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.
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.
I think the main character in *Death Wish *goes home and pukes in the toilet after killing his first mugger.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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? 
If you don’t watch the puking, you’ll never become desensitized to it!
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?
My brother is a huge film buff (he’s a curator at AMPAS). He used to keep a list of every movie he saw that had puking. It ran over four pages.
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.
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.
It was you who brought it up.
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.
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.
Vampires puke? I didn’t know they…had bodily functions.
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.
One of my favorite quotes!