The creative process behind Samuel L. Jackson’s death in the film ‘Deep Blue Sea’ involved an ingenious idea from director Renny Harlin, who found inspiration from Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’:
“I came up with the idea, which I completely stole from the first ‘Alien’ movie, which was basically in that movie, there was nobody famous in it except Tom Skerritt, who played the captain of the ship. So he’s the natural leader. And then when everything goes wrong and the alien starts invading the place and people start dying, he’s like, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. I’m just going to go into that air duct and take care of it and you’ll be all fine.’ And he goes to the air duct and boom, the alien gets him immediately. And then we are left there wondering, ‘Who’s the lead of this movie?’ And it turns out to be Sigourney Weaver.”
Harlin capitalized on the element of surprise, akin to the method utilized in Hitchcock’s iconic ‘Psycho’. Samuel L. Jackson, as the most well-known actor, seemed like the film’s natural leader, making his character’s sudden death a jolting twist for viewers. Harlin elaborated on the delicate balance required for the scene:
“It was really a scientific process of us analyzing on the spot how long this speech can be so that if it’s too short, it doesn’t lull the audience into certain sense of safety, and also a certain sense of like, ‘Oh, this is the hero’s speech. I know exactly how these things go. Yeah, he’s going to talk and then they’re going to go and save the day.’ So long enough, but not too long so that the audience is just going to start eating popcorn and go to the bathroom. It had to be just so that you can just develop a little bit of that movie attitude, which is like, ‘I’ve seen this scene — but oh, what?” And he gets attacked, and it just happened to work.”
FAQs about Samuel L. Jackson’s Death Scene in Deep Blue Sea
- Did Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Deep Blue Sea have a significant role before his death?
- Yes, Samuel L. Jackson’s character was presented as the natural leader of the group, leading viewers to believe he would be the hero of the film.
- What inspired the unexpected death of Jackson’s character?
- Director Renny Harlin was inspired by the movie ‘Alien’, where a similar bait-and-switch tactic with the character played by Tom Skerritt was used to surprise the audience.
- Why was it important for the speech to be of a specific length?
- The length of the speech was crucial in order to tease the audience into a false sense of security without making them bored or disengaged.
- Was the scene of Jackson’s death well-received by the audience?
- Yes, the sudden death scene was effective and served as a shocking twist that changed viewers’ expectations for the rest of the movie.
Conclusion
The death of Samuel L. Jackson’s character in ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is a testament to the importance of timing and placement of plot twists in filmmaking. Renny Harlin took a calculated risk inspired by classic films, resulting in a cinematic moment that is still memorable to audiences. This delicate manipulation of audience expectations is what creates movie magic, reminding viewers that in the world of suspense, nobody is safe—and that even a trailer can nearly give it all away.