Back in 1993, Tarantino unleashed Reservoir Dogs onto the unsuspecting public. It was a low budget heist film, slick and violent, that didnt even show the heist itself and it became an an instant hit thanks to its fluid dialogue, tension and contagious soundtrack. It was that soundtrack that would ultimately add a sinister element to the most shocking and talked about scene in the film. The infamous ear scene. Weve all been there, the heist youre pulling went wrong, half your team is missing or dead, but the psychopath of the group, in this case Michael Madsens Mr Blonde aka Vic Vega, turns up at the safe house with a cop in his boot, classic Saturday. Whats going to happen? Naturally, Madsen ties the cop to a chair, beats him senseless and puts on K Billy Super Sounds of the 70s before removing his ear and throwing gasoline over him, all whilst doing a little dance. It's a testament to Madsen how much crazy and menace he conveys from the subtlest of shifts in his performance. At the end of the scene, when finally he's shot, you can't help but feel a wave of release. Its a tense, unforgettable, scene that seared into the collective memory of early 90s cinemagoers.
