A whip pan is a type of pan shot in which the camera moves sideways so quickly that the picture blurs into indistinct streaks. It is commonly used as a transition between shots, and can indicate the passage of time and/or a frenetic pace of action.
Unlike other transitions, such as dissolves and fades, whip pans stand out because of their abrupt style, and are often seen in 1970s martial arts movies. The technique is used liberally by directors Sam Raimi, Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright. It is also used frequently in the Saw movies whenever someone is struggling in a trap.