It goes without saying that if you’re going to write a
mystery or thriller (or an “upmarket mystery”) that you’ll want a decent
understanding of how suspense works.
No doubt there are a slew of masterful suspense writers I
could use as the gold standard, but if I’m being honest, everything I learned
about suspense I learned from movies. Hey, they call Alfred Hitchcock “The
Master of Suspense” for a reason.
In this essay from Lessons From the Screenplay, Michael
examines the elements of suspense through a scene by another director who, if
you think about it, has also shown himself to be a master of suspense: Quinten
Tarantino. Michael breaks down the fantastic opening scene of Inglourious
Basterds and hits on such aspects as:
- Conflict and Instability
- Lack of Control
- Emotional Significance of Anticipated Events
- Uncertainty
- Tension vs. Suspense
- Payoff (New Stability)
Lessons From the Screenplay is a truly excellent channel, and even though it's framed as a movie channel I've learned a lot of about writing in general from these pieces. Consider liking and/or subscribing -- this channel is worth your time.
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