Why Do Films Use Slow Motion?

Slow motion, commonly referred to as “slow mo,” is an effect in filmmaking in which time appears to slow down. The slow motion effect is used for a variety of reasons, and below are just a few of the many examples of how the effect is used to enhance a storyline.

One of the practical reasons for using slow motion is to ensure that viewers see something that would otherwise be missed if it were played at a normal speed, such as a professional con artist cheating at a card game. This helps bring the audience in and provides them with more details about a character’s background so they know what to expect further from the character.

Slow motion is also used to convey a moment of heightened senses or an experience that literally does feel as if time has slowed down. Sometimes, this is through drugs that slow down characters’ thinking and movements or it can be an emotional state of love between two characters. It can also be used to convey a feeling of dread in facing a fear or a feeling of triumph after a victory.

Another use of slow motion in film is to emphasize the dramatic and surreal effects of a violent or dangerous scene, such as a huge explosion, an intense street fight, or massive ocean waves crashing with the inevitability of destruction.

Finally, another way that slow mo is used in film is for comedic relief. Check out the video below to see how different movies used slow motion for a comedic effect:

“Top 10 Hilarious Slow Motion Movie Scenes” by WatchMojo.com

Whether it is used for practicality, drama or comedy, slow motion in movies adds a multidimensional layer of artistic expression that reveals so much more with its manipulation of time, space, and movement. You can learn more about slow motion in film in the following video essay by The Discarded Image.

“The Art of Slow Motion in Film” by The Discarded Image

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