20 90s Movie Scenes That Traumatized Us All

When taken on a literal level, Matilda is so dark.

That mustn't be misunderstood as criticism. It is not just one of the best live-action family films ever, but it is also one of the most beautifully uplifting movies in any genre, largely because it establishes so much darkness and then banishes it in the most heartwarming way imaginable. But seriously, the various adult antagonists should all have been in prison for child abuse, especially the Trunchbull, Matilda's tyrannical headmistress played to perfection by an outstanding Pam Ferris. 

Perhaps the scene that messed up kids the most involves a chocolate cake. It might not sound like much, but any scene the Trunchbull enters becomes nightmare fuel. Here, she punishes Bruce Bogtrotter (Jimmy Karz), a fellow pupil, for allegedly stealing a slice of her cake. She forces him to eat the entirety of an enormous chocolate cake on a stage in front of the school, all while intimidating and belittling the unfortunate kid. 

Ferris is at her scariest here, and director-star Danny DeVito makes this all as disgusting as possible, focusing on the yucky, gooey eating and on Bruce, who is visibly on the verge of throwing up. It's incredibly icky stuff, although, in characteristic fashion, the scene ends happily with Matilda and the other students cheering Bruce on until he triumphantly finishes the cake. 

This scene starts out by traumatizing everyone, then ends with a joyous win - you could view this scene as a good microcosm of the whole movie.