Rain has become a bit of a trope in the action genre. Battles and combat situations seem even more dramatic when water scratches the fighters’ coats, as they plod through muddy fields or wade through murky puddles. It is actually increasingly used as a simple device to increase the tension of a desperate situation.
Some movies and TV shows of course use this environmental element much better than others. Often it can be easy for the rain to drown out the precise movements that are happening, instead affecting what the audience can actually see. But under the right circumstances, it’s a tool in a filmmaker’s arsenal that can be incredibly effective.
Save Karen – Daredevil (2015-2018)
There are many arguments as to why Marvel’s first season daredevil is the best, but its intricate action sequences are certainly viable enough reasons. The fight scene in question takes place in the episode titled In the ring. It’s an essential piece of the show’s choreography, as Matt Murdock struggles to fend off two assassins sent to get rid of Karen Page.
It’s an intense sequence, made all the more visceral by the rain shower that hides the sweat and dripping blood from the fearless man’s mask. Daredevil can take advantage of the rain and use it to focus on his enemies. Visually, it’s a stunning moment, but what’s more impressive is that it blends so effectively with the character’s powers.
Titans Collide – Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice was designed to build a singular moment. The instance of truth that would decide who was the superior hero, the dark knight or the man of steel. The clash of these titans took place against the backdrop of pouring rain.
Superman is perfectly framed by the brightening skies he descends from, while Batman lurks in the shadows of the muddy streets. It’s a symbolic contrast given that one operates in the lights of Metropolis and the other fights crime in the puddles of Gotham City. The fight is dramatic, living up to the fight fans were hoping for, with the rain only adding to the tension of the moment.
Kamino Clash – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Kamino, the home of the Clones in the star wars galaxy, is known to have its fair share of showers. It is a planet almost entirely made up of oceans and yet this civilization still managed to create something exquisite in terms of structures. It is the backdrop against which Obi-Wan and Jango Fett fight.
It’s a fight where the two sense each other, the mysterious bounty hunter fleeing in the dark, the mist of watery mist blowing across the face of the pursuing Jedi. Rain becomes an environmental element, as slippery surfaces play a role in the ensuing battle. It’s a moment of one-on-one combat without two lightsabers clashing that always grabs the audience’s attention.
Helm’s Deep – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Lord of the Rings boasts some of the most impressive battles in cinematic history. The two towers is no different, with the spectacularly designed Helm’s Deep becoming the location of significance in this war. The fight actually starts with the rain.
If he does not preside over the successive movements, he launches this fight on unstable ground. With a demoralized army and structures potentially weakened by the effects of the weather on the ground, the use of rain here is perfect to set up the fight of the conflict.
Penguin Hunt – The Batman (2022)
The Batman played in the grungy aesthetic of Gotham City and so it’s no surprise that rain poured onto the gritty streets in several scenes. The action-packed chase between this fantastic iteration of The Penguin and Caped Crusader has been made even more tense by the weather.
It’s once again a great time for the environment to kick in as these vehicles slide down the street, losing traction at every turn due to soggy roads. The Batmobile looks all the more epic as it blasts its way through the rain, becoming a force of nature unto itself.
Confront Davy Jones – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
Davy Jones is a mystical force in the mythology of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Combined with the wrath of a liberated Calypso, it’s no surprise that the final showdown sees these swordsmen also having to deal with the weather.
It’s a chaotic battle between a number of ships, each trying to survive the onslaught of wind, rain and ocean. The battle seems tougher as the waves splash against the decks as the skies continue to open above. The intensity of the environment fades as the war draws to a close, thematically bringing this trilogy to a close in a rather poetic way.
The Cascades – Sherlock (2010-2017)
There are certain iconic moments from the Sherlock Holmes books that have found their way into the big and small screen adaptations of the character. One such moment signifies the supposed death of the two sworn enemies, as a battle takes place between the great detective and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls.
Although it’s not technically a sequence that takes place in the rain, the effect is visually still the same. In the sherlock episode “The Abominable Bride”, the ode to classic Holmes lore is very evident as rivals battle it out with the waters of the falls cascading around them. It’s a scene that looks as elegant on screen as it does on the page, in all its violence and reflection.
T-Rex Attacks – Jurassic Park (1993)
jurassic park aptly depicts nature as the force that will one day wipe out mankind, as the dinosaurs return to the planet’s ecosystem with predatory dominance. The T-Rex is one of the most intimidating beasts in the original film and a sequence that went down in movie history.
With a car overturned on its roof as the only protection against the monster, the downpour only further signifies the power of nature itself as the T-Rex continues its hunt. It’s not just for the visuals of the beast stalking its prey through the mud, leaving its extremely terrifying footprints. It also adds extra tension, as the audience wonders if the flare will even be effective in the wet situation.
The Final Fight – The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
It’s as if Neo and Agent Smith have been fighting for decades, as their fights through the Matrix have become more visually impressive in design. There was to be a final battle in Matrix Revolutions which focused on the development of the protagonist since audiences first met him.
Combat in the rain is a tour de force of Neo’s skills, the environment never taking away his impressive mastery of his gifts. Visually, it’s stunning, as the technological techniques the movies have come to embody help enhance the choreography of well-thought-out combat.
A Water Rescue – Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
It is not uncommon to find long sequences throughout the blade runner franchise against the backdrop of gray skies and miserable weather. But for Blade Runner 2049 the film features an epic rescue mission along the city’s seawall.
In doing so, the environment is allowed to boast of its full strength, as rain and sea cascade over K, who seeks to free Deckard from his chains. It’s an ominous moment, as the waves threaten to drown all those involved in the ensuing conflict. The lack of weather tolerance is unforgiving in its design, as audiences feel they can’t breathe either as the sequence continues to ramp up and become more volatile.
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