Subtle Camera Movement Goes a Long Way

Oh, the Who-manity! - The Grinch

The camera movement in The Grinch Stole Christmas is very unique; however, it is unnoticeable if you are not looking for it.

The camera moves ever so slightly during scenes that contain the Grinch or others talking to the Grinch. The camera is always at a Dutch (canted) angle and rotates slowly from left or right. Almost like the camera is twisting in scenes that contain the Grinch.

I think the director, Ron Howard, wanted this camera movement because the Grinch is different from every other Who in Whoville. Everyone has a different viewpoint (there is a scene that tells why the Grinch left from five different people) about the Grinch. Perhaps, that is a reason that the camera angle and movement is twisting and rotating differently in other ways. Also along with twisting and rotating of the camera, the camera is on a dolly movement in a scene shown in the gif.

There is a scene where Cindy-Lou Who finds the Grinch in the mail room. The video of this scene is below or here. This scene is an example of the camera movement and angle along with a zoom-in of the Grinch’s face. When that happens, Cindy-Lou Who jumps back into the packages. The camera movement twists in when zooming-in happens – this also makes the audience jumps back and mimics Cindy because of the camera movement. 

 

Photo/ video Credit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzAs_afEc0A
Makeagif.com
https://vimeo.com/125642542 
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