Hidden (2005)
The Death Scene: Georges confronts Majid in his apartment, where the Algerian pulls a knife. Georges retreats, thinking the knife is meant for him, but Majid takes it to his own throat, sending a fan of gore spattering across the room.
Most Shocking Element: It's shot with a horrible sense realism from the unflinching camera of Michael Haneke. Profoundly disturbing.
The Orphanage (2007)
The Death Scene: Belén Rueda and her hubby spot the creepy social worker pushing a baby stroller, only for her to be suddenly mown down by a speeding bus. Splat.
Most Shocking Element: If the first shock didn't get you, the moment when she briefly revives will have you clutching your heart!
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Death Scene: With Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes both staring death in the face, Batman only has time to rescue one of them. Naturally he chooses Rachel, and equally naturally, the Joker sends him to the wrong location. Dent is rescued while poor old Rachel meets a fiery end.
Most Shocking Element: Just when you thought the film was winding down, the love interest is killed and the villain escapes. Didn't see that one coming!
Drive (2011)
The Death Scene: The elevator head-stomp is probably more shocking in terms of ickiness, but there's something profoundly disturbing about the way Albert Brooks almost regretfully escorts Bryan Cranston into the hereafter. A swish of his knife and it's over.
Most Shocking Element: The almost paternally reassuring manner in which he tells Cranston that the worst is over. It's really unnerving!
Psycho (1960)
The Death Scene: Marion Crane heads to the bathroom to take a quick shower, only for Norman Bates to rudely interrupt her with a big old knife.
Most Shocking Element: The fact that Janet Leigh was the movie's biggest star, and she's been bumped off less than halfway through. Great swerve, Hitch!
Alien (1979)
The Death Scene: John Hurt thinks he's got a touch of indigestion, but the truth turns out to be far, far worse as a baby Xenomorph bursts out of his chest. This is why you should get that cough checked out…
Most Shocking Element: It's the intrusive nature of this scene that lingers long after the surprise and the splatter have worn off. It's just a horrible concept.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
The Death Scene: Samuel L Jackson gives a rousing team-talk about how no shark, genetically modified or otherwise, is going to put one over on Samuel L Jackson. Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows et al look suitably motivated, until…
Most Shocking Element: A shark pops up out of nowhere and snaffles Sam whole. Surprise!
The Mist (2007)
The Death Scene: With the mist still covering the landscape, his escape vehicle out of gas and hordes of otherworldly monsters stalking the surrounding area, Thomas Jane decides the game's up, sparing his young son a painful death by simply shooting him in the head.
Most Shocking Element: The fact that the army turn up two minutes later. You have got to be kidding...
Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)
The Death Scene: As a gang of violent thugs murder an ice cream man, a little girl interrupts them. "Hey," she exclaims. "I want a vanilla twist." What she gets is a bullet in the chest.
Most Shocking Element: It's a little girl for Christ's sake! These guys just do not give one solitary shit...
Bambi (1943)
The Death Scene: Bambi and his old dear flee from a nasty old hunter. Bambi escapes, his mother… well you know the rest.
Most Shocking Element: The fact that this occurs in a children's film, and that at this stage in our tender lives, we didn't think anything bad happened to mummies and daddies. Traumatic.
