Spooky season is in full swing, and what better time to cuddle into a cozy blanket and watch something nerve-tingling? Did someone say, trick or treat? I would say: trick. Or rather: tricks. This time around, we’re going to take a look at a few different tricks to build tension in scripts. After all, this is where every film—suspenseful or not—begins. Tension in scripts is not something that only horror films and thrillers are allowed to use. In my opinion, every good movie has a decent amount of tense moments and suspenseful twists. This is what gets our heart rates up and immerses us in the scenes even deeper—anticipation. In this article, however, and since Halloween is approaching, we will focus mainly on horrors and thrillers and break down some of their tricks. No jump scares, though, I promise. Quite the contrary: tools to build and hold tension. The bomb under the table The first trick is probably the most widely known one, but it’s such a golden piece of knowledge for screenwriters, that we have to revisit it. The initial idea of the “bomb under the table” belongs to the legendary director and screenwriter Alfred Hitchcock. He was quoted endlessly, so you will find hundreds of variations of his lesson. Instead of quoting, let’s listen to the master himself, while he explains the difference between surprise and suspense: Conclusion? Whenever possible, the audience must be informed about the metaphorical bomb. If you can manage this, then any scene, any action,...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 25 October