Fun with Angles: BARB WIRE

The 1996 film Barb Wire is not a subtle movie by any standard, and its camera angles are no exception.

Some may argue constantly using unusual angles is a ‘cheap and easy’ attempt to make something seem more impressive, akin to turning a photo black-and-white . . . thing is, both of those techniques can be done poorly or well.

Barb Wire‘s consistent use of certain shots has a cumulative effect of not only ‘that’s cool!’ but ‘anything could happen’ which fits its post-apocalyptic story.

Here are some of our faves of three shot types Barb Wire uses.

High / Direct Overheads

Note a few of these also use canted angles and/or set the camera so objects in the shot are clearly not at 90° angles to the frame; more on those below.

Closeups

Barb Wire has two main categories of close-closeup: a tight angle on an item, and a shot which feels uncomfortably close to a character.

Bonus! A medium shot which uses a mirror to get us an uncomfortable closeup!

Canted Angles

Note most of these shots have significant architecture / set dressing / props with straight lines within the frame.

The buildings, kitchen shelving, strongly delineated spotlight beam, etc., all help emphasise the fact the shot is irregularly tilted.