‘American Beauty’ (1999) presented a disturbing love scene, especially given the subsequent allegations against its lead, Kevin Spacey. The film showcases Spacey’s character, Lester, creepily fantasizing about his high school-aged crush, Angela, making viewers cringe with discomfort.
‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ (2005) explores discomfort to a comedic effect. The scene where Steve Carell’s Andy is overwhelmed by the sexually aggressive Elizabeth Banks’ Beth is a real cringefest, making the viewer wish for a quick escape.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (2015) is expected to push boundaries. However, the film takes an unexpected turn from titillating to shocking, ending in a violent sequence in which Anastasia is flogged with a belt.
