13. Drive Brian Cranston
The first of two entries on my list from this instant cult classic Nicolas Winding Refn. The excellent Brian Cranston is quickly and callously dispatched by his boss and long term friend Albert Brooks when he finds him attempting to flee town. Brooks approaches Cranston in his garage and while shaking his hand, produces a straight razor, and with the precision of a surgeon, clits his wrist. Blood sprays, Cranston lets out a moan, and Brooks, as cool as can be, says shh, its over. Its over." Personally Im very squeamish with razors. When I had a clean shave with a straight razor recently I cringed through most of it and kept having visions of it clipping an artery. So for me, the effect lasted long after the razor had sliced through the skin.
12. Braveheart Catherine McCormack
Mel Gibsons Oscar winning epic, which saw him triumph as producer and writer for gold and actor in many peoples eyes (if not for his off-Scottish accent) is indeed a gory affair. Yet of all the deaths of Scottish and English soldiers in battle by sword or axe or spear of shield, for me the most gory death is that of William Braveheart Wallaces wife Murron (Catherine McCormack). When it is discovered that Wallace and Murron have married in secret by an English soldier he claims the right of prima noctis and try to claim her for his bed. Murron and Wallace fight the soldier and they try to flee but Murron is captured. She is taken and tied to a post. Wallace is given a moment to come forward and show himself. When he doesnt show, her throat is sliced. Her the skin splits and blood flows before we cut to a close up of her face as her eyes bug wide and tears flow from them. For me this scene had the authenticity of murder, whereas the final, long, protracted torture scene is too well produced; its polished, manipulative and unlike Gibson would produce years later with The Passion not as gruelling as it should be.