History Main / VerticalKidnapping

%%** In ''Film/{{Alien}}'', after a CatScare.

** In ''Film/{{Alien 3}}'' the soon-to-be victim is denying that there are any aliens. He experiences vertical kidnapping by the non-existent alien [[KilledMidSentence mid-sentence]]. Cue [[OhCrap panic]] in everybody else in the room, and when all is quiet again, an AtomicFBomb.

* This is one of Franchise/{{Batman}}'s standard methods for disabling and terrorizing bad guys, and he's taught it to [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} all]] [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} his]] [[ComicBook/BatGirl protégés]].
* As his wont, ComicBook/BlackAdam when 'fighting' Wildcat, snatches the aged boxer off the ground and flies him all the way up into Earth's atmosphere simply to show him how futile it was to try throwing down with a PhysicalGod like himself.
* The first arc of the ''ComicBook/PowerGirl'' ongoing series involves Ultra-Humanite doing this to Manhattan.
* Like Batman above, this is one of Franchise/SpiderMan's favorite ways to deal with bad guys, when he [[YouFightLikeACow can keep his mouth shut]] anyway.
* Franchise/{{Superman}} has been known to do this here and there to low-level crooks he hopes to [[https://comicnewbies.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/supermans-first-costume-american-alien.png scare straight]].
* Having inherited the symbiote of Spider-Man above, ComicBook/{{Venom}} occasionally indulges in this when he's feeling generous (when he's ''not'' feeling generous, [[BrainFood well]]...)
* In ''Webcomic/{{Yamara}}'', while two heroes are listening at a door, the third is grabbed and carried off by a floating undead that slipped right over them via the open transom above the door.

* Sandy from ''Webcomic/{{Concerned}}'' gets eaten by a barnacle. Frohman of course is [[http://www.screencuisine.net/hlcomic/index.php?date=2005-09-30 oblivious]].

** In ''Film/{{Alien}}'', after a CatScare.

* Batman uses the exaggerated version of this trope in ''Film/BatmanBegins'' on a mobster.
** He uses it again in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.

* In ''Film/TheProfessional'', Leon does this to a mook riding the elevator with his strangling cord in a quite famous scene.

* ''Literature/BiteMe'' by Christopher Moore (third in the series that starts with ''Bloodsucking Fiends''), one of the Animals (the Safeway stock crew) is vertically kidnapped by Chet, the huge vampire kitty. He's pretty much eaten right away, but still.

* [[Literature/TarzanOfTheApes Tarzan]] made this one of his favored tactics, once he learned how to use a rope. A whole village ended up convinced there was a supernatural force that would yank men up into the trees.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E2ToothAndClaw "Tooth and Claw"]]: The werewolf uses this to punish someone for TemptingFate.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E8ColdWar "Cold War"]]: The Ice Warrior, Skaldak, does this to Onegin.

* In ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' the {{Wendigo}} kills a park ranger this way. Apparently, the monster was annoyed about being [[NighInvulnerable shot]].
* The {{Eldritch Abomination}} does this to a scientist at the beginning of ''{{Series/Stranger Things}}''

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'': Ezio Auditore is capable of pulling these off ''[[DualWielding on two mooks at once]].'' From rooftops mainly, mind you, but there are segments where he gets to double-assassinate from crossbeams, so it's all good.
** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'': Conner Kenway can also pull this trick once he gains access to the rope darts. In fact when you're out in the wilderness, it's the recommended way of dealing with British patrols.

* ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2'': [[http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Survivor_Encounters#Two_Security_Officers These]] unfortunate security officers fall victim to this.
* ''VideoGame/DeepRockGalactic'': One of the enemies, the Cave Leech, does this to anyone unfortunate enough to stand under them. However if the player listens carefully, when idle they let out a faint "giggling" sound, and when they are attempting to grab a player, they make a distinct hissing noise, giving themselves away to a player with sensitive hearing.

* ''VideoGame/PeretEmHeruForThePrisoners'': Happens to [[spoiler:[[ImmoralJournalist Mizumi]]]] . It's possible to save them if you can figure out the right place to look up and see where they've been spirited off to in time... Otherwise, they'll get KilledOffForReal.

* ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies'':
** Bungee Zombies do this to your plants, resulting in a OneHitKill. Not a big threat, but [[GoddamnedBats truly annoying]].
** Crazy Dave gets abducted by a Bungee Zombie at the beginning of the [[BossBattle battle with Dr. Zomboss]]. He shows up again in the post-victory music video, though.
* [[spoiler:Nicholai]] in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'' meets his end to Nemesis pulling one of these, during one of the branching end paths.
* This is one of Noir Spidey's preferred tactics in ''VideoGame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions''.
* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'', Spider-Man can do this to enemies if they don't know that he's there. Doing so is necessary for stealth missions.

* Happens to an NPC in ''VideoGame/StarTrekEliteForce 2''.

* Its possible to kill {{Mooks}} this way in ''[[VideoGame/{{Tenchu}} Tenchu: Shadow Assassins]]''.

* ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron'' shows Jazz doing this to a Decepticon during Cliffjumper's level where they [[BashBrothers fighting their way]] through an Energon mine.

* Played with in [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/08/28 this]] ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' comic.
* ''Webcomic/PeterIsTheWolf'' shows this happening to a [[http://www.peteristhewolf.com/general/omake024.html luckless(?)]] SpaceMarine in, of all things, a [[SexForProduct body spray commercial.]]

* ''Webcomic/Trevor2020'': [[spoiler:Trevor]] does this to [[spoiler:Dr. Clay]] and Private Young, although the initial "grab" kills Private Young instantly from the sheer pressure exerted on his skull.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': In the second-season finale, the [[SecretPolice Dai Li]] coup involves two of these from above and one from below a sewer grate.

* Spiders sometimes use this tactic to catch prey. The other wiki has [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider#Methods_of_capturing_prey more]].
* Wading birds such as herons and egrets make a living by performing this trope on fish that don't pay enough attention to what's ''beyond'' the ceiling of their pond or river.

[[folder:Film — Animated]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]

* As his his wont, ComicBook/BlackAdam when 'fighting' Wildcat, snatches the aged boxer off the ground and flies him all the way up into Earth's atmosphere simply to show him how futile it was to try throwing down with a PhysicalGod like himself.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1451095730085052700
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/SomethingPositive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/something_positive.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Not the pick-me-up one usually has in mind.]]

%% Caption selected per Caption Repair Thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
%% Please do not replace or remove without discussion there.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* In ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'', [=PeeJee=]'s {{Jerkass}} HR manager gets eaten by a Canadian Trapdoor Alligator, who emerges from behind a ceiling tile.

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': Agatha's crew [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190222 nabs]] multiple cultists using a rope from above, so they can be MuggedForDisguise.
* ''Webcomic/Trevor2020'': [[spoiler: Trevor]] does this to [[spoiler: Dr. Clay]] and Private Young, although the initial "grab" kills Private Young instantly from the sheer pressure exerted on his skull.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', the Taurcanis Draco is [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2011-04-15 summoned]] behind Elliot and [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2011-04-18 carries]] him off through the ceiling.
* A rather more light-hearted version in ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'', as Turvy decides to take her five-year-old Aunt Coney [[https://www.kevinandkell.com/2019/kk0818.html flying with her]]. Impressive, really, since Coney significantly outweighs Turvy.

* A variation plays in the first ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' during a cutscene, a squad of Terran Marines are aboard the science vessel Amerigo on a mission to destroy it owing to the previous mission. Alongside their nuclear warhead, they also packed drinks in the ice surrounding the warhead. A quick dialogue exchange followed by the line "I got your Zerg riiight here!" is said by one of the Marines. Cue Hydralisk scythe going right through his face and then the rest of him being dragged into the ceiling.

Compare and often overlaps with KidnappedFromBehind, BehindTheBlack, NoPeripheralVision, and FailedASpotCheck. May also be preceded by a DroolHello.

* Creator/{{Michelangelo}}'s ''The Torment of St. Anthony'' is set in the middle of such a kidnapping as a host of demons take St. Anthony by surprise and lift him above the hills into the sky.

* [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Ezio]] [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood Auditore]] is capable of pulling these off ''[[DualWielding on two mooks at once]].'' From rooftops mainly, mind you, but there are segments where he gets to double-assassinate from crossbeams, so it's all good.
** [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII Conner Kenway]] can also pull this trick once he gains access to the rope darts. In fact when you're out in the wilderness, it's the recommended way of dealing with British patrols.

* ''VideoGame/DeepRockGalactic'': One of the enemies, the Cave Leech does this to anyone unfortunate enough to stand under them. However if the player listens carefully, when idle they let out a faint "giggling" sound, and when they are attempting to grab a player, they make a distinct hissing noise, giving themselves away to a player with sensitive hearing.

* In the ''StreetFighter'' series, Rolento has the ''Take No Prisoner'' supermove. He ducks to pick up a [[RazorFloss thin wire]] hidden in the ground, and pulls on it; the wire can be seen "advancing" toward the opponent. After Rolento tugs the wire to hang it from a hook at the top of the screen, the target is then yanked toward Rolento, clutching at their throat. It stands out as a particularly violent move in a game built around beating people to near death in the street.