Consider the Ripley Elevator Scene from Aliens.

Rewatching the movie recently and this scene stuck with me. It’s the kind of scene missing from bad action movies. Think about it. A minute and half of Ripley just going down the elevator! On it’s face, it seems like the ultimate waste. But a good storyteller like Cameron and a fine actress like Weaver make this a gem. First, it creates incredibly high tension making us wait to see Ripley take on the alien queen. ANTICIPATION. Second, part of that tension is having a scene with no dialog and minimal sound effects, giving James Horner’s tight score a big spotlight. This elevator music is thick with percussion and suspense. Third, we get a chance to see Ripley think about what she’s getting herself into and literally gulp with fear. Fourth, realistically, it gives Ripley time to gear up with three or four guns for the fight. Great storytelling.