After watching James Franco's realistic depiction of self-amputation in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" three people fainted at the premiere at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival.

The film, which stars James Franco as Aron Ralston, a climber who cut his arm off after it was trapped under a rock in Utah, made audiences run for the exit as they couldn't bear the hair-raising sequence.

"I cannot remember a reaction to a film like this in a very long time, perhaps not since 'The Exorcist' sent audiences scurrying for the doors, " contactmusic.com quoted John Foote, a film critic as saying.

"At the screening Monday, once again there were several mad dashes for the door when these scenes came on, and more than a few moviegoers were looking anywhere but the screen.

"You could see people in shock, struggling to stay in their seats, working to get past the intensity of what was going on in front of them."

"127 Hours" will close the London Film Festival in October ahead of its cinematic release in the US in November.