Birth shot: A scene in the new 'Twilight' movie is triggering seizures in cinemas around the country.
By
Hannah Roberts and
Meghan Keneally
Last updated at 1:04 AM on 4th December 2011
The newest Twilight movie is getting an
extreme reaction from some fans, but unfortunately it is not the kind that they
were hoping for.
A number of movie-goers have had seizures
while watching the fourth and latest Twilight movie because of the flashing
lights used during the controversial birth scene, prompting an epilepsy advocate
group to issue a warning.
'If you have photosensitive seizures, it may
be best for you to avoid seeing this movie,' reads the warning on the Epilepsy
Foundation of America's Facebook page.
Birth shot: A scene in the new 'Twilight' movie is triggering seizures in cinemas around the country.
The film contains a series of red and white
flashing lights during the scene when the Kristen Stewart's character Bella
gives birth a baby girl that is half-human and half-vampire.
The group alerted its 11,000 Facebook
followers of the triggers in the film as a warning.
So far, two Americans have had seizures while
watching the fourth instalment in the popular Twilight franchise.
Brandon Gephart of Roseville, California was
watching the film when he began having convulsions, CBS Sacramento reported.
Mr Gephart only remembers waking up on the
cinema floor, before being rushed to hospital. Girlfriend Kelly Bauman was
terrified.
Victim: Brandon Gephart of Roseville, California was watching the film with his girlfriend Kelly Bauman when he began having convulsions.
Flashing lights: The red and white flashes during the graphic birth scene has reportedly caused at least two seizures in American movie theaters
He was 'convulsing, snorting, trying to
breathe,' she said. 'He scared me big time.'
The rest of the screening was cancelled.
Similar incidents have now been reported around the country.
One man in south Jordan, Utah blacked out
during the film. His wife reported that he was shaking, mumbling and blinking
rapidly, according to ABC4.
The symptoms typically emerge during the birth
scene which contains flashes of red, black and white.
Smash hit: The latest installment of the Twilight saga is expected to take millions over the holiday weekend
Epilepsy specialist Dr. Michael G. Chez, said
the scene may be triggering
A 1990s episode of the television show
Pokémon, caused seizures in children
The phenomenon is more common in video games than films
Designers no longer put strobe effect lights in modern games
Blue lens sunglasses can filter out
the red light and filter out the red light
episodes of photosensitive epilepsy in those
that are predisposed to it.
Seizures can be brought on by flashing red
lights in people who are genetically predisposed.
'It’s like a light switch going off, because
it hits your brain all at once,' Dr. Chez told CBC Sacramento.
One episode of TV show Pokémon, broadcast in the 1990s caused a wave of seizures in young children.
'The trouble with theaters, it’s dark, the
lights flashing in there is more like a strobe light,' he added.
A one-off seizure does no real long-term damage
in the majority of cases, Dr. Chez said.
To reduce the risk, blue lenses can be worn to
filter out the red light.
Vampire Weekend: Kelly said Brandon has fulfilled his duty as a boyfriend and doesn't need to see any more 'Twilight' movies.
Kelly said Brandon has fulfilled his duty as a
boyfriend and doesn't need to see any more 'Twilight' movies.
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