Reservoir Dogs has received substantial criticism for its strong violence and language. One particular scene that viewers found unnerving was Michael Madsen’s ear-cutting scene, and Madsen himself reportedly had a great deal of difficulty finishing the scene especially after Kirk Baltz ad-libbed the desperate plea “I’ve got a little kid at home”. Many people have left theaters during the film and Tarantino commented at the time:

It happens at every single screening. For some people the violence, or the rudeness of the language, is a mountain they can’t climb. That’s OK. It’s not their cup of tea. But I am affecting them. I wanted that scene to be disturbing