Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: How Tarantino Directs Suspense
When you think of Quentin Tarantino, what comes to mind? Witty dialogue? Nonlinear storytelling? Explosive violence? While these elements are quintessential Tarantino, there’s another aspect of his filmmaking that often gets overlooked: his mastery of suspense. In his 2019 film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Tarantino showcases this skill in a scene that has viewers on the edge of their seats: Cliff Booth’s visit to Spahn Ranch.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into how Tarantino crafts tension in this pivotal scene. We’ll dissect his use of point-of-view shots, screen direction, framing, camera angles, and sound design. It’s like taking a stroll with Cliff Booth himself, but instead of walking into a potential trap, we’re walking into a masterclass in suspenseful directing. So, grab your popcorn, and let’s explore the techniques that make this scene a standout in the Tarantino canon.
Setting the Stage: The Spahn Ranch Scene
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of Tarantino’s techniques, let’s set the stage. The scene in question occurs about two-thirds into the movie. Cliff Booth, a stuntman played by Brad Pitt (who, by the way, won an Oscar for this role), drives out to Spahn Ranch to check on his old friend, George Spahn. What he doesn’t know is that the ranch has been taken over by Charles Manson’s cult.
Now, imagine you’re Cliff. You’re walking into a place that feels off from the get-go. The people are weird, the atmosphere is eerie, and you can’t shake the feeling that you’re walking into danger. That’s exactly how Tarantino wants you to feel, and he uses a variety of filmmaking tricks to make it happen.
The Power of P.O.V: Seeing Through Cliff’s Eyes
One of the first techniques Tarantino employs is the use of point-of-view (P.O.V.) shots. In filmmaking, a P.O.V. shot shows us what a character is seeing. It’s like we’re looking through their eyes. In the Spahn Ranch scene, Tarantino uses this technique to tie us to Cliff’s perspective.
As Cliff approaches the ranch, we see the house dead center in the frame. It’s like a bullseye, a target that Cliff (and by extension, we) are heading towards. This framing does two things: it establishes the house as Cliff’s goal, and it plants a seed of suspicion. Why is the house so prominently featured? Is it hiding something? Tarantino wants us to share Cliff’s growing unease.
The Long Walk: Building Tension Through Framing
Next, let’s talk about that long, dusty walk up to the house. This isn’t just a stroll; it’s a masterclass in building tension. Tarantino frames Cliff in an extreme wide shot, making him look small and vulnerable in the vast, open space. It’s a visual metaphor: Cliff is out of his element, exposed, and potentially in danger.
Think about it like this: have you ever walked alone at night and felt like the darkness was closing in on you? That’s the feeling Tarantino is going for here. The wide shot makes us feel the isolation and the potential threats lurking just out of frame.
Disorienting the Audience: The 180-Degree Rule
Now, let’s get a bit technical. In film, there’s something called the 180-degree rule. It’s a guideline that helps maintain consistent screen direction. Imagine a line connecting two characters in a scene. Typically, the camera stays on one side of this line to keep the characters’ positions consistent on screen.
But rules are made to be broken, right? In the Spahn Ranch scene, Tarantino deliberately jumps across this line, changing the screen direction. It’s a subtle move that keeps us slightly disoriented. Just as Cliff is trying to make sense of the strange situation he’s in, we’re trying to reorient ourselves visually. It’s a small detail, but it adds to the overall feeling of unease.
The Gathering Storm: Framing and Opposition
As Cliff gets closer to the house, he encounters some of the Manson family members. The conversation starts pleasant enough, but there’s an undercurrent of tension. Tarantino heightens this with his framing choices.
In a series of shots, Tarantino keeps the house in the background, center-framed. It’s a constant reminder of Cliff’s goal. But then, in matching profile shots of Cliff and the Manson girls, Tarantino visually communicates their opposition. They’re aligned defensively, a human barrier between Cliff and the house.
As the confrontation escalates, Tarantino switches from profile views to head-on shots. It’s a dramatic shift that feels more aggressive. Suddenly, the empty space behind Cliff is filled with a large bus and more Manson followers. They’re boxing him in, visually crowding the frame just as they’re crowding Cliff in the scene. It’s like watching a lion being surrounded by a pack of hyenas.
The Interrogation: Dutch Angles and Tension
When Cliff finally makes it to the porch, he’s met by “Squeaky” Fromme, another Manson follower. What follows is a short but tense interrogation. To mark this shift in tone, Tarantino employs dutch angles.
Now, what’s a dutch angle? It’s when the camera is tilted, creating a diagonal composition. This technique is often used to convey psychological uneasiness or tension. Think of classic thrillers or horror movies – they love their dutch angles. By using this technique here, Tarantino ratchets up the tension another notch. It’s like the visual equivalent of a twisting knot in your stomach.
The Sound of Suspense: Ominous Audio Cues
As filmmakers often say, sound is half the picture. In the Spahn Ranch scene, Tarantino uses sound design masterfully to enhance the suspense. When Squeaky opens the door to let Cliff in, listen closely. The creak of the door, the whistle of the wind, the murmur of a TV in the background – it all adds to the eerie atmosphere.
Then, in a brilliant nod to the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, Tarantino borrows a musical cue from Hitchcock’s “Torn Curtain.” As Cliff enters the house, Squeaky changes the TV channel to a program with ominous music. It’s like she’s providing a sinister soundtrack to Cliff’s potential demise.
The Mousetrap: Visual Metaphors and Claustrophobia
Once inside, we return to Cliff’s P.O.V. for a series of slow, lingering shots of the filthy interior. The place looks like it’s straight out of a horror movie. And in a perfect metaphor, we see a captured mouse. It’s a visual representation of Cliff: he’s walked right into a trap.
The tension builds as Cliff moves down the hallway. Notice how Tarantino keeps the camera behind Cliff’s back. The bright, open exterior has given way to a dark, cramped space. There’s nowhere to run. It’s a masterclass in creating a sense of claustrophobia, of being trapped with no escape.
The Payoff: The Art of What Might Happen
After all this buildup, Cliff finally reaches George’s room. And despite all the tension, all the signs pointing to danger, George is alive and well. It’s a classic Tarantino move – subverting our expectations.
But here’s the thing: in great suspense, it’s not about what happens; it’s about what might happen. As Tarantino shows us, the journey to the climax is often more thrilling than the climax itself. It’s the uncertainty, the “what ifs” that keep us glued to the screen.
Conclusion: Tarantino’s Suspense Toolkit
So, what can we learn from Tarantino’s direction in the Spahn Ranch scene? A lot, it turns out. He used:
- P.O.V. shots to tie us to Cliff’s perspective
- Wide shots and framing to make Cliff seem vulnerable
- Breaking the 180-degree rule to disorient us
- Framing and composition to isolate Cliff
- Dutch angles to accelerate tension
- Sound design to create an ominous atmosphere
- Production design to fill the scene with foreboding details
It’s a toolkit any aspiring director can learn from. Whether you’re shooting a short film or just trying to spice up your vacation videos, these techniques can add a layer of excitement and engagement.
In the end, what makes this scene so memorable isn’t just the outcome; it’s the journey. It’s the way Tarantino keeps us guessing, keeps us on edge. And that, my friends, is the true art of suspense. It’s not about what happens; it’s about what might happen. And in the hands of a master like Tarantino, those possibilities are endlessly thrilling.
So the next time you watch “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” pay close attention to the Spahn Ranch scene. It’s more than just a tense moment in a great film. It’s a masterclass in suspense, a director’s playbook for crafting unforgettable tension. And who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire you to add a bit of suspense to your own storytelling. After all, as Tarantino shows us, a little tension can go a long, long way.