SUSPENSE and a little HORROR What is suspense

SUSPENSE and a little HORROR

What is suspense? �Suspense is the sense of anticipation or worry that the author makes the reader feel. �Suspense is a crucial plot element. Plot: the series of events that build the rising action in a story. Each plot event should add uncertainty, drawing the reader even further into the story. �Essentially, suspense is the lack of certainty the author creates, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next.

What is suspense? �Although the goal is clear, there should be many ways for the character to solve the conflict. �For example, Sherlock Holmes wants and will solve the crime but we’re not quite sure how he’ll do it.

Intensity and Close Calls �The stakes for the character are raised by the author placing the character in increasing danger or conflict. �The author sometimes creates a “near miss” or a false solution that keeps readers on their toes and prevents the plot from becoming predictable.

It’s all in the details… �Authors of suspense will often focus on specific details such as the knock at the door, the turn of a key, the shadow moving along the wall. �Literary devices often used in suspense literature include: Onomatopoeias (bang, growl, moan) Specific attention to setting (location, time of day, weather) Mood (the feeling the reader feels when reading)

It’s all in the details… Tone (how the author feels about his characters or the conflict in the story) ▪ Does he make the character good or bad? ▪ Does he make the issue evil or positive? Foreshadowing (what may happen) Dramatic irony (reader is aware of something character is not) Red herrings (the shifting of suspicion from character to another Themes (guilt, oppression, isolation, evil)

The Key Word is… �Suspense is highly UNPREDICTABLE!

What is horror? �Horror films are unsettling movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, disgust and horror from viewers �They startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural �Overlap with fantasy, science fiction and thriller genres.

Horror is based on two fears: �Isolation You are alone, or in the middle of nowhere. Thus, no one can help you. �The Uncanny You are at your home and the horror is also there. Your home is unsafe, or unhomely.

Modern Horror �No longer classic Good vs. Evil (monster) �More confusing and morally ambiguous �Unhappy endings…realism �“A horror movie doesn't just have to be cheap fun, it can also make a serious point. ” Zinoman

Subgenres �Action Thriller �An Action Thriller uses physical action to create suspense within the film: chases, fights, battles, and races �Examples: Die Hard, Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Bourne Identity

Subgenres �Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot: serial killers, murderers, robberies, manhunts �Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge

Subgenres �Science Fiction Thriller incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film: heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, advanced technology, “future-gone-bad”, alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, super-diseases �Examples: Aliens, Inception, District 9

Subgenres �Religious Thriller film incorporates religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects: exorcisms, demon possession, church cover-ups �Examples: The Devil’s Advocate, The Ninth Gate, The Da Vinci Code

Subgenres: Psychological Thriller �In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film �The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind, rather than from a physical threat �The protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation �Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre

Psychological Thriller �Emphasizes the psychology of its characters and their unstable emotional states � Complex and tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters �Can also cause discomfort in audiences by privileging them with information that they wish to share with the characters �Often presents a plot twist �Examples: Memento, Rear Window, Taxi Driver