What Is A Dutch Angle?

A Dutch angle is a type of unlevel framing used to create a view that a person or object is slanted or tilted. It is often used in films to signify the beginning of an action sequence, a way to portray psychological disorder within a character’s mind, or to suggest chaos or “busyness” in a scene.

The Dutch angle is also known by several other names, such as:

• Dutch tilt
• Canted framing
• Canted angle
• Oblique angle
• Tilted horizon effect
• German angle
• Batman angle

The Dutch angle is a creative and emotional technique, frequently used to elicit a specific reaction or feeling from audience members, like that of fear or uneasiness. It is also sometimes used to create suspense, disorientation, panic, or to hint that a character may have villainous traits that will be revealed later.

The Dutch angle was first used in the 1920 German silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Since then, many filmmakers have used the Dutch angle successfully in their projects to enhance their storytelling. For example, in both the 1966 Adam West Batman film and the 1960s Batman television series, Dutch angles were used extensively and purposefully, with each villain being assigned their own angle.

However, some films are also known for their overuse of Dutch angles, which takes away from its impact. The sci-fi film Battlefield Earth (2000), in particular, has been criticized for its heavy use of Dutch angles, receiving a poor review from film critic Roger Ebert, who said, “the director, Roger Christian, has learned from better films that directors sometimes tilt their cameras, but he has not learned why” (source).

You can learn more about the origin of the Dutch angle below:

“The Origins of the Dutch Angle” by Now You See It

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