Camera Angles - Analysis

Camera Angles

Low Angles

A Low Angle shot in Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive (2011)

In this scene from Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive, a fight has broken out between Ryan Gosling and another character. The scene follows the struggle between the two characters, until Ryan Gosling is eventually able to overpower his attacker, knocking him to the ground and crushing his school with his boot. The purpose of the low angle shot used here is to show how Ryan Gosling's character has overpowered his enemy, giving him a very strong and intimidating image.

A Low Angle shot from Terrence Malick's Tree of Life (2011).

Another low angled shot is used in in this scene from Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life, as we see a character reaching out to the figure above them. As the viewer, we are put in this character's perspective (as though we are reaching out with them), and the mysterious figure above is made to look taller than they may actually be, turning them into a sort of angelic figure that is there to save our character.

High Angle

A High Angled shot from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960).

In Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock uses a high angled shot during the scene in which Arbogast searches Norman Bates' home, and eventually comes across Mother. The camera tracks Arbogast as he climbs the stairs from a high angle, suggesting that something is lurking around the corner. This allows the audience to be placed in the character's shoes. Like Arbogast himself, we can't know for sure what kind of evil presence could be looming around the corner, building up tension until the shocking appearance of the killer.

Eye Level

An Eye Level shot from George Lucas' The Phantom Menace (1999).

This is a common angle to use in filming. The standard eye-level shot allows for audiences to be comfortably seated within a scene, as opposed to creating the purposefully disturbing and unsettling effect that shots like the Worm's Eye Angle and Oblique Angle can create. In this scene from George Lucas' Star Wars prequel The Phantom Menace, a light saber duel commences between three characters. Use of the eye level shot allows for audiences to become familiar with where characters are positioned within the duel. The use of other, more complicated shots could easily disorient audiences.

Bird's Eye View

A Bird's Eye View shot from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1986).

In this first shot from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, an angle from a bird's eye view is used when Jack Torrance watches Wendy and Danny walking through the hedge maze. Not only does this angle show the audience that these characters are being watched, and give us an idea of the enormity of the hedge maze (setting up the film's climax), but the way in which the shot is zooming in creates the feeling that dome sinister force is closing in on Wendy and Danny (the film's chilling soundtrack adds to this frightening feeling).

Worm's Eye Angle

A Worm's Eye View shot from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1986).

In this second shot from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, an angle from a Worm's Eye view is used (the complete opposite of the angle used above) as Jack, having completely lost his mind, taunts Wendy from the other side of the pantry door. Because Jack's behavior is supposed to disturb and frighten us as an audience, this type of shot is used. This angle is fairly uncommon, and can potentially confuse and even discomfort viewers. Like many of the shots used in this film, it's something we've never seen before, and adds to the idea that we don't fully understand what's happening in the Overlook Hotel. This is an appropriate effect as it goes along with the feeling of terror now felt by Wendy as she watches her husband lose his mind.


Oblique Angle

An Oblique Angle from Danny Boyle's Trance (2013).

A shot that is slightly tilted can be known as a canted or oblique angled shot (also a Dutch Angle). This angle is popular amongst director Danny Boyle, and can be seen many times in his movie Trance. In this scene, the camera suddenly shifts an oblique angle is used, as James McAvoy's character makes a discovery that will have a huge effect on the rest of the film. The shifting of the camera angle is used to signify the shift in the film's plot after this discovery. The canted angle, which will appear quite abnormal to viewers, also suggests that something isn't quite right. This is appropriate, as it is later revealed that the entire scene is actually not real, and is all in the character's head. The use of this angle is a clue to none of this being normal. The Dutch Angle is also very popular among Film Noir.