History NightmareFuel / TheSopranos

* Livia's memorial, in which Pussy's ghost is seen reflected in a mirror, and, more ambiguously, a mysterious figure (who vaguely looks like a young Uncle Junior) can be faintly seen slowly walking up and down the stairs. In a show as realistic as this, that touch of supernatural is rather unsettling.

Given that ''The Sopranos'' focuses on TheMafia, it is not difficult to find disturbing content in this show. Besides that, there's some weird, unsettling dreams experimented by the main characters.

** Phil Leotardo's death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill runs over his head]]. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know. [[AssholeVictim Well-deserved considering his depraved nature]], but still brutal.

* Christopher's dream that opens [[Recap/TheSopranosS1E8TheLegendOfTennesseeMoltisanti The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti]]" is absolutely terrifying: it's an incomprehensible cacophony of imagery, sights, and sounds that relate to the slaughter of Emil Kolar in the [[Recap/TheSopranosS1E1Pilot pilot]]. There's even a group of detached hands feeding his girlfriend sausages. It's all especially spooky because Christopher's repressed guilt noticeably manifests in the last words of Emil, which are repeated again and again until he wakes up. It's also accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narWoVsof_k this song.]]

* The onset of Junior's dementia, while prime fodder for absurd comedy, is also a bleakly disturbing source of AdultFear. Most notably in the episode "Where's Johnny?", in which he wanders lost through Newark in his bathrobe searching for his dead brother.

* Tony's dreams, notably in "Funhouse" and "Calling All Cars". "The Test Dream" is generally more comical, but has its moments.

* Christopher's dream that opens the eighth episode of the series is absolutely terrifying: it's an incomprehensible cacophony of imagery, sights, and sounds that relate to the slaughter of Emil Kolar in the pilot. There's even a group of detached hands feeding his girlfriend sausages. It's all especially spooky because Christopher's repressed guilt noticeably manifests in the last words of Emil, which are repeated again and again until he wakes up. It's also accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narWoVsof_k this song.]]

* The final scene during the restaurant in "Made in America" (the series finale). Also doubles with ParanoiaFuel. It infamously ends with a sudden SmashToBlack mid-scene. And all of its implications, for better and for worse, [[NothingIsScarier are absolutely haunting.]] But [[ItWasHisSled you probably already knew that]].

* "Pine Barrens" has some eerie shots of the vast, quiet landscape. This, combined with the ambiguity of the Russian's fate and Christopher's realization that Paulie would kill him under the right circumstances, makes for a haunting and unsettling episode.
* [[RapeAsDrama "Employee of the Month."]] As Melfi leaves work, she is trapped in a stairwell, pinned down, and raped by a random man as she sobs and begs for him to stop. He doesn't stop, finishes, and runs away. Worst of all, while there is a chance to do so, he's never punished.
* Valentina’s robe catching on fire in “The Test Dream.” It comes almost out of nowhere while she’s arguing with Tony and her hysterical screaming while she flails in terror is hard to watch.

** Brendan Filone's Moe Greene special. The kill itself is a GoryDiscretionShot, but later we see an unflinching close-up of his empty socket. It's especially chilling, given his sadistic killer gleefully taunts him before blowing his eye out.

** The second dream sequence in "Calling All Cars", pictured right, is incredibly disturbing. In that dream, Tony arrives at a dingy, unlit house, and sees a dark silhouette of a woman resembling Livia Soprano (Tony's AbusiveMom, no less). The woman slowly goes down the stairs, stops, and creepily stares at Tony. Just as Tony enters the house, he wakes up. NothingIsScarier indeed.

** The second dream secuence in "Calling All Cars", pictured right, is incredibly disturbing. In that dream, Tony arrives at a house where everything is dark inside, then an old lady with a dark silhouette resembling Livia Soprano (Tony's AbusiveMom, no less) goes down the stairs, stops and creepily stares at Tony. Just as Tony enters the house, he wakes up. NothingIsScarier indeed.

* Christopher's dream that opens the eighth episode of the series is absolutely terrifying: it's an incomprehensible cacophony of imagery, sights, and sounds that relate to the slaughter of Emil Kolar in the pilot. There's even hands feeding Adriana sausages. It's all especially spooky because Christopher's repressed guilt manifests noticeably in the last words of Kolar, which are repeated again and again until he wakes up. It's also accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narWoVsof_k this song.]]

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys. In the [[OneSceneWonder scene]] with them, Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house looking like something out of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', populated by senile and physically challenged old men who mindlessly drone out about nausea-inducing murders they committed decades ago. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men. They are probably one of the '''most''' disturbing characters in the series, ''and that's saying a lot''.
* Livia's memorial, in which Pussy's ghost is seen reflected in a mirror and a mysterious figure in a dark suit who vaguely looks like a young uncle Junior slowly walking up and down the stairs. In a show as realistic as this, that touch of supernatural is rather unsettling.

* Janice's ''very'' [[JumpScare sudden vision of Livia dying]] by falling down some stairs. While it's comical on a second viewing, the StaggeredZoom of Livia's demise is enough to catch distracted viewers off guard, especially with Livia's deathly face and the instantaneous break in the structure of the scene. [[https://sopranosautopsy.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/livia-stair-sign2.jpg The way her eyes comically bulge is extremely creepy.]]

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys. In the [[OneSceneWonder scene]] with them, Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house looking like something out of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', populated by senile and physically challenged old men who mindlessly drone out about nausea-inducing murders they committed decades ago. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men. They are probably one of the ''most''' disturbing characters in the series, ''and that's saying a lot''.

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys. In the [[OneSceneWonder scene]] with them, Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house looking like something out of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', populated by senile and physically challenged old men who mindlessly drone out about nausea-inducing murders they committed decades ago. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men.

** Phil Leotardo's death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill runs over his head]]. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know.

* As shown in the series, being a mobster in the modern-day can be horrific, both from the perspective of his own characters and from the perspective of the viewer. Just imagine the day-to-day life of the main characters, knowing that law enforcement is hot on their heels and that there are plenty of people who may want them dead (and those people may or may not be in their own crew). They have to live their lives never knowing if today will be the day that they are finally arrested or killed, and never truly being able to trust even their best of friends.

* Just imagine the day-to-day life of the main characters, knowing that law enforcement is hot on their heels and that there are plenty of people who may want them dead (and those people may or may not be in their own crew). They have to live their lives never knowing if today will be the day that they are finally arrested or killed, and never truly being able to trust even their best of friends.

* Janice's ''very'' [[JumpScare sudden vision of Livia dying]] by falling down some stairs. While it's comical on a second viewing, the StaggeredZoom of Livia's demise is enough to catch distracted viewers off guard, especially with Livia's deathly face and the instantaneous break in the structure of the scene.[[https://sopranosautopsy.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/livia-stair-sign2.jpg The way her eyes comically bulge is extremely creepy.]]

** Adriana's death. Silvio drives her to the forest and casually talks with her about Chris. Then Silvio reveals his true intentions, pushing her to the ground and ruthlessly executing her with a single shot.

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys. In the scene with them, Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit old [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house, resembling straight out of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', populated by senile, dying old men who mindlessly rant about nausea-inducing murders they've comitted. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men.

** Vito Spatafore]] is beaten to death, then has a pool cue pushed into his anus. His wife describes him as no longer looking like a human being.

* Janice's ''very'' [[JumpScare sudden vision of Livia dying]] by falling down some stairs. While it's comical on a second viewing, the StaggeredZoom of Livia's demise is enough to catch distracted viewers off guard, especially with Livia's deathly face and the instantaneous break in the structure of the scene.
[[https://sopranosautopsy.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/livia-stair-sign2.jpg The way her eyes comically bulge is extremely creepy.]]

** Phil Leotardo's death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill runs over his head]]. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know.

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys. IN the scene with them, Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit old [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house, resembling straight out of Videogame/ResidentEvil, populated by senile, dying old men who mindlessly rant about nausea-inducing murders they've comitted. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men.

Given that The Sopranos focuses on TheMafia, it is not difficult to find disturbing content in this show. Besides that, there's some weird, unsettling dreams experimented by the main characters.

'''Spoilers ahead.'''

** After [[spoiler:Junior shoots Tony]], he spends the next few episodes in a comatose state, while experiencing some unsettling dreams and nightmares.
* Similarly, Christopher's dream that opens the eighth episode of the series qualifies in that [[spoiler: it's absolutely terrifying: it's an incomprehensible cacophony of imagery, sights, and sounds that relate to the slaughter of Emil Kolar in the pilot.]] There's even hands feeding Adriana sausages. It's all especially spooky because Christopher's repressed guilt manifests noticeably in [[spoiler:the last words of Kolar, which are repeated again and again until he wakes up.]]
** It's also accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narWoVsof_k this song.]]
* TheMafia in general. Most of the mobsters are disturbingly violent and ruthless in running their business.
** Perhaps the most disturbing example comes from a flashback. There's Tony's flashback to when he was a kid, watching [[spoiler:his dad Johnny [[{{Fingore}} cut off Mr. Satriale's finger with a butcher knife]]]] for failing to pay a gambling debt.
* The final scene during the restaurant in "Made in America" (the series finale). Also doubles with ParanoiaFuel.
** To clarify: the series finale infamously ends with [[spoiler:a sudden SmashToBlack mid-scene. And all of its implications, for better and for worse, [[NothingIsScarier are absolutely haunting.]] But [[ItWasHisSled you probably already knew that]].]]

* Lou Di Maggio and the Atwell Avenue Boys, '''full stop'''.
** The scene with them is incredibly unsettling; Chris and Silvio find themselves in a decrepit old [[HollywoodNewEngland New England-esque]] house, resembling straight out of Videogame/ResidentEvil, populated by senile, dying old men who mindlessly rant about nausea-inducing murders they've comitted. Made even worse by the palpable fear from Chris and Silvio, and the robotic and unnervingly cheerful children of the old men.
* [[spoiler:Livia's]] memorial, in which [[spoiler:Pussy's]] ghost is seen reflected in a mirror and a mysterious figure in a dark suit who vaguely looks like a young uncle Junior slowly walking up and down the stairs. In a show that focuses more-so on the problems people in the world deal with such as this, a small touch of supernatural is always unsettling.
* "Pine Barrens" has some eerie shots of the vast, quiet landscape. This, combined with the ambiguity of the Russian's fate and Christopher's realization that [[spoiler:Paulie would kill him under the right circumstances]], makes for a haunting and unsettling episode.
* [[RapeAsDrama "Employee of the Month."]] As [[spoiler:Melfi]] leaves work, she is trapped in a stairwell, pinned down, and raped by a random man as she sobs and begs for him to stop. He doesn't stop, finishes, and runs away. Worst of all, while there is a chance to do so, [[spoiler:he's never punished.]]
* The onset of [[spoiler:Junior's dementia]], while prime fodder for absurd comedy, is also a bleakly disturbing source of AdultFear. Most notably in the episode "Where's Johnny?", in which he wanders lost through Newark in his bathrobe searching for his dead brother.

** [[spoiler:Brendan Filone's]] Moe Greene special. The kill itself is a GoryDiscretionShot, but later we see an unflinching close-up of his empty socket. It's especially chilling, given his sadistic killer gleefully taunts him before blowing his eye out.
** [[spoiler:Matthew Bevilaqua]] crying, begging for "Mommy" and urinating himself before [[spoiler:Tony and Big Pussy]] shoot him over twenty times. Made even worse by the false HopeSpot [[spoiler:Tony]] had sadistically orchestrated. The following episode shows that even Tony himself was unnerved by this.
** [[spoiler:Tracee's]] death is possibly one of the most disturbing murders in the entire series. Let's just say that, yes, it ''is'' possible to punch someone to death. Especially when there's a convenient highway railing around for you to slam their head into. [[spoiler:Also doubles as OffingTheOffspring, as Tracee was pregnant with Ralph Cifaretto's son.]]
** [[spoiler:Big Pussy's]] attempt to FaceDeathWithDignity, only to gradually panic as the reality of his situation sets in.
** The killing of [[spoiler:Jackie Aprile Jr.]] is incredibly abrupt, understated, and bleak.
** Tony's argument with [[spoiler:Ralph Cifaretto]] that escalates into a brutal fight to the death, and the ensuing disposal of [[spoiler:Ralph's body]], in which his head and hands are removed. All this just after [[spoiler:Ralph's son was hospitalized]].
** Paulie's murder of [[spoiler:the old woman]] in the retirement home. Made even more creepier by her ''extremely'' fake looking eyes on her recently smothered face.
** [[spoiler:Adriana's]] death. [[spoiler:Silvio drives her to the forest and casually talks with her about Chris. Then Silvio reveals his true intentions, pushing her to the ground and ruthlessly executing her with a single shot.]]
** [[spoiler:Tony Blundetto's]] death at the hands of [[spoiler:his own cousin and brotherly figure, Tony,]] and the gory close-up of his buckshot-ravaged face after [[spoiler:Tony Soprano]] blasts him several feet backwards into a pile of wood with a shotgun. Furthermore, the slaying is upsetting not just for the graphic detail of [[spoiler:Blundetto's]] face, but also for the fact that [[spoiler:the last thing Tony Blundetto ever saw was his cousin and friend approaching him with a shotgun, pointed right at him.]]
** [[spoiler:Vito Spatafore]] is beaten to death, then has a pool cue pushed into his anus. His wife describes him as no longer looking like a human being.
** [[spoiler:J.T. Dolan's unexpected murder perpetrated by Christopher.]]
** Tony's compulsive murder of [[spoiler:[[KickTheSonOfABitch Christopher.]] After the two narrowly survive a car crash, Tony pinches Chris' big nose, causing him to choke on his own blood.]]
** [[spoiler:Phil Leotardo's]] death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill runs over his head]]. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know.

* [[spoiler:Livia's]] memorial, in which [[spoiler:Pussy's]] ghost is seen reflected in a mirror and a mysterious figure in a dark suit who vaguely looks like a young uncle Junior slowly walking up and down the stairs. In a show as realistic as this, that touch of supernatural is rather unsettling.

** [[spoiler:Phil Leotardo's]] death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and [[ThereIsNoKikllLikeOverkill runs over his head]]. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know.

** [[spoiler:Phil Leotardo's]] death in the finale, where after he's shot dead at a gas station and his car ends up going into drive gear and runs over his head. [[GoryDiscretionShot It cuts away from that shot]] seconds before it happens, but the sickening crunch we hear says all we need to know.

** Tony's compulsive murder of [[spoiler:[[KickTheSonOfABitch Christopher.]] After the two narrowly survive a car crash, Tony pinches Chris' big nose, causing him to choke on his own blood.]]

* Janice's ''very'' [[JumpScare sudden vision of Livia dying]] by falling down some stairs. While it's comical on a second viewing, it's enough to catch distracted viewers off guard, especially with Livia's deathly face and the instantaneous break in the structure of the scene.

* [[RapeAsDrama "Employee of the Month."]][[labelnote:Explanation]]As [[spoiler:Melfi]] leaves work, she is trapped in a stairwell, pinned down, and raped by a Mr. Jesus Rossi as she sobs and begs for him to stop. He doesn't, finishes, and runs away. Worst of all, while there is a chance to do so, [[spoiler:he's never punished.]][[/labelnote]]

** [[spoiler:Matthew Bevilaqua]] crying, begging for "Mommy" and pissing himself before [[spoiler:Tony and Big Pussy]] shoot him over twenty times. Made even worse by the false HopeSpot [[spoiler:Tony]] had sadistically orchestrated. The following episode shows that even Tony himself was unnerved by this.