Spielberg Tension Scenes

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Jaws – Beach Attack Scene

This scene is from the first Jaws where the beach is attacked and the chief’s son is in the water.

One of the main techniques used in this scene is the use of colour as a way to foreshadow events and also inform the audience as to who is in danger. The colour yellow is used throughout the scene as a way to keep us focused on the little boy without noticing too much.

The shot of the old man with his towel I think is being used to hint at a relationship between the shark and yellow. I feel this way mainly because of the choice of hat looking shark like and the fact that it is also referenced in the dialog. Another part of this shot is when he dries his face with it, this could be seen as a sign that the shark is going to attack whats associated with yellow, but I don’t think its as strong or clear.

Another part of this scene is when the man in the yellow top has lost his dog. This is another part of the scene which is foreshadowing what will happen, while also still using colour to compliment it. Again we have the colours red and yellow reminding us who this is referring to, from the mans top and what the two people in the distance are wearing. Also having the little boy in the foreground could be another indication of who’s going to be attacked in this scene.

Another Foreshadowing scene within this scene is when the chief’s view of the sea is blocked and a woman begins screaming. I think this is being done to represent a barrier between him and the ocean showing that he will not be able to help. It also highlights how worried he is though as he’s still watching the ocean from over the guys shoulder. This is shown in the shots to follow as well.

 

In these shots the chief’s obsession with whats happening in the water is highlighted.  In the shot with the old man the camera still shows us the children in the water from over his shoulder so we can assume that thats what he’s still watching and interested in. The shot with his wife is another example of this. Her position in the frame first of all tells us that she’s less important than what he’s watching by having her lower down and to the side. Also throughout this shot he won’t look at her for any longer than a second continuously adjusting his focus back onto the ocean.

After the shark has attacked and everyone is getting out of the water the theme of red and yellow is still carried forward, this helps us to confirm who has been killed and makes us actively look for what has happened to the boy.

What I find really effective about this scene is the last shot of the lie-low washing up on the shore. Rather than showing a mangled body and just having the lie-low it tells us that theres nothing left of him and that he’s just disappeared like the dog. It is also a nice way to end the red and yellow theme, having the yellow lie-low and the blood. But what I like most about this shot is the contrast it creates, waves rolling onto the beach is traditionally a very peaceful image and using it in this way shows us how horrific it was.

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Indiana Jones – Golden Idol Scene

This is a famous scene from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Spielberg uses a range of shot types, camera movements and cutting techniques in order to create tension.

The first shot in this scene is a slow zoom onto the idol. The Placement of the idol being center frame informs the audience of its importance, this is also highlighted by the camera movement. Having the idol at eye level could show that its easily obtainable and doesn’t pose any risks, the audience knows this isn’t true however as theres something suspicious about a golden glowing idol on a plinth with Indiana Jones in the room. This is a great establishing shot to set the scene with as it shows us the goal and begins to hint at the outcome.

This is a tracking shot of indy as he approaches the idol. Whats adding tension here is mainly the set design, we know from previous shots that the shapes on the floor activate a various booby traps. Having this shot reminds the audience of the dangers and focuses on how careful indy is being. It seems to be a common technique of Spielberg to cut in and out of the action with close and mid/wide shots, this allows the audience to get much more involved in whats on screen.

This next shot is a zoom and combines two main shots, a Mid/Wide and a close/OTS. One of the aspects I like about this shot is the height changes between indy and the idol, having him at first taller and larger in the frame and then lower I think shows us he’s dominate in this area but that he still has respect for it and will approach it with the appropriate care. The zoom into the close up helps to highlight the significance of them both and the relationship between them. It also provides a much nicer shot to see the expressions on his face making it more personal.

It then cuts to a slow zoom on the other character he is with. I think this is being used to cut away from the action adding another layer of tension by showing a reaction to whats happening rather than the thing itself. I feel this works because there is more fear in the things you can’t see.

This shot is a zoom out from a close shot to a mid/wide, it’s pretty much the reverse of the shot used before providing a nice symmetry to the scene and making it more coherent. This is another example of how Spielberg likes to pull the audience in and out of the action. The camera movement itself mirrors the movement of indy helping us to feel much more involved and invested in the scene.

Aside from simply being a really visually pleasing shot I feel this is also being used to keep the audience interested and on edge. Again I think set design has a major part to play in this shot as the idol’s face is quite creepy and looks as if it’s staring directly at indy. Also choosing to have a close up of the sand falling and fairly center frame tells the audience the importance of weight in this situation, it could also be symbolic of an hour glass to represent that time is running out.

Cutting out to a wide just before the climax of the scene firstly reminds the audience of the location and where everybody is in relation to everything also providing a little break in the tension before it reaches its peak. Making the audience wait that little bit longer is another technique used to increase and build suspense.

The final three shots of the scene are essentially one shot broken up with a cut away. This is the same thing Spielberg did before, cutting away from the action to add another layer of tension through what you can’t see and a characters reaction to the situation. At the end of this shot there is also a slow zoom out I feel to represent a moment of relief before going into the next scene of the boulder crashing down.