allegedly left the theater crying.

MSNBC interviewed the film’s co-writer who has more of a description on the scene that could have caused some audience members to run out:

“Without spoiling anything, (the film’s first segment) ends with a particularly intense series of scenes that involve, among other things, an injury resulting in a compound fracture that is recorded from the first person perspective,” [Simon] Barrett told us. In short: A broken bone pokes through a character’s skin, which might disturb even the healthiest viewer.

Barrett said that the segment, “while very funny in parts, is also quite intense and gory,” and noted that the film’s handheld camera style combined with other factors “can probably be a bit difficult to take.”

Some have suggested that the reaction by the audience members was a stunt by the filmmakers but the Los Angeles Times blog reports producer Roxanne Benjamin’s tweet as saying the event was real, ”scary and not fun, and everyone is grateful the guy and his girlfriend are OK. And they wanted to go back in the theatre!” Benjamin later said that the symptoms of the two were related to ”altitude sickness, exhaustion, dehydration and alcohol”.

The premise of “V/H/S”, according to Sundance.org, is about a group of criminals hired to enter an abandoned home to retrieve a tape. But, of course, it’s not that easy:

In the living room, a lifeless body holds court before a hub of old television sets, surrounded by stacks upon stacks of VHS tapes. As they search for the right one, they are treated to a seemingly endless number of horrifying videos, each stranger than the last.

The films watched by the group are a compilation of shorts directed by Adam Wingard, Glenn McQuaid, Radio Silence, David Bruckner, Joe Swanberg and Ti West, and the LA Times reports they are “not for the faint of heart.”

Comments (50)

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  • midnightvelvet
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 2:11am

    Dang…first sentence…first typo. Doesn’t this websight have editors at all?

    Report Post »  
  • Jayms
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:50am

    A man and a woman, that went together, both got sick. Is it a stretch to think that drugs were somehow involved?

    Report Post »  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:21pm

      It says right in the story that alcohol was involved.

      Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:09am

    Like I feel every time I watch MSNBC

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • TyrannyNoMore
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:32pm

    I would have suggested they prepare themselves by watching the entire SAW series.

    Report Post » TyrannyNoMore  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:14pm

    “The Blaire Witch Project.” Still the worst movie I’ve ever seen and I still want my money back with interest.

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
  • elihu
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:06pm

    And we wonder why the world is quickly spiraling down into more and more vile, despicable behavior? Many (most) who frequent this type of garbage are very impressionable; to the point that some undoubtedly act it out themselves.

    Report Post » elihu  
  • rose-ellen
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:47pm

    maybe i‘m crazy but i get scared at movies that arn’t suppossed to be scary.Those animations bother me.And even comedys.the sounds bother me and the close ups of faces often look ominous.I’m always picking up on subliminal negative stuff. is it just me?

    Report Post »  
    • WeekendAtBernankes
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:08pm

      No. There was a time when I would have to walk out of movies in the theater to ground myself. If you have good concentration and the ability to emotionally connect with the characters in the film they can become intense to the point of overwhelming.

      That‘s why I personally can’t handle movies with torture scenes. Fortunately those movies are usually crap (Saw, Hostel, etc.)

      Report Post » WeekendAtBernankes  
  • Starkadder
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:42pm

    You just know they paid a few people to incite a chain barf-o-rama to hype their low budget film for national headlines. See, it worked too.
    Here drink this epicac solution 1/2 hour into film, I’ll give you $200 if you barf.

    Report Post » Starkadder  
  • powedj
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:06pm

    A perfect horror flick for the film festival would be a flick of Barney Frank in the nude.

    Report Post » powedj  
    • Inkbottle
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 12:08pm

      That was repulsive….Now I’ll have nightmares for the rest of my life!

      Report Post » Inkbottle  
  • DREDGE
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:56pm

    Wow! Whenever I watch MSNBC I have to puke!!!

    Report Post »  
  • cranberry
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:47pm

    Bring it on -

    Report Post » cranberry  
  • Anadara
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:35pm

    This is really poetic. Do you see the irony in this? These butt-heads overdosed on the very crap that they went to see.

    Report Post » Anadara  
  • ddg7
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:29pm

    Hollywood has made me sick for years!

    Report Post »  
  • possom
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:09pm

    lol libs are so delicate.

    Report Post » possom  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:53pm

    Im not watching as i have had the unfortunate experience of being exposed to satanic cult as a seventeen yr old and these people are seriously worshiping satan .It was one night and im totally blessed to be alive.Before then i might have been tempted to watch but not now anyways if i want to see scary Shat i turn on the news …………………

    Report Post »  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:35pm

      The world of the spirit (the invisible) is much more real then the visible for the Word of God tells us that “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2Cor 4v18. People open doors to the supernatural in ignorance not realizing what they are playing with. Mocking things they don’t understand. Whether someone believes in the supernatural realm or not does not really matter because what is IS!

      This is a continuation of a descent into a deep darkness which began with the original “The Exorcist” which terrified people so much at the time with this depiction of evil and its power that people went back and saw that movie over and over to “integrate” it into their psyches (at least that is what THEY thought they were doing), it was said to be an example of the “stockholm syndrome” from the trauma people experienced. Every movie of the supernatural-cult horror genre after that sought to up the shock factor with more realistic depictions of violence and gore, or perversion, of every sort of evil that the human mind and heart could conceive of (”And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Gen 6v5,

      Report Post » YAHSHUARULES  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:39pm

      Continuing my thoughts on the latest door to evil disguised as entertainment: , “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17v9,) – pushing the “artistic envelope”. But these images get into your mind, they stick and long after the initial exposure to such filth and depravity you are experiencing the consequences. To those that don’t think that epileptic fits can be demonic in Mark 9 a man comes to Yahshua – Jesus about the demonic spirit that causes his child to be cast into fire “And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.” Mark 9v20.

      He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” Ecs 10v8. Those who are believers on this board, I pray none of you are going to such trash or allowing your children for you are breaking the hedge of protection and you will get bit by the evil embodied in it. We are told “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
      ” Rom 6v16. Look at the faces of those OWS people, dead, lifeless, souless hollow eyes, a product of a godless upbringing and society where anything and everything goes except decency.

      Report Post » YAHSHUARULES  
  • weneedrubio
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:52pm

    Hollywood is our finest achievement by our finest citizens. I for one am so very proud.

    Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:24pm

      Personally, I like horror movies. I begeed and begged my parents to take me to “Jaws” and “the Exorcist” because I had heard about how people were running from the theatre in fright. Sometimes the gore is overkill, but, I can separate fiction from reality.

      However, I will NOT be seeing this movie. Making another “shaky-camera-found-footage” is FAR more unforgivable than any amount of blood, guts and viscera! Every producer and director who uses the gimmick should be sent to Gitmo.

      Report Post »  
    • UrsaMajor
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:32pm

      Just to be clear… my parents watched “Jaws with me and said ”absolutely NOT“ to ”The Exorcist”. I had to wait until the heavily-edited version came to network television.

      Report Post »  
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:52pm

    How is this bunch going to react when Obama loses in November? True Americans are sick of this
    puny little dictator.

    Report Post »  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:19pm

      i also have hopes as you……….but 49% of america still thinks oboma is doing a good job

      Report Post »  
    • SANE_I think
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:00pm

      OLDGUY, thats what they say, I do not believe it for a single moment! NO WAY %49 of this country thinks this enemy of the people is good for this country! NO WAY Not that many commies and morons in this country!

      Report Post »  
  • LogicalMetaphysician
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:48pm

    Fodder for the next Disney attraction!

    Report Post » LogicalMetaphysician  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:46pm

    The title of the film was Barry wins re-election the reaction is totally understandable.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:42pm

    Sounds like my wife’s kind of film; daughter as well. One I will pass on.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • larrylarrylarry
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:39pm

    Was it scenes from Newt’s “open marriage” VHS tape that had them getting sick and blowing chunks?

    Report Post »  
  • BannedByHuffpo
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:35pm

    Thought maybe Robert Redford made a surprise appearance…………..

    Report Post » BannedByHuffpo  
  • Talkgirl
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:34pm

    Wow. Robert Redford must be so proud.

    Sad how in the name of “arts” anyone ćan peddle pervsion and evil. Those Hollywood Elite must be enjoying this gallant gall stone.

    Report Post » Talkgirl  
  • janedough1
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:27pm

    Consider that the people who seek out this film are probably hardened horror film watchers, and what must this film contain? If you seek out evil, you will find it.

    Report Post »  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:45pm

      Everything we do has consequences and the ramifications. Believers spirits can not be posessed but body and soul is a different story, if you open the door by exposing yourself to this garbage you may not like what is on the other side.

      Report Post » YAHSHUARULES  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:22pm

    A room full of liberals getting sick and blowing chunks……..scary stuff……yet, strangely enough, very amusing.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
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