# The "Just Offscreen" issue in Movies (BTTF as an example) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384 "2021-04-04T13:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/41 "2021-04-07T13:01:52Z")
I remember this phenomenon was also called out in Roger Ebert’s review of _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_. In the middle of a huge graveyard, Tuco doesn’t see Blondie until he walks up and casts a shadow right where Tuco is digging. Then both of them are surprised by the arrival of Angel Eyes. I always thought that wasn’t entirely fair. The characters who get surprised are so engrossed in what they’re doing that I could imagine someone approaching from behind and not being noticed until they’re a few feet away. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/42 "2021-04-07T15:24:28Z")
The Murderhorn! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/43 "2021-04-07T15:50:51Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > In the original Jurassic Park they made a point to show how even a silently approaching T-Rex will make the ground shake and boom. However in the climactic scene that has the folks cornered by several velociraptors in the visitors center who else swoops in from off-camera to save the day but the T-Rex. Both the people and the velociraptors completely oblivious to his presence. [Here’s the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWo9oLJOWk&t=127s) Start at about 1:30 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/44 "2021-04-07T17:04:41Z")
At 1:25, Cal blocks the machine so they can talk in private, and he doesn’t say first thing: “what the f_uck_ is Exeter???” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/45 "2021-04-07T17:27:08Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > At 1:25, Cal blocks the machine so they can talk in private, and he doesn’t say first thing: “what the f _uck_ is Exeter???” What can I say? My namesake may be tall, dark, and handsome, with deep voice, but he can also be a bit sense. In the book by Raymond F. Jones, by the way, “Exeter” is “Jorgasnovara”. I guess they changed it because it sounded like a Swedish-Indian hybrid, and they thought English place names sounded cooler. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/46 "2021-04-07T19:45:17Z")
This is my favorite thing to hate about the Walking Dead. No way a zombie (a multiple zombies) could sneak up/surprise anyone…unless they’re off camera, of course. Then they are in complete stealth mode until our heroes need to see/hear them. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384/47 "2021-04-07T20:18:09Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > What can I say? My namesake may be tall, dark, and handsome, with deep voice, but he can also be a bit _dense._ Sorry – that should read “dense”, not “sense”. Accidentaly hit the “s” next to the “d”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-just-offscreen-issue-in-movies-bttf-as-an-example/939384.md?page=2)