The Surprise Attack

What does it look like?

It’s an unexpected moment in which a character is suddenly, and often fatally, attacked in a way that jolts the audience.

How’s it done?

It can be done as a practical effect or as CGI.

When should I use it?

Use this shot in moments when you want the audience to know how vulnerable the characters are to the creature. The more off-guard the character and the audience the better it will work.

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Synopsis: Scientists Susan McCallister (Saffron Burrows) and Jim Whitlock (Stellan Skarsgård) are conducting research on regenerating brain tissue in sharks, hoping to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But when their funding is threatened, the pair decides to take a dangerous shortcut. ...

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