A horror screening turned into a real life evacuation after a row over cinema seats ended in pepper spray

What started as a cinema seating dispute ended with an entire movie complex being cleared out. A screening of the horror film Other Mommy in Argentina was halted after a confrontation between women reportedly turned physical and someone used pepper spray inside the theater.

People who had settled in to watch Other Mommy, released locally as Mamá Siniestra, were suddenly dealing with coughing, stinging eyes and a rush for the exits instead of the film. The screening was taking place on October 14 at Las Tipas cinema in the Paso del Paraná shopping center in Paraná, Argentina, with about 50 people in the auditorium.

According to accounts from the scene, the trouble began when a group of women arrived after the movie had already started and found other cinemagoers sitting in their assigned seats. When they asked them to move, the disagreement did not stay verbal. Witnesses said the argument grew into a fight involving punches, kicks and hair-pulling. The disturbance was also captured in the clip below.

A witness said staff tried to calm things down

Sofía Alberto, who was there, said cinema employees stepped in and tried to defuse the situation, but the confrontation carried on. She said that after about 20 minutes, one of the women grabbed her friend by the hair and started attacking her, which led other people nearby to step in and try to separate them.

That was the point, she said, when one of the women pulled out pepper spray and began spraying it around. Alberto said people inside the screening started coughing and their eyes began to burn, so they left the theater and the film was stopped.

Because it happened in an enclosed screening room, the spray did not just affect the people directly involved in the fight. Other audience members were hit by it too, including children and older people. Several people were reported to have breathing problems and eye irritation, and one woman suffered a head injury that required stitches.

The fallout reached beyond that one screen

The incident did not stop with the evacuation of a single showing. Management cleared every screening room in the cinema complex and later offered affected customers either refunds or replacement tickets.

Police later detained a 51-year-old woman and her 27-year-old daughter in the shopping center parking lot while they were apparently preparing to leave. Officers also seized a pepper spray canister believed to have been used in the theater.

The case moved quickly into the courts. On October 15, a judge ordered 30-day restrictions barring the pair from approaching or contacting the victims and their families while the investigation continues.

For everyone who had simply turned up to watch a horror movie, the most startling part of the night was not on the screen at all. A dispute over reserved seats ended up shutting down the whole cinema and sending moviegoers outside with sore eyes, coughing fits and a story that probably eclipsed the film itself.

What pepper spray is and why it causes chaos indoors

Pepper spray is an irritant designed to quickly disable a person by causing intense burning in the eyes, nose, throat and skin. It is usually made from compounds found in chilli peppers. When sprayed, it can spread as a fine mist or droplets, which means people nearby can be affected even if they were not the intended target.

In an enclosed place such as a cinema, the problem is not just the person directly hit. The irritant can hang in the air, move with ventilation and trigger coughing, watering eyes, panic and difficulty keeping eyes open. That is why even a small amount can disrupt a whole room. People with asthma, other breathing conditions, or contact lenses may feel the effects more sharply.

Why venues clear the room after an irritant is released

When an airborne irritant is used indoors, staff often need to stop normal activity and get people out quickly. The priority is fresh air, reducing crowding and preventing falls or crushes when people cannot see properly. A dark screening room makes that harder, so house lights, exits and staff instructions become especially important.

If you are in a venue and something sharp or chemical suddenly hits your eyes or throat, move calmly toward the nearest exit, cover your mouth and nose with clothing if needed, and avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing can grind the irritant in further. Once outside, blink a lot and breathe slowly. If symptoms feel severe, especially breathing trouble or chest tightness, seek urgent medical help.

What to do after exposure, and how to avoid a seat dispute getting worse

First aid is mostly about flushing and patience. Rinse exposed eyes and skin with plenty of cool water. Remove contact lenses if they come out easily. Wash hands before touching your face. Do not use oils, creams or random home remedies, which can trap the irritant or spread it. If clothing was sprayed, bag it until it can be washed.

For seat mix ups or arguments in crowded venues, the safest move is usually to involve staff early rather than trying to win the dispute yourself. Keep your voice low, show your ticket or booking, and step back if the other person is agitated. A seat is replaceable. A confrontation in a packed public space can escalate fast, especially in the dark.