Shocking Cinema - how is the experience of shock created in Reservoir Dogs?

How is the experience of shock created in your chosen extract?

The interrogation scene in Reservoir Dogs features the character Mr. Blonde and a tied-up police officer, as Blonde taunts and finally severs the ear of the helpless man. This scene has often been the subject of controversy for its shocking content.

First off, within the first two minutes we learn that Mr. Blonde's motivation isn't one of questioning, but his own amusement. He reveals this information so easily and with great enjoyment in his expression. It's uncomfortable viewing for an audience to see a character has no boundaries they will not cross, viewing the torture of another person (who appears quite vulnerable, young and someone society is socialised to respect) as blasé fun and enjoyably sadistic. What is perhaps more shocking than the actual act is that, through extreme close-ups of the victim and long shots of Mr. Blonde, we are more profoundly shocked by the level at which we merely sympathise with the victim; it's important to note, however, that we do not necessarily empathise with Mr. Blonde either. That the camera follows Mr. Blonde's movements prior to the outburst of violence means that we are encouraged more to align with the torturer than the tortured, a shocking notion in itself, as an audience is much more familiar aligning with heroes and morally sound characters than with sadists and criminals. 

There is an inevitability about the confrontation, as the camera hardly leaves Mr. Blonde, panning left and right as he moves, building to something violent and disturbing, the audience understanding that this scene cannot continue in the same manner forever -- especially as the song "Stuck In The Middle With You" kicks in. This music, while not an incredibly uplifting song, is upbeat and yet foreboding, as Mr. Blonde begins moving to the beat. The audience is aware of his lunacy by this point in the scene, the dancing emphasising the unhinged nature of the character and further building up to an outburst of violence. The shock here is in the throwaway nature of Blonde's attitude towards violence that is so opposed by modern societal norms and values. The moment is made more sinister, then, as a result, juxtaposing an act of torture with a pop song.