Do you remember the hospital scene in Spider-Man 2? The sequel is widely considered one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. It successfully built on the first movie by adding more emotional depth to Peter and giving us one of the most well-developed villains in Doc Ock.
But it’s the mini horror movie in the middle of the Spider-Man 2 that really elevates it above other superhero flicks. And that’s thanks to Sam Raimi’s brilliant directing.
He turns what could have been a by-the-numbers action sequence into two minutes of pure terror.
Once we’re in the operating room, Raimi skillfully sets the stage and slowly builds suspense. The camera constantly toggles between wide shots and extreme close-ups, and the movement is quick and dynamic.
When one of Doc Ock’s tentacles attacks, there are blood-curdling screams, crashing equipment, and a revving chainsaw—no doubt a nod to The Evil Dead.
Although the scene is bloodless, the deaths are brutal. By the end, we’re left breathless and horrified.
When Doc Ock awakens amidst the debris and corpses, he screams in anguish. The moment emphasizes his descent into madness, letting us know his transformation from brilliant scientist into a killing machine is complete.
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Like comic book movies? Here’s another video we did about a subtle joke in Spider-Man 2 about the Ford Focus.
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