Steven Shaviro in his work “Post Continuity: an Introduction” explores the stylistic evolution in 21^st century filmmaking, with a special focus on action cinema. The concept of “post-continuity”, according to him, is the shift from traditional continuity editing and narrative structures to a fragmented and high-impact visual storytelling. His work also looks the idea of “Chaos cinema”, an idea introduced by Matthias Stork. Rapid editing, disoriented camera angles and visual incoherence are some of the key features of this action film aesthetic, identified by Stork, where instant sensory impact is focused on over spatiotemporal continuity and narrative clarity. The emphasis on spectacle and momentum over coherence in the films of director Michael Bay severs as a perfect example of this approach. Chaos cinema forgoes gradual build-up and spatial orientation characteristic of previous films, in favour of creating a sensory overload using montage of climatic moments.

The concept of “chaos cinema” can be understood through Rohit Shetty’s Bollywood cop universe (includes five movies– Singham, Singham Returns, Sooryavanshi, Simbaa and Singham Again), by looking at the stylistic choices and storytelling approaches that have been used in these films. The integration of action, amplified sequences, and drama are some of the key features of these films, which align with the characteristics of chaos cinema as identified by Stork.

These movies highly depend on spectacle driven storytelling, each with an overarching theme of justice, coupled with action, drama and comedy. Action sequences in Shetty’s films – hanging from helicopters, explosive chases, high-speed car stunts, exaggerated hand-to-hand combat – emphasise chaos and spectacle, often at the expense of logical continuity. The fragmented nature of these visuals depicts the “shotgun aesthetic” of chaos cinema, which coupled with the use of “high voltage scenes”; heighten the emotional and sensory state of the viewers, keeping them engaged throughout the course of the film.

The use of rapid cuts and dramatic angles in these action sequences attempt to engage the audience through visceral energy leaving little room for narrative or spatial orientation. Additionally the heavy use of CGI and performance of impossible stunts contribute to the “visually incoherent” yet thrilling style identified in chaos cinema. Rationality in the narrative in such a situation takes a back seat giving way to”hysterical climax” energy in every scene, alongside amplifying heroism and patriotism.

By prioritizing momentum and sensory overload, Shetty’s films encapsulate the essence of chaos cinema, offering an unrelenting spectacle that leaves audiences captivated.

References

Shane Denson & Julia Leyda (eds), Perspectives on Post-Cinema:  An Introduction. Post-Cinema: Theorizing 21st-Century Film (Falmer: REFRAME Books, 2016).

Image 1 – https://loudandclearreviews.com/singham-again-movie-review/

Video 1 – https://youtu.be/pjzqd-T9X_8

Video 2 – https://youtu.be/p9ZABBSa3vE

Annie Antony – 33845269