Quentin Tarantino Once Choked Two Actors on Set and Here Is Why

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Quentin Tarantino is famous for his unique filmmaking style, including dramatic violence and clever dialogue. However, his methods on set have often been controversial. Beyond stories like the one about “Big Jerry,” a prop used to jokingly wake up sleeping crew members, reports have surfaced detailing much more intense behavior. Several accounts suggest Tarantino has physically acted out scenes with his actors, even going as far as to simulate real-life, physically demanding actions like suffocation.

A memorable moment happened on the set of the 2008 film Inglourious Basterds with Diane Kruger. During a key scene where her character is strangled, it was actually director Quentin Tarantino’s hands you see in the close-up. Kruger later described the experience as quite odd, but ultimately considered it just another unusual day at work.

Quentin Tarantino decided to perform the scene himself because he wanted complete control over how it looked on film. He explained to actor Michael Kruger that another actor might not apply the right amount of force – it could be too strong or too weak. Tarantino felt he could achieve the precise visual effect he envisioned by doing it himself. Kruger didn’t object to this unusual method, even though it might have seemed strange to others.

This incident wasn’t unique in the director’s work; a similar situation happened with actress Uma Thurman. During the filming of Kill Bill, Tarantino also physically choked Thurman to create a realistic struggle. He later stated that Thurman herself suggested this method to make the scene authentic. They had initially considered using props like a chain or pole, but Thurman reportedly wanted the actual physical contact to achieve a genuine emotional response, including redness in her face and real tears.

Their collaboration wasn’t limited to the intense fight scenes; Tarantino also personally spat on Uma Thurman during another part of the film. He chose to do this himself instead of having another actor do it, demonstrating his very direct and sometimes shocking directing style.

Although the car stunt incident caused tension between the director and Thurman, both she and another actress, Kruger, have defended Tarantino’s artistic vision. Both women have emphasized that they weren’t forced to do anything and willingly participated in these challenging creative decisions.

Quentin Tarantino is still a major topic of conversation in Hollywood, even though he’s stepped back from directing recently. He decided to cancel his film project, The Movie Critic, because he wasn’t fully satisfied with the script. Now, he’s working as a screenwriter and producer on The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a spin-off of his film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. David Fincher is directing, and Brad Pitt is set to star.

Quentin Tarantino has recently been in the news for his honest—and sometimes controversial—views on current movies. He caused a significant reaction within the film industry when he publicly criticized Paul Dano, calling him a “very weak actor” during a podcast interview.

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2026-01-30 12:14