Dolly Zoom (Track Out - Zoom In)

The Dolly Zoom creates a surreal 'in camera' effect that distorts the background perspective while keeping the foreground largely unaffected. It's surreal quality often give rise to a tension between the foreground characters and the world they inhabit.

THE EFFECT 
During this shot the subject remains the same size within the frame while the background begins to swell and expand - dominating the subject.  Seeing a perspective shift without a size change is highly startling and surreal. This technique can create several emotional effects depending on the context of the scene (and the speed with which it is executed). Here are a few examples:

                               SLOW EXECUTION:
*  Disorientation:      The swelling of the background reflects the characters delirium; the shifting space
                                captures a sense of someone who is dazed and confused or faint and giddy
*  Claustrophobia:   The backdrop enlarges, dominating the subject. It appears as though they are boxed 
                                into a small, cramped space - the walls literally closing in around them
*  Paranoia:              The surreal shifting of perspective creates an hallucinogenic effect. The swelling of the 
                                backdrop suggests the character is experiencing a distorted sense of reality - making 
                                them appear delusional and unhinged.

                                FAST  EXECUTION: 
*  Oppression:          The background comes rushing toward the foreground, imposing itself upon the subject.
                                This sudden jolt appears menacing and unnatural, as though a sinister force approaches
*  Shock:                  The dramatic expansion of the background creates a sudden grounding as the   
                                character is brought back down to earth with a nauseating thump!
*  Boldness:               The subject appears as a small feature in a broad landscape, then it suddenly 
                                 collapses, accentuating the foreground character in a single, bold manoeuvre. This 
                                 sudden shift amplifies the subject, making them appear more bold and commanding


THE SCENE 
In this scene I'll be using Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas to demonstrate the reverse dolly-zoom. Henry (Ray Liotta) has come to a restaurant to see his 'friend' James (De Niro). He is paranoid that James want's him dead so he discusses his current dilemma in a public place to gauge whether he and his family are in danger. 
.

EXECUTION 

Other Examples

In the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo senses the approach of a ring wraith. Although we do not see it, his POV begins to distort as the treeline in the background comes rushing toward him as though some sixth sense is warning him of an impeding threat.




In La Haine, We see the city backdrop slowly expanding upon the yobs in the foreground. It is as though the city walls are hemming them in. We literally see a wide cityscape shrinking and confining the characters within the a small frame. This can be taken as a metaphor of the city acting as a prison