The two techniques that might be used to imply that something terrible has happened offscreen are:
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A swell of dramatic music - This can build tension and suggest that something significant or terrible has occurred without showing it directly.
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A reaction shot showing onlookers’ expressions immediately after the event - This technique draws attention to the characters' responses, indicating that something impactful has happened, even though the event itself is not shown.
These techniques effectively convey the gravity of a situation through audio and visual cues.