History YMMV / Shame

* MisaimedFandom: As is shown in the comment sections of several uploads of the bar scene where Brandon woos and fingers a woman after discovering that she's in a relationship, a concerning number of people view Brandon's behavior out of context as an example for men to aspire to just because he's played by Creator/MichaelFassbender at his most seductive, disregarding Brandon's toxic relationship with sex throughout the film, and even his refusal to respect boundaries in that very scene.

* SignatureScene: Candidates include Brandon's wordless interaction with the woman on the subway train in the opening scene, Sissy's rendition of "New York, New York", and [[spoiler:Brandon's breakdown in the rain towards the end]].
* {{Tearjerker}}: A lot of the movie is this.
** Especially the scene near the end where Brandon abandons Sissy for a night with prostitutes and we only hear the haunting music and Sissy's voicemails to Brandon.

* MisaimedFandom: As is shown in the comment sections of several uploads of the bar scene where Brandon woos and fingers a woman after discovering that she's in a relationship, a concerning number of people view the scene out of context as an example for men to aspire to just because he's played by Creator/MichaelFassbender at his most seductive, disregarding Brandon's toxic relationship with sex throughout the film, and even his refusal to respect boundaries in that very scene.

* MisaimedFandom: As is visible in the comment sections of several uploads of the bar scene where Brandon woos and fingers a woman even after discovering that she's in a relationship, a concerning number of people view the scene out of context as an example for men to aspire to just because he's played by the attractive Creator/MichaelFassbender at his most seductive, disregarding Brandon's toxic, warped relationship with sex and his refusal to respect boundaries.

* OneSceneWonder: The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Woman on the Subway Train]] Brandon sees at the beginning and end of the film.

* FetishRetardant: You want nudity? It's there by the truckload, but the sex is presented as an alien, desperate thing, and the nudity in non-sex scenes has far too much IncestSubtext to ignore.

* FetishRetardant: You want nudity, it's there by the truckload, but the sex is presented as an alien, desperate thing, and the nudity in non-sex scenes has far too much IncestSubtext to ignore.

** When Brandon rushes home expecting to find a suicide note by Sissy that she jumped under the train, but instead finds her bleeding out from self-inflicted wounds in the bathroom.

* UnfortunateImplications: [[http://blip.tv/brows-held-high/brows-held-high-shame-6700054 In his review of]] the film, Kyle Kallgren of ''WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh'' took issue with the depiction of the scene when protagonist Brandon has sex with a gay man. While Brandon's compulsive sex addiction is shown to be destructive in every instance, the gay sex is treated as "[[DarkestHour rock bottom]]", as the scene is shot under red lighting and then is followed by another scene where Brandon is beat up by a man on the street.

** though the event can be seen under the lens of Brandons' addiction becoming so extreme as to make him sleep with anyone who is available whether or not he is even attracted to them what so ever.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Everything we see Brandon do has something to with his sex addiction. It also implies that porn is a dirty, dirty, shameful thing that even his horndog boss finds objectionable. In a film that for the most part steers utterly away from any "if X then Y" reasoning, "Porn is for sex addicts" stands out as an odd apparent stance.
** It is worth noting that Brandon becomes significantly more self-destructive once he removes porn, which had previously functioned as a release valve.
** His boss also seems to be reacting more to the actual genres of pornography on Brandon's hard drive, finding the fetishistic nature of it to be confronting. Still an unusual emphasis given the rest of the film's subtlety, but it may be more to highlight David's hypocrisy than it is the film's message.
** David also makes a point of explaining that it is having (and using) porn ''at work'' that is the problem. Considering the porn was likely what gave the company system a virus in the first place in addition to the innappropriateness of masturbating in a workplace, he isn't exactly out of line.
** Brandon's porn addiction is presented as more of a symptom of his sex addiction, as opposed to a cause. The "If X then Y" reasoning makes sense here - sex addicts would obviously watch a lot of porn, and in some cases go way overboard. So the problem is not porn, but the fact that Brandon goes ''way'' overboard with it. Whether it's sex or porn, a certain amount in moderation is ok, it's only bad when you have too much or are obsessed with it.

*** Enhanced by a separate tearjerker moment where Brandon rushes home expecting to find a suicide note by Sissy that she jumped under the train, but instead finds her bleeding out from self-inflicted wounds in the bathroom.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Brandon doesn't quite comfortable with his sister around him. Is it really because he doesn't like she disturbed his privacy? Or perhaps his sexual addiction is so overwhelming he can't help but see her in a sexualized way that he knows is wrong and sick, therefore feeling even more... [[TitleDrop "shame"]]? Who knows.

** Brandon's porn addiction is presented as more of a symptom of his sex addiction, as opposed to a cause. The "If X then Y" reasoning makes sense here - sex addicts would obviously watch a lot of porn, and in some cases go way overboard. So the problem is not porn, but the fact that David goes ''way'' overboard with it. Whether it's sex or porn, a certain amount in moderation is ok, it's only bad when you have too much or are obsessed with it.

** David's porn addiction is presented as more of a symptom of his sex addiction, as opposed to a cause. The "If X then Y" reasoning makes sense here - sex addicts would obviously watch a lot of porn, and in some cases go way overboard. So the problem is not porn, but the fact that David goes ''way'' overboard with it. Whether it's sex or porn, a certain amount in moderation is ok, it's only bad when you have too much or are obsessed with it.

* UnfortunateImplications: Some people took issue with the scene where Brandon goes on a "bender" and has sex with a man, due to the apparent suggestion that gay sex is rock bottom.
** It's not the fact that it's gay, though - it's rock bottom for Brandon because he's having sex with people he's not even attracted to just to get some kind of release. (Compare to how drug addicts might use any other drug to get high if their drug of choice isn't available.) Replace gay sex with any other sexual activity and it still works.
*** It would still work if Brandon was gay, and replaced it with heterosexual sex.
** This is a strange case considering the director doesn't seem to have any issue with homosexuality (see his short film ''Bear''.)