Cutaways

Definition of a cutaway
 A brief shot that interrupts the main action of a film, often to depict related matter or supposedly concurrent action.

Cutaways do not have to contribute any dramatic content of their own, often being used to help the editor assemble a longer sequence. This is because editors choose cutaways related to the main action, such as another action or object in the same location. For example, if the main shot is of a man walking down an alley, possible cutaways may include a shot of a cat on a nearby dumpster or a shot of a person watching out of the window.

Cutaways are also used often in older horror films in place of special effects. For example, a shot of a zombie getting its head cut off may for instance start with a view of an axe being swung through the air, followed by a close-up of the actor swinging it, then followed by a cut back to the now severed head.