Gwen Stacy’s Spider-Man Death Change Proves Superhero Movies Need To Fix A Major Cliché

A reimagined version of Gwen Stacy’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 death scene proves that superhero movies can do without this cliché. While The Amazing Spider-Man films received mixed reviews, the franchise still had great moments. One of the strengths of those movies was the chemistry between Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy, which made Gwen’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 all the more heartbreaking.

After battling the Green Goblin at the top of a clock tower, Peter fails to save Gwen from falling to her death. Gwen’s death was supposed to be an incredibly emotional moment, which may be why The Amazing Spider-Man 2 director Marc Webb chose to play the scene out with slow-mo. However, a fan edit from YouTube user super spoon reimagines Gwen’s death scene in real time, and it shows how much more impactful the scene could have been.

Gwen Stacy’s Sped-Up Death Shows Superhero Movies Need To Cut Down On Slow Motion

Slow motion in movies is usually used to draw out an especially intense moment, emphasizing the gravity of what is happening. The use of slow motion is particularly common in superhero films, whether it is a character narrowly escaping death, or a speedster moving so fast that they stop time. Gwen’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 death works with slow-mo, almost as if the audience was experiencing each of her last thoughts with her. However, the fan-made sped-up death shows a new, interesting perspective of the scene, proving that superhero films should try cutting down on the effect.

Gwen’s death playing out in real-time emphasized how chaotic The Amazing Spider-Man 2 scene actually was. Peter was fending off the Green Goblin while also trying to keep Gwen safe. The sped-up death shows just how much was going on at the moment, with debris from the clock tower falling. It is no wonder why Spider-Man was just a second off from getting to Gwen in time. Gwen’s sped-up death edit also shows how slo-mo can sometimes take away from the intensity of a situation, with the real-time scene showcasing just how dire the situation was for Peter.

Why Cutting Slow Motion Can Make Big Superhero Movie Moments Better

The use of slow motion can make big superhero moments feel prominent. For example, the scene in which Wonder Woman deflects bullets with her bracelets in Wonder Woman (2017) ahead of the No Man’s Land sequence was a highlight of the movie. Recent superhero films, such as Zack Snyder’s Justice League and The Flash, have also leaned heavily into slow-mot to display the heroes’ powers. However, when it comes to dramatic scenes, slow-mo is not always the answer. Emotional sequences should not be undercut by a slow-mo shot, regardless of how cool it looks. This is exemplified by Gwen’s death, which might have been sadder in real time.

Even MJ’s fall in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which mirrored Gwen’s death, happened partially in slow motion. Gwen Stacy’s death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a heartbreaking moment, as well as one of the saddest deaths in a superhero movie. Gwen and Peter’s relationship was the heart of The Amazing Spider-Man films, so it made sense for Gwen’s death to feel like a big, tragic scene. However, straying away from the clichéd slow motion effect, as seen in this The Amazing Spider-Man 2 edit, can offer a different, refreshing take on emotional scenes compared to what most superhero films are doing.