Smash to Black

Watch as an animation →

In plain words

At the loudest or scariest moment, cut the picture and sound at once and go to a black screen. Because the ending is never shown, the imagination makes it scarier.

When to use it

The last cut of a video, right after a scream or a crash, or a cliffhanger that leads into the next episode.

Example videos

Ultimate Guide to Scene Transitions – Every Editing Transition Explained (The Shot List, Ep 9) — Explainer: From 14:06, see smash cut examples that slam loud against quiet and motion against stillness.
How the Film Editing of Memento Uses Cut to Black (Case Study) 👁️ — Explainer: An analysis of how Memento cuts to black to end a scene on the spot.
ALL Types of Cuts in AI Filmmaking | Full Showcase and Tutorial — AI: From 6:17, see an example of cut to black used in an AI scene.

In AI video, like this

Don't put it in the generation prompt. In the edit, cut the picture and sound together at the frame of the loudest moment. Then add 1 to 3 seconds of black (color=c=black:s=1080x1920:d=2, with silent audio from anullsrc). Don't use a fade.

One-click prompt

Two-shot sequence: Shot 1, a man speeds along a night highway in a red car with headlights on and the engine roaring, ending on the car heading toward a wall of fog, 3 seconds; smash cut with no fade to Shot 2, a pure solid black frame with total silence, 2 seconds. All audio stops dead on the cut.

Example films

The Blair Witch Project (1999) — After Heather drops the camera and goes quiet, the picture cuts to black (Wikipedia plot summary)

See it in real films and ads

Mr. Zeecon — How the Film Editing of Memento Uses Cut to Black

AI-made examples

Dom the AI Tutor — Cut to Black chapter

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