The Hurt Locker: Scene Analysis

The Hurt Locker was published in 2008, and is a modern war film about a specialist bomb disarmer who has been sent to help a squad in Afghanistan. It is also one of the few films that was directed by a woman, Kathryn Bigelow.

I could talk about the whole film, but for now, I’m going to focus on one scene. Three soldiers, Sergeant William James, Sergeant JT Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge are sent into an abandoned Afghani building that is suspected of containing bombs.
The main purpose of this scene is to build tension. The stand-out method here is cinematography. The scene comprises a lot of complex and impressive camera shots, movements and angles to make this scene as nerve bending as possible.

The most-used camera technique is the handheld shot. The footage is quite jerky and moves quickly with the characters, as if someone were holding a video camera trying to capture the action. This creates realism, as if the viewer were inside the building with the soldiers, which in turn builds the tension. The shots are also mainly at eye-level, adding to this effect and also giving the sense that the soldiers are in control. We see exactly what they see.

This shot is from the very beginning of the scene. It is a high-angle, extreme long shot. Here we can see all of the soldiers, and also the building they are about to enter. This shot establishes the setting for this scene and familiarizes the viewers. I know this because the soldiers are very small and fill only a small portion of the screen. They are clearly not the focus of this shot. The color in this shot can also be important. It is all a sandy-brown, dusty color, which indicates a lot of heat and also sets the tone for this scene. The tension is being built from the start.
The sound also plays a small factor in building tension. During almost the entire scene, all of the sound is diegetic. However, because the soldiers are being as quiet as possible when exploring the structure, there is no sound to be heard. So, all we can here is the footsteps, and the occasional click of guns. Any louder sound will easily break the tension.

In this still, there is a clear use of the rule-of-thirds. The two soldiers are positioned on either side of the corridor, balancing the shot and making it easier on the eyes. The corridor itself also plays a big part in this shot. From the viewer’s point-of-view, it is very long and narrow. We can also just about see Eldridge in the doorway at the end. This corridor creates distance, not only between the soldiers but metaphorically as well. It reflects the isolated position that the trio is in. If something goes wrong, they cannot call for help. They are alone.

This scene uses so many different camera techniques, it is very hard to keep track when watching it! Quite a few of the shots of the soldiers are zoomed in from a distance, perhaps from through a window or behind a pillar in the building. This gives a sense of unease as the soldiers advance through the building. It is like they are being watched the whole time.

To conclude, this is a very complex and interesting scene in terms of tension-building techniques and cinematography. When I watch it I feel like something will happen, until Sanborn finally breaks the silence and says “Clear!” It is very good at raising tension and for that matter, my beats per minute.