Looking for very specific movie or TV scenes

February 20, 2018 9:31 AM

I'm looking for still photos or clips from movies or TV that show a man or men tied up in a non-sexual context and - crucially - they are afraid. That is, no angry/stoic/brave James Bond types. I don't care if they're later killed but I'd prefer the image not show the actual torture/murder. Ideal examples. Bad examples. ABSOLUTELY NO WOMEN OR CHILDREN.

I don't care why they're tied up. I'd prefer good guys though they need not be protagonists. Prefer clothed, but that's the least important criteria. I don't care about actually watching the movie or show so it's not necessary for the whole thing to be available online.

I've found this impossible to google but if you have any search terms those would be helpful too. "Interrogation" etc mostly brings up women for me, "bondage" etc brings up porn, which I don't want.

posted by AFABulous to Media & Arts (24 answers total)

There’s the cop in Reservoir Dogs. Of course, things go southern for him pretty quick.
posted by thinman at 9:39 AM on February 20, 2018

There's the "Stuck in the Middle With You" scene in Reservoir Dogs and of course The Gimp scene in Pulp Fiction which uses bondage gear and (tw) involves m/m rape. Jesus, Tarantino is a suck fucker.
posted by bondcliff at 9:40 AM on February 20, 2018

Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange is restrained, with his eyelids held open, as he realizes he's being brainwashed.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:49 AM on February 20, 2018

You might google images of "hostage tied up."
posted by sixpack at 9:57 AM on February 20, 2018

It's right there on the poster for Get Out.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:57 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

In Lucifer Season 1 Episode 11, There are a few scenes of Detective Daniel Espinoza being held hostage and he is tied up against a pole. I remember him being actually scared, but couldn't quickly google an image online, but you can check out the episode and see for yourself if it fits.

only image I could find
posted by Julnyes at 9:59 AM on February 20, 2018

The Indiana Jones series always seems to eschew stoicism for more natural reactions. Coming to mind are the ending from Raiders (though Indy is with Marion there) and the fire scene in The Last Crusade.
posted by AndrewInDC at 10:02 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

I don't think it's an ideal example because he wasn't as afraid as Saul in those images you linked, but Dodd Gerhardt in Fargo Season 2 was pretty scared of Kristen Dunst's character because she was craaaaaazy.
posted by jabes at 10:10 AM on February 20, 2018

In Veronica Mars, Season 2, Episode 17 (Plan B), a character is restrained in a building that is going to implode. I don't remember exactly how the character was restrained, but I do believe that he is visibly afraid.
posted by Caz721 at 10:11 AM on February 20, 2018

Boyfriend from the first scene (the Drew Barrymore scene) in Scream is tied up in a chair outside the house.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:16 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also, Criminal Minds. In an early season, the character played by Matthew Gubler is held captive (James Van der Beek played the villain in those episodes). In Season 11, the character played by Shemar Moore is held captive. Actually, Criminal Minds may be a good show generally for you to look at. There are victims, often tied up or otherwise restrained, in every episode and typically showing fear. These are most often women/children, but sometimes men. You could probably scan the episode descriptions to narrow down which episodes might have male victims.
posted by Caz721 at 10:19 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

One more idea - Misery. The torture is shown as well, but I think there may be screenshots that show the fear alone.
posted by Caz721 at 10:21 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Spartacus, Die Hard with a Vengence, X-Men Origins, Ben-Hur, The Wolverine
Use the term “men tied up in Movie” and dozens of Images appear.
There’s even a blog.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:40 AM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Netflix's The Ritual has a scene like this near the end. I imagine a lot of horror movies have this, especially ones where the trope is "outsider protagonists captured by scary locals". Like I haven't watched The Green Inferno but I'd bet you ten bucks it has a scene like this.

The new BSG (2003) also seems fond of this. Episode 3x13 ("Taking a Break from All Your Worries") for sure, 3x7 ("A Measure of Salvation") I think, and maybe (I can't recall) 1x8 ("Flesh and Bone").
posted by phoenixy at 10:58 AM on February 20, 2018

Response by poster: Someone suggested Dexter, which is probably a gold mine though I couldn't find an image quickly. Also 24, which is exactly what I'm looking for.
posted by AFABulous at 11:05 AM on February 20, 2018

Not sure either of these count as tied up and afraid the way you intended, but John Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda... and John Cleese in A Fish called Wanda.
posted by Mchelly at 11:07 AM on February 20, 2018

Chandler from 'Friends" was handcuffed to a file cabinet in an episode...
posted by TwilightKid at 11:21 AM on February 20, 2018

There's a scene near the end of John Carpenter's The Thing where the Keith David character is tied to a chair and freaking out.
posted by holborne at 12:32 PM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

There's a few of these in the Netflix series Altered Carbon, (episode "Force of Evil") In the story, it's virtual, so the antagonist gets to repeatedly kill the protagonist.

This is for a project about how there's too much torture on TV, yes? And how torture is both evil and ineffective?
posted by turkeybrain at 12:40 PM on February 20, 2018

If you Google Breaking Bad tied up, there are a number of pictures along those lines.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:48 PM on February 20, 2018

Oops... I just clicked on your good example link and I see that you are way ahead of me.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:50 PM on February 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Leverage - Season 1, Episode 4, "The Miracle Job," shows Elliot with a flashback to a time where he was tied to a chair, and a gun pressed to his head. He's stoic (ish? He's sweating.) until the trigger is pulled, but then flinches and looks afraid.

Lethal Weapon 2 has the famous toilet bomb scene - the hero isn't tied up, but he can't move.

Also, the movie Misery may have the kind of scenes you're looking for, but I'm not going to re-watch it to find out.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:58 PM on February 20, 2018

Came here to say The Thing as well.

Here is an episode of Burn Notice where two men are tied to chairs. It starts at 24:20.
posted by cali59 at 7:44 PM on February 20, 2018

Response by poster: I've found quite a bit of material and compiled it, memail if you want more info.
posted by AFABulous at 12:13 PM on March 1, 2018