Life-Like High-Wire Scenes In 'The Walk' 3-D Leave Audiences With Vertigo Symptoms
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A movie about a historic high-wire act is causing high anxiety for some theater goers, some audience members have reported severe symptoms of vertigo.
As CBS2's Don Champion reported, 'The Walk' brings Philippe Petit's World Trade Center tightrope walk to life.
The new 3-D movie about the daredevil 1974 tightrope walk at the World Trade Center has had a real effect on audiences.
Some theater goers said the life-like high-wire scenes in 'The Walk' are making them sick.
"You have the illusion of motion while the body's telling you that you're not moving," ear surgeon Darius Kohan explained.
Kohan said the battle of the sense between the eye and the ear can cause the body to rebel.
"So the end result is it feels like something is poisoned, so the reaction is gastrointestinal. You feel nauseous, dizzy," he said.
Research on 3D movies has shown that half of viewers reported discomfort with about ten to twelve-percent actually getting it.
Dr. Kohan recommends that people sit as far away from the screen as they can, and that holding a hand over one eye can help the body reset during dizzying scenes, avoiding big meals before show time can also help.
Film student Hanson Hee said he had a strong reaction at the matinée.
"I can feel my heartbeat just instantly raced up to 'ooosh,'" he said
If you're sensitive to vertigo or motion sickness, experts said you may want to avoid the 3-D experience.
Doctors also warned against taking Dramamine or other motion sickness medications just to view a movie.