Remember the Alamo, But Don't Talk or Text There

Trending on YouTube: two versions of one very angry customer's voicemail message. Above, the bleeped version — and below, the (naturally) more popular expletive-laden NSFW (not safe for work) version, in which a moviegoer cusses out the cinema that ejected her.

The independent cinema in question, the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX, has a simple rule: If you talk or text during a movie, they will kick you out. And in this case, release it on video to remind other customers they're not kidding about protecting their brand experience.

This particular customer, after receiving two prior warnings, was kicked out the theater without a refund, as per the policy. After being kicked out, she called the office right away and left an angry message, arguing that she was only using her phone as a flashlight to find her way to her seat.

The unnamed customer's rant is highlighted with a typographic treatment and a very clear "we don't want you here" message at the end. Not only did the theater post the video online to humiliate the angry customer, but according to their blog post, it will be the theater's new "Don't talk or text PSA" that plays before all movies.

Too harsh? The theater takes its don't-talk-or-text policy very seriously, no exceptions, even if they punch the owner's car window in.

This actually happened a while ago, when Drafthouse owner Tim League was in one of his theaters. A talker was asked by an employee to keep it down, and the talker responded by asking who was offended by his talking, when Tim was pointed out. After the movie, the talker followed Tim to his car, and punched his windshield.

Tim responded with a blog post saying things like, "You sir are exactly the type of patron that I never want to see at an Alamo Drafthouse ever again... WE DON’T EVER WANT YOU AT THE ALAMO. Please take your business elsewhere for the rest of your life....To our friendly customers, stay vigilant, report talkers and keep our theater safe from the raging hemorrhoids of cinematic society."

A previous "Don't talk or text PSA" Drafthouse released (for the film Hobo With a Shotgun) features the director warning audience members not to talk or he'll "blow your brains out and sleep in your bloody carcass tonight!" This is followed by "Is someone talking near you? Write it down on an order card to alert your waiter, and a manager will take care of the problem."

They weren't kidding when they said "Don't mess with Texas"!