# What's with all this puking? (in movies) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524 "2009-06-12T03:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/21 "2009-06-12T18:54:58Z")
As an emetophobe, I could very well do without this trend. It’s never necessary. Not once ever have I felt that it added to a movie or TV show. This excuse that it’s shorthand for strong emotion is bullshit; not only have I never known that to happen to anyone in real life, it’s also lazy and reveals the writer/director/actor as unskilled and unimaginative. I get a little hot under the collar about this, because it upsets me for a long time after I see it. Fortunately my partner is very good about spotting when it might be about to happen even when I haven’t (though that’s rare), and makes sure I have the remote/have left the room. There’s just no need for it. I would also, and especially, like to point out to whoever is in charge that vomiting is not funny. If I’m watching a comedy, I don’t want to see that. Also don’t put it in the fucking TV trailer for your movie. I don’t want to see it all unexpectedly in the middle of an innocent ad break. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/22 "2009-06-12T19:04:47Z")
I can take most anything, but this is where I draw the line. The first instance of this I remember was one of the Amityville Horror sequels. Then there was The Pest, that was inspired by _The Most Dangerous Game_ which had the two characters puking in each others faces several times for “comedic” effect. Now, I do watch a lot of junk, but those movies I would celebrate if every copy were lost and/or destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/23 "2009-06-12T19:08:46Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > What are some puke-movie examples?. I think the main character in \*Death Wish \*goes home and pukes in the toilet after killing his first mugger. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/24 "2009-06-12T19:24:20Z")
I also hate this. It’s gross and unnecessary and icky. I always close my eyes; I just can’t take it. (I could not call myself an emetophobe, but I’m certainly not far from it.) It’s used for comedy in some TV shows, and _Mythbusters_ in particular likes to show Adam tossing his cookies. I hate that. Mythbusters, quit showing that! It’s gross! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/25 "2009-06-12T19:34:46Z")
A search on IMDB of films since 1990 (excluding TV movies or series, or direct to video films) which have received at least 500 votes (so fairly mainstream, non-obscure) English-language movies with Keyword “vomit” yields 426 entries. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/26 "2009-06-12T21:37:46Z")
In addition to movies, what about TV shows? I mean, I love _House_. It’s my favorite show. It’s pretty much the only thing I watch anymore. But sheesh, guys, does somebody have to vomit something disgusting _every week_? If it’s not regular puke, it’s blood (which is even worse), and it’s almost always very sudden. I’m pretty good at anticipating puke scenes, but sometimes this show catches me by surprise. I know it’s a medical show. But still. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/27 "2009-06-12T22:58:43Z")
I’ve been doing a mental playback, and I _still_ don’t remember a puking scene in _No Country For Old Men_. And I just saw it recently, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/28 "2009-06-13T07:41:47Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I’ve been doing a mental playback, and I _still_ don’t remember a puking scene in _No Country For Old Men_. And I just saw it recently, too. It occurs shortly after Moss discovers the transponder secreted in the money bag. Chigurh blows the lock of the hotel room door whereupon Moss throws the bag out of the window and dives out after it. During the ensuing street firefight, Moss looks down at his injuries and vomits graphically. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/29 "2009-06-13T14:03:44Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > As an emetophobe, I could very well do without this trend. It’s never necessary. Not once ever have I felt that it added to a movie or TV show. This excuse that it’s shorthand for strong emotion is bullshit; not only have I never known that to happen to anyone in real life, it’s also lazy and reveals the writer/director/actor as unskilled and unimaginative. I get a little hot under the collar about this, because it upsets me for a long time after I see it. Fortunately my partner is very good about spotting when it might be about to happen even when I haven’t (though that’s rare), and makes sure I have the remote/have left the room. There’s just no need for it. I would also, and especially, like to point out to whoever is in charge that vomiting is not funny. If I’m watching a comedy, I don’t want to see that. Also don’t put it in the fucking TV trailer for your movie. I don’t want to see it all unexpectedly in the middle of an innocent ad break. Hey now, \*sometimes \*it’s funny. Generic puking isn’t too entertaining, but scenes where it’s grossly overdone to the point of ridiculousness can occasionally be redeeming, such as in the _Team America_ scene… Of course instead of being so upset by it, you could also try getting over your phobia as I used to be a bit of an emetophobe myself (but it never bothered me to see other people vomitting). Perhaps you need to see \*more \*movies with puking? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/30 "2009-06-13T14:16:46Z")
If you don’t _watch_ the puking, you’ll never become desensitized to it! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/31 "2009-06-13T14:20:24Z")
Hm, weird. I SAW No Country and I don’t even remember that scene. I haven’t noticed the trend either. Other than Trey Parker/Matt Stone movies, what are the other movies that have done this? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/32 "2009-06-13T14:24:18Z")
My brother is a huge film buff (he’s a curator at [AMPAS](http://www.oscars.org/)). He used to keep a list of every movie he saw that had puking. It ran over four pages. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/33 "2009-06-13T14:25:58Z")
I don’t remember it either, **FS**. I’m guessing we’re not as troubled by this puke-spike as the rest of these wusses. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/34 "2009-06-13T15:31:56Z")
Hmm, other than scenes where it’s overdone for comic effect (Team America, Monty Python, Stand By Me, etc.) I really can’t even remember any puking scenes in other films. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/35 "2009-06-13T15:36:07Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I don’t remember it either, **FS**. I’m guessing we’re not as troubled by this puke-spike as the rest of these wusses. 😉 It was you who brought it up. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/36 "2009-06-13T15:46:31Z")
I guess I’ve noticed a bit more of this in recent movies, but I can’t say that it seems like it’s an epidemic or anything. Other than the comedic use in _Team America_ and _The Meaning of Life_, it’s been appropriate in context, all in all. Probably the most memorable such scene for me recently was Adriana La Cerva barfing all over an FBI conference room table when she realized she’d have to rat out Tony and his gang, at great risk to herself, in _The Sopranos_. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/37 "2009-06-13T23:11:15Z")
HBO dramas are heavy on the puking. I’m currently watching True Blood and several episodes recently had graphic puking, regular and bloody vampire-style. I love HBO shows, but it seems they don’t think their viewer is getting their money’s worth unless they cram in as much sex, violence, and puke as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/38 "2009-06-13T23:11:46Z")
Vampires puke? I didn’t know they…had bodily functions. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/39 "2009-06-15T13:05:45Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > It occurs shortly after Moss discovers the transponder secreted in the money bag. > > Chigurh blows the lock of the hotel room door whereupon Moss throws the bag out of the window and dives out after it. During the ensuing street firefight, Moss looks down at his injuries and vomits graphically. I thought it was after Moss has crossed the border back into the US and has drunk some of the beer he got from the teens whose jacket he bought. I do remember a shot of his gaping wound though so you’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524/40 "2009-06-15T14:36:23Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I’ve heard it said that the stomach has more nerve endings than the brain. One of my favorite quotes! [QUOTE=Stephen Colbert] Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut, than in your head? You can look it up. Now I know some of you are going to say I did look it up and that’s not true. That’s because you looked it up in a book. Next time look it up in your gut. I did. My gut tells me that’s how our nervous system works." [/QUOTE] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-puking-in-movies/499524.md?page=3)