History Main / TortureForFunAndInformation

*** To wit, a corrupt businessman's thugs have come after both Gene and Alex, beating Gene with a baseball bat in an alley and intending to do the same to Alex if she hadn't hidden. One does not [[BerserkButton hurt women around Gene Hunt]], especially women for whom he has feelings. Gene goes to find Riley, the businessman, handcuffs him to the inside of a car, and picks the car up with a forklift-crane, interrogating him about the murders they're investigating. Every time Riley denies all knowledge, Gene lowers the car nearer to the crusher. Just in time, Alex, Ray, and Chris get to him with new evidence that proves Riley's innocence.

A subtrope of JackBauerInterrogationTechnique and PerpSweating, Torture for Fun and Information is torture used for extracting information, in the manner of Jack Bauer, [[GallowsHumor but played for laughs]] or [[RefugeInAudacity audacious absurdity]]. When using Torture For Fun And Information, the interrogator isn't simply causing pain to a victim to get information - they're doing it ''creatively'', and probably having far too much fun in the process. Most of the time, they already have the information, they just want to let off some steam while verifying it. While this is more likely to be in the repertoire of a MagnificentBastard, a sufficiently dark AntiHero might be able to get away with it.

Simply put, it's the difference between [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating a man senseless with a pool cue]], and stripping his clothes off, having your friends hold him down on the table, and [[GroinAttack striking the eight-ball right into his sensitive regions.]] [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment It's all in the audience's reaction]]: "oh god, that's horrible" to "oh god, that's horrible -- and [[CrossesTheLineTwice kind of hilarious]]".

If there's any method to the madness at all -- that is, the cop isn't just genuinely AxCrazy -- it might be to make the suspect so terrified of how unhinged and unpredictable he is that they'd rather give up the information than find out.

* ''Manga/WitchCraftWorks'': When scheming villain witch by the name of Weekend moves her plan-to-corner-protagonists into the violent phase, Chronoire the unclear agenda self-fulfilling villainish witch decides she'd like to have a piece of the mastermind. The plot follows protagonists, and the short comic relief scene at one point has Chronoire together with her anthropomorphic crocodile helper wielding a hair-trimmer in a mock of a barbershop setup. Chronoire's idea of an incentive for the distressed BoundAndGagged nameless [[{{Mook}} pawn witch of the invasion force]] to speak of Weekend's whereabouts -- is a threat to vandalize victim's long hair into something more appropriate to the surrounding apocalypse landscape.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'' has the famous Torture Dance scene onto Zucchero. After beating the stand user who is being kept alive through Bruno's Sticky Fingers, Mista is trying to get information off of Zucchero on the other stand user though Zucchero is completely silent, because of this he gets his eye on a fishing line with glasses on to get burnt by the sunlight, as Narancia, Mista and Fugo go into a dance routine.

* [[SupernaturalElite Sere]], from ''ComicBook/ADistantSoil'' makes no secret of her fondness for this:

* ''Film/AFishCalledWanda''. We really shouldn't laugh when Kevin Kline sticks fries/chips up Michael Palin's nose and eats his fish. We really, really shouldn't. * snickers*

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' has the famous Torture Dance scene onto Zucchero. After beating the stand user who is being kept alive through Bruno's Sticky Fingers, Mista is trying to get information off of Zucchero on the other stand user though Zucchero is completely silent, because of this he gets his eye on a fishing line with glasses on to get burnt by the sunlight, as Narancia, Mista and Fugo go into a dance routine.

* Webcomic/GirlGenius presents Bangladesh [=DuPree=], pictured above, ex-[[SkyPirates airship pirate]] and Baron Wulfenbach's pet PsychoForHire. Above, she 'tries' to 'help' the Baron do lobotomy experiments on a troublesome enemy... After later receiving MadScience electromedical treatment for a broken hand, she figures out how to use it as an ''electrical torture device''.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends The Misadventures of Tron Bonne]]'', you will obtain a TortureRoom on the Gesellschaft if any of your [[MechaMooks servbots]] become TOO lazy. It's essentially a minigame where you have to completely empty their Sloth gauge by forcing them to run around a track while pulling various traps on them.

* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'': {{Implied}}. After Darth Vader captures Han and the gang, he tortures Han by strapping him to a machine. Later Leia asks Han what Vader wants, but Han tells her, "They never even asked me any questions."

* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'': Flint Paper!!!

A subtrope of JackBauerInterrogationTechnique and PerpSweating, Torture for Fun and Information is torture used for extracting information, in the manner of Jack Bauer, [[GallowsHumor but played for laughs]] or [[RefugeInAudacity audacious absurdity]]. When using Torture For Fun And Information, the interrogator isn't simply causing pain to a victim to get information - [[CrazyAwesome they're doing it ]]''[[CrazyAwesome creatively]]'', and probably having far too much fun in the process. Most of the time, they already have the information, they just want to let off some steam while verifying it. While this is more likely to be in the repertoire of a MagnificentBastard, a sufficiently dark AntiHero might be able to get away with it.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'' has the famous Torture Dance scene onto Zucchero. After beating the stand user who is being kept alive through Bruno's Sticky Fingers, Mista is trying to get information off of Zucchero on the other stand user though Zucchero is completely silent, because of this he gets his eye on a fishing line with glasses on to get burnt by the sunlight, as Narancia, Mista and Fugo go into a dance routine.

* ''Manga/WitchCraftWorks'': When scheming villain witch by the name of Weekend moves her plan-to-corner-protagonists into the violent phase, Chronoire the unclear agenda self-fulfilling villainish witch decides she'd like to have a piece of the mastermind. The plot follows protagonists, and the short comic relief scene at one point has Chronoire together with her anthropomorphic crocodile helper wielding a hair-trimmer in a mock of a barber shop setup. Chronoire's idea of an incentive for the distressed BoundAndGagged nameless [[{{Mook}} pawn witch of the invasion force]] to speak of Weekend's whereabouts -- is a threat to vandalize victim's long hair into something more appropriate to the surrounding apocalypse landscape.
* Kyoka in ''Manga/FairyTail'' tortures Erza for information at one point, but admits that she hopes Erza holds out for as long as possible, since torturing her is so much fun. Her superior Mard later tortures ''Kyoka'' for this, since taking pleasure in torturing a human means that she actually likes humans in a warped way.

* In the WWE alternate universe story, ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/14997911/chapters/34760702 The Horsewomen Of Las Vegas]]'', Wrestling/BeckyLynch takes a sadistic enjoyment to torturing and killing people in creative ways. It's also shown that Wrestling/NikkiCross shares her feelings, and is shown experimenting in new torture methods.

* In ''Film/TheMask'', BigBad Tyrell shows up at the hideout of a rival mob boss, Niko (for whom he is ostensibly TheDragon at this point). Niko has his {{mooks}} hold Tyrell down, and places a golf tee in his mouth. [[SchmuckBait Three guesses]] [[ForegoneConclusion what happens next]], and [[RefugeInAudacity the first two don't count]].

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

** Also a Spin-Off book that was supposedly written by Gene Hunt himself about modern policing in the 70's, there is a chapter about how to perform this, with diagrams, and covered in blood.

** In episode 2.03, Gene not only eats fish and chips in front of a vegan on a hunger strike, but sticks a suspect's head down a urinal and flushes.

*** To wit, a corrupt businessman's thugs have come after both Gene and Alex, beating Gene with a baseball bat in an alley and intending to do the same to Alex if she hadn't hidden. One does not [[BerserkButton hurt women around Gene Hunt]], especially women for whom he has feelings. Gene goes to find Riley, the businessman, handcuffs him to the inside of a car, and picks the car up with a forklift-crane, interrogating him about the murders they're investigating. Every time Riley denies all knowledge, Gene lowers the car nearer to the crusher. Just in time, Alex, Ray and Chris get to him with new evidence that proves Riley's innocence.

** In "Malama Ka Aina," [=McGarrett=] and Danno convince an associate of the Samoan mob that they're leaving him in a shark cage with vicious man-eating sharks and chum, when in actuality, the sharks are harmless and the chum is just water. Steve and Danno crack open beers and watch the guy freak out.

** In "Nalowale," [=McGarrett=] and Danno witness a suspect drug a girl's drink in a club. Danno tells the suspect to drink it, if he "didn't do anything to it", and if he doesn't drink it, Danno will break his teeth and make him drink it. He drinks it, and passes out. [=McGarrett=] wakes him up in an interrogation room with ''an air horn''.

** Of course, the fact that her partner, Shirley, threatens him with a ''pizza slicer'' immediately afterwords probably helps with the comedy factor.

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', [[BastardBastard Ramsay Snow]] spent the whole 3rd season physically and psychologically torturing Theon Greyjoy, to the point he has become broken shell of who he was, and renamed him Reek. Ramsay had successfully gain information that the Stark boys are still alive, but his father Roose Bolton berates him that he damaged Theon so much that they can't use him as a bargaining chip to the Greyjoys. It didn't matter anyway since Balon Greyjoy doesn't care about Theon.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends The Misadventures of Tron Bonne]]'', you will obtain a TortureRoom on the Gesellschaft if any of your [[MechaMooks servbots]] become TOO lazy. It's essentially a minigame where you have to completely empty their Sloth gauge by forcing them to run around a track, while pulling various traps on them.
* In ''VideoGame/WolfensteinTheNewOrder'', BJ is short on materials when interrogating General Keller in Anya's garage toward the beginning of the game. So what he ends up doing is tying him to a chair, grabbing a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]], revving it up and ''holding the whirring blade right up to Keller's neck'' until he agrees to say where the remaining resistance members are being held. BJ's speech to the General sells it:

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* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' ''Discworld/NightWatch'': Sam Vimes puts so much diabolical glee into ''[[InvokedTrope pretending]]'' to do this that it probably cycles right back around.

--> '''[=DuPree=]:''' "I'm working here! Do I come to your lab and tell you how to torture rats?"
--> '''Gil:''' [[BluntYes "Frequently."]]
--> '''[=DuPree=]:''' "So I know what I'm doing!"

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Near the end of season two, Angelus captures Giles and tries to torture the knowledge of a ritual out of him. At first, he is hopeful that Giles resists: "I wanna torture you! I used to love it, and it's been a long time. I mean, the last time I tortured somebody, they didn't even have chainsaws." Giles quips back: "You must..perform...the ritual..in a ''tutu''." Angelus snarls. "All right, I'm getting the chainsaws!" [[GoryDiscretionShot He isn't kidding.]] It's so strange, it's just crazy funny.
** Angelus wasn't kidding, but he never actually got to use the chainsaws. They didn't want Giles to bleed out before giving up the information.

-->-- ''Series/AshesToAshes'', season 3 episode 2

* ''Series/AshesToAshes'': Aside from the incident involving the pool cue, there have been other examples:

* [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Sam Vimes]] puts [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome so much diabolical glee]] into ''[[InvokedTrope pretending]]'' to do this in ''Discworld/NightWatch'' that it probably cycles right back around.

** In "Malama Ka Aina," [=McGarrett=] and Danno convince an associate of the Samoan mob that they're leaving him in a shark cage with vicious man-eating sharks and chum, when in actuality, the sharks are harmless and the chum is just water. [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Steve and Danno crack open beers and watch the guy freak out.]]

A subtrope of JackBauerInterrogationTechnique and PerpSweating, Torture For Fun And Information is torture used for extracting information, in the manner of Jack Bauer, [[GallowsHumor but played for laughs]] or [[RefugeInAudacity audacious absurdity]]. When using Torture For Fun And Information, the interrogator isn't simply causing pain to a victim to get information - [[CrazyAwesome they're doing it ]]''[[CrazyAwesome creatively]]'', and probably having far too much fun in the process. Most of the time, they already have the information, they just want to let off some steam while verifying it. While this is more likely to be in the repertoire of a MagnificentBastard, a sufficiently dark AntiHero might be able to get away with it.

** Episode 2.05 has the ''Camberwick Green'' scene, which [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHP3Jih_rfA really must be seen to be fully appreciated]].

* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "War Stories", Wash and Mal are kidnapped and brutally tortured by Niska. It becomes funny when Mal, in order to keep Wash from passing out, starts arguing with him about Wash's wife Zoe and implying that their relationship has been more than platonic. He's lying, of course, but it keeps Wash alert. The best part is when the conversation gets so heated, Wash seems to forget he's tied up in a torture chamber, much to the torturer's bemusement.
-->'''Wash''': He's ''crazy''
-->'''Zoe''': Niska?
-->'''Wash''': No... MAL!

-->-- ''AshesToAshes'', season 3 episode 2

* ''Literature/ButlerParker'' had occasions in just about every issue. Usually the fun part was in the reader enjoying the psychological tricks played by the butler, such as dripping paint remover on a cupboard (vausing the vrnish to bubble and the wood to change color) and assuring the visibly shaken gangsters that he'd have no compunction using the same 'poison' on them should they not be willing to tell him what he needed to know.

Simply put, it's the difference between [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating a man senseless with a pool cue]], and stripping his clothes off, having your friends hold him down on the table, and [[GroinAttack striking the eight-ball right into his sensitive regions.]] [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment It's all in the audience's reaction]]: "oh god, that's horrible" to "oh god, that's horrible - and [[CrossesTheLineTwice kind of hilarious]]".

-->''AshesToAshes'', season 3 episode 2

* Ryo Saeba from ''Manga/CityHunter'' has a penchant for this. We see him torturing someone twice: the time he was in a hurry he [[GroinAttack squeezed the perp's balls until he talked]], with his partner Kaori quipping he shouldn't use such a vulgar torture in presence of a lady (and a note from the author pointing out that Ryo doesn't consider her a lady); in the occasion he had time he stripped two goons to their underwear, tied them to the floor, covered them in fat and seeds, put trays with bottles of ''nitroglycerin'' on their hands, and threatened to sick chickens on them, and when they wouldn't talk ''he did'' (it's implied there was actually water in the bottles, as they survived when they talked and he just left them with the chicken. It was still such a horrible experience that when they met again the mooks immediately told him everything).