Blog 4: Film Analyzation

Jurassic Park - T Rex Breakout Scene

The sound design is the most important feature in this iconic scene. Every sound is incredibly deliberate and feels designed to build tension until the inevitable reveal of the full T-Rex. There's no background music, only the small, constant patter of rain to increase in volume as the characters accept the reality of their situation. The scene even begins with one of the most cinematic and iconic moments in film history: The slow, methodical thuds that are then visualized with the shaking of the water cups. It lets the audience know that even though we may not see it, something very big is about to happen and the time between the shaking water glasses and reveal are all about building tension.

The darkness of night only serves to further build tension. In this scene it's all about what isn't seen: we can only see parts of the monster, or its effects on their surroundings. Spielberg almost exclusively uses close ups to enforce a feeling of claustrophobia (with only one long shot in this entire sequence). Once or twice Spielberg pulls the camera in on actors as they come to conclusions or realizations, almost to highlight their ideas in a way that's shown and not told. One of the best shots is the first time we glimpse the T-Rex, she's chomping on the goat. Immediately we cut to the first POV shot that takes place outside the vans: The T-Rex looking down on the van and dropping a bloody carcass. The red stands out amongst all the black and foreshadows what's to come.