Birth Scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1 Triggering Seizures in Epilepsy Patients

Posted on November 26, 2011

ABC News reports that the infamous birth scene during Twilight: Breaking Dawn is causing seizures in some audience goers. The seizures are due to photosensitive epilepsy, which is triggered in the brain due to flashing red, black and red lights during the intense scene.

A number of these incidents have been reported across the nation. Brandon Gephart and Kelly Bauman went to see the film when Gephart began "convulsing, snorting, [and] trying to breathe." He woke up on the theater floor and was removed by paramedics. He has no memory of the events, but bystanders do. ABC News quotes Dr. Michael G. Chez, medical director of pediatric neurology and epilepsy for Sutter Sacramento, explaining that "It's like a light switch going off, because it hits your brain all at once." Dr. Chez said the flashes in a dark theater are more like a strobe light is a classic trigger for this kind of seizure.

You've been warned.