Smash cut

A smash cut is technique in film and other moving visual media where one scene abruptly cuts to another without transition, usually meant to startle the audience. To this end, the smash cut usually occurs at a crucial moment in a scene where a cut would not be expected. To heighten the impact of the cut, a disparity in the type of scene on either side of the cut is often present, going from a fast-paced frenzied scene to a tranquil one, or going from a tense scene to a pleasant one, for example. Sometimes it is also used to transition "from" the more peaceful scene.

An example of a clichéd smash cut is in a murder scene; a knife is raised, and thrust down, with a smash cut to a more peaceful locale (a birthday party, for example) right when impact is expected. Smash cuts are often used when a character wakes up from a nightmare, to simulate the jarring nature of that event.

Smash cutting can also be used to comedic effect; for example, directly after a prediction is made, cutting to the future showing the prediction to have been horribly wrong. An example is in an episode of Angel where Wesley yells, "we're winning!" in the middle of a battle, followed by a smash cut to the battle's aftermath showing his group tied up. [2.20 "Over the Rainbow"] Another common technique is as a type of false-censoring, allowing a character to emit the first part of a "dirty" word or phrase only to suddenly transition, as if hastily cut during post-production.

This technique has been used frequently in many of the opening sequences of "The West Wing" and in many episodes of "Lost". Every episode of "The Venture Bros." ends with a smash cut to the credit sequence.

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