Stunt Breakdown: PAIN & GAIN's car v human
We broke down Pain and Gain’s opening sequence in detail, but this stunt is so crucial, impactful (pun intended) and so ‘simple’ in execution and edit, it deserves its own post.
Setup
The first 90 seconds used different playback speeds, but the slo-mo here isn’t just consistent (and hilarious), it serves a particular setup purpose.
It’s sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo slow, when the next shot cuts in at regular speed, it takes our brains a second to ‘catch up,’ which in turn makes it easier to ‘sell’ the perspective trick.
Perspective
Wahlberg is safely behind the car as the car speeds through; he really sells the moment with the shape of his body as he ‘attempts to avoid’.
It’s actually a little tough to tell how much works due to pure perspective trick and how much is two shots stitched together; one with only Wahlberg, one with only the car.
Either way there’s a tiny bit of CGI helping sell the a split second where the car hood and Daniel’s legs are occupying the same space, and at that exact moment of impact, an immediate cut.
Impact and Cutting
A quick closeup of the stationary car, as Wahlberg vaults onto it; the camera is moving up and right, IE the same direction as Wahlberg’s body, to help sell the idea the car is in motion even though it’s not.
This shot is slo-mo, but not the ultra-slo-mo of the opening shot or the shot it leads into; it’s a moderate speed which helps bridge the two.
The next shot is cut into at a similar angle so Daniel’s trajectory seems to be continuous; the shot is a little wider, to get the full splendor of his sprawl, and ultra-slo-mo again, for many of the same reasons as above: it’s fun, it contrasts with the quick shots of the car impacting, and it’s hilarious — basically a gym-bro-versus-cop-car breakdance battle.
(Note the gym bro extra in the background, a perfect little pop of colour.)
Cut into the car as Wahlberg’s stunt double smashes the safety-glass windscreen, face carefully obscured.
And voila! Smash to black.