i mean, wtf?

from the Alien wiki page

'It was the most incredible preview I've ever been in. I mean, people were screaming and running out of the theater.[59]
–Editor Terry Rawlings describing the film's screening in Dallas'

WHY?

are we totally desensitised to these things now?

Apart from The Passion i've not heard about people being ill or running out of a cinema in a looooong time. And even them leaving The Passion I found a bit weird (it was gross but not THAT gross)