This is a fascinating video for movie fans or birdwatchers. And if you’re a birdwatching movie fan then this video is a must-watch. VOX explains the haunting call of the loon, and how it became an iconic, though oftentimes geographically inappropriate, background sound in movies to add a sense of foreboding.
——Content continues below——
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
As seen on
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
TL;DR
- Hollywood frequently uses the distinctive call of the common loon in movies and TV shows to evoke feelings of moodiness, eeriness, or to highlight the great outdoors, despite the call being geographically misplaced in many scenes, ranging from deserts to jungles, and even on other planets.
- Bird enthusiasts and experts often criticize the misuse of loon calls in entertainment, noting the inaccuracy of their placement in non-habitat appropriate locations and the oddity of using the call for birds that are not loons, highlighting a lack of attention to detail in representing natural scenes accurately.
- The common loon, known for its diving ability and unique behaviors like penguin dancing and scooting across lakes, primarily inhabits lakes in Canada and the northern US, migrating to coastal areas in winter, which contrasts with its fictional appearances in various non-native settings.
- The loon’s call, particularly the wail, carries significant cultural and emotional weight, interpreted as melancholy or haunting to human ears due to its unique sound properties, which include sliding between major and minor notes, similar to techniques used in blues and soul music.
- Despite Hollywood’s overuse and geographical inaccuracies, the loon call’s powerful impact on audiences is undeniable, serving as a shortcut to evoke deep emotions and atmosphere in films and TV, while also bringing attention to the loon’s conservation needs due to threats like pollution, human disturbance, and climate change.
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Here, Venom: The Last Ride , Transformers One, The Wild Robot and coming soon Red One, Wiked, Gladiator II, Moana 2 and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply