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Arts & Culture

The Narrative Function of the Dolly Zoom in Hitchcock's Psychological Thrillers

Quick fact

The dolly zoom first became famous in Hitchcock's 1958 film Vertigo, where it made the stairs below seem to stretch infinitely, visually capturing the character's fear of heights.

Why this is interesting

You've seen a movie where the background suddenly stretches away from a character while their face stays stuck in place—yet you feel a lurch in your stomach. Why does that simple trick make you feel the panic so intensely?