Viewers watching the new Joker film have been walking out of the cinema prematurely because they thought the movie was 'too dark' and 'intense'.

One person even suggested that there should be a 'trigger warning' when it comes to people buying their tickets for the controversial film.



Taking to Twitter, one viewer said: "I've just walked out of the Joker. Maybe I was naive in going/didn't realise what an origin story would be like, maybe because I live with someone with MH [mental health], it was just far too dark for me to be able to watch."

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Another commented: "Mental illness is a serious topic...... Horrible, dark movie. We walked out of it. We don't recommend it. We already live in a sick society, let's not add to it please!"

A third person wrote: "Would just like to say if anyone is thinking of going to watch the Joker movie, there should be a giant red trigger warning banner while buying tickets or something, people walked out after the first graphic shooting & there was quite a few after."

Joaquin Phoenix lost 52lbs to play the Joker. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Portraying The Joker this time around is Joaquin Phoenix, who recently told LADbible that he chose not to draw on any previous portrayals for his own performance.

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He told us: "I thought it was important for it to be its own thing, to be its own interpretation. What's interesting about this character is that everybody can interpret it however they want.

"Even with this film, I think the audience gets to interpret the character and what drives him, in a way that I think is unique for a lot of films. I mean it really asks the audience to participate, and I think that's interesting."

Phoenix, a three-time Oscar nominated actor, has been heaped with praise by critics but his performance has also been the subject of some controversy by those who fear the dark violence could spark copycat crimes, according to The Sun.

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It has been reported that police in the US will patrol cinemas to keep audiences safe after gunman James Holmes opened fire at a Colorado theatre in 2012 during a screening of Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 others.

On Friday a statement said: "The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of public concerns and the historical significance associated with the premiere of Joker.