First use of super-slow zoom in horror films to create tension

First use of super-slow zoom in horror films to create tension - Gray and Black Land Cameras

Here I'm not talking specifically about a "dolly zoom", first introduced by cinematographer Irmin Roberts in Hitchcock's Vertigo, but about the agonizingly slow zoom that you see not infrequently in horror movies, utilized to build tension.

(It's agonizing because you're on the edge of your seat, waiting for some reveal, and the slower the zoom, the greater the tension.)

When did its use arise in the horror genre? The question arose because I recently watched Doctor Sleep and noticed it during the Kubrick-homage shots, then watched Under the Skin (2014), which was also heavily influenced by Kubrick, and noticed the shot. And, I suspect that if I reviewed many of the better horror films, I'd notice even more uses.

I'm asking because I'm not a horror film scholar and wondering if this did derive from Kubrick with The Shining, or some less well known director and film known mainly to scholars of the genre.






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When was Zoom first used in film?

The zoom is one of the oldest image-affecting filmmaking practices, pioneered in the late 19th century and first used commercially in 1927. Top image via Shutterstock.

When was CGI first used in horror movies?

It wasn't until the late 80s and early 90s that the power of computer graphics and digital compositing allowed filmmakers to conjure up new creatures and new worlds, and in some cases, newfound scares.

What techniques are used in horror films?

Different types of horror lighting\u2014uplighting, silhouette, spotlighting, underexposure, harsh light (hard light, chiaroscuro), prominent and projected shadows, shooting through objects (internal frames)\u2014can distort images to create mystery, tension, and suspense.

How do you increase tension in a movie?

Here are a few basic filmmaking techniques to get you started on building tension.
  • It's All About the Background. Create a sense of danger by showing background movement. ...
  • Blur It out. ...
  • Use the Right Music. ...
  • Add SFX. ...
  • Turn Around Slowly. ...
  • Don't Show the Monster. ...
  • Subtle Camera Movement. ...
  • The Reaction Shot.




  • BEWARE! This video is EVIL — How to Build Suspense with Shot Composition




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Elke Mock, Andrea Piacquadio, Wallace Chuck, Markus Spiske