'Twilight' Seizures Reported During 'Breaking Dawn' Vampire Birthing Scene
Reports have been streaming in from moviegoers around the country about a graphic birthing scene in the latest installment of the "Twilight" movie franchise, causing some viewers to experience seizures.
CBS 13 in Sacramento reports that a local man fell out of his seat in a fit of convulsions last week during the scene featuring character Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), a human-turned-vampire, giving birth. The scene reportedly appears at the end of the film.
The man was transported by paramedics to a hospital, his wife told CBS 13.
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The "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1" scene reportedly features flashes of red, black and white lighting, triggering some moviegoers apparently susceptible to epilepsy to suffer an episode, according to a neurology and epilepsy doctor who spoke with the Sacramento news station.
"It's like a light switch going off, because it hits your brain all at once," Dr. Michael G. Chez said.
He added, "The trouble with theaters, it's dark, the lights flashing in there is more like a strobe light."
The condition, a form of photosensitivity, affects people "born with special sensitivity to flashing lights or contrasting visual patterns, such as stripes, grids and checkerboards," according to the Epilepsy Foundation's website.
Another Utah couple shared with a local news station about undergoing a similar experience at a movie theater during the premiere of "Breaking Dawn."
The couple also referred to the flashing bright lights in the "incredibly graphic" scene, ABC News 4 reports. The man, who says he blacked out, fell out of his seat and began convulsing on the floor.
The man, who who did not want to be identified, told ABC News 4 that his wife later told him that he was "shaking and mumbling different noises."
A blog called The Daily Decibel, which reveals spoilers about the film, published a post on reports of seizures during the "Breaking Dawn" scene. A handful of commenters reported witnessing or experiencing seizures.
One commenter, who claimed to be a first aid attendant and projectionist at a local theater, the location of which was not shared, said "Breaking Dawn" has been shown on three screens twice a night since Friday, Nov. 18.
"In that one week timeframe, 3 people have had seizures during the birthing scene, and 4 have collapsed making their way to the exits after feeling lightheaded," the commenter wrote. "My employers are working on a warning to play before the film, as they have had 800+ incidents of this across Canada."
The Christian Post was unable to locate any reports of Canadian moviegoers suffering seizures during screenings of "Breaking Dawn."
Another commenter on The Daily Decibel expressed regret for taking a 9-year-old child to see the film, as the girl also became faint and ill during the scene.
Most of those interviewed in news reports and those who have commented in online forums say they had never suffered a seizure before watching "Breaking Dawn."
It was unclear if "Breaking Dawn" distributor Summit Entertainment LLC had been made aware of the numerous reports streaming in from moviegoers around the nation about the graphic birthing scene's use of light triggering epileptic seizures.
