Terror-In-A-Can Part III

Alright, if you are just catching up, you probably want to read Part I and Part II of this blog series. If you do, this blog will probably make more sense. Alright, as promised, here come stock scenes #2 and #3.


Stock Scene #2: The Walk By (or Pass By)

The walk by is a simple scene. It typically goes something like this. The Victim comes out into a hall and starts walking away from the camera. Suddenly, and without warning, and in all other ways unexpectedly, someone/thing Walks By in front of the camera. Most of the time I have found it to be from right to left, but I think that left to right is almost as effective.

The director has two choices at this point. He can either just plow on, or, alternatively, he can have the Victim spin around, as if he/she heard the Villain passing by. Of course, the Victim won't see the Villain, but there may be signs of the Villain's passage: a fluttering curtain, something rolling on the floor, a door closing, etc.

This usually happens 2.7 times in a movie. Some movies will use it more extensively, depending on the Villain, and how secretive the Villain's true identity is.

Now, this doesn't always take place in a hallway. It could be an open doorway. Between two buildings. A myriad of places. This is all dependent on the setting that you pick in Step 1 of Part I.

This can be incorporated easily with Stock Scene #1. The Victim does a False Reveal at a window, then as the Victim turns back to the camera, and you throw in a quick Walk By. Very effective for that "double-bump".


Stock Scene #3: The Peak

The Peak is the classic Stock Scene where the Villain "Peaks" at the Victim. The camera perspective switches quickly from a 3rd person view, to the 1st person view of the Villain. Common places this happens are: the shower, while a couple is making out, and swimming (assuming there is skinny-dipping involved). Notice a theme there? I never said that modern horror movie makers had any couth. Looking through a keyhole is popular choice.

Another common place for this to occur is anywhere that is "lair-like", meaning, the Villain's Lair. For example, the Victim goes down into the basement (which we all know is secretly the Villain's hide-away), and suddenly the camera switches angles, and we are viewing the Victim from behind some old shelves, or through an A/C grill...you get the picture.


Expect to see both of these Stock Scenes in any horror movie made since 1980.

Next time, Stock Scenes #4 and #5, known respectively as , the Marco Polo, and Weapon, Weapon, Who's Got a Weapon?