The document discusses various cinematic techniques used to create suspense in films. Silence can be used effectively, as a sudden loud noise will change the pace. Panning shots are used to reveal clues that raise suspicion of danger. Weather like rain obscures vision and lightning reveals threats. Point of view shots from the killer's perspective increase tension. Close ups focus on the victim's expressions and make the audience feel trapped. Low camera angles imply vulnerability. Cross cutting between victim and approaching killer also builds suspense.

1. Suspense

2. The Silent Approach
• Silence can be cleverly used for suspense. This is because
for the long scenes where a character is being stalked, they
try to remain quiet. Then they make a sound, like stepping
on a twig with a “snap” noise, and the murderer or enemy
suddenly becomes aware of them. This changes the pace of
the film from slow which is quiet to quick which is usually a
lot more louder and fast paced. An example of this is a
scene from “The Lovely Bones” where the girl is trying to
place a floorboard back into the floor. During this the
paedophile downstairs is slowly searching his house, with a
slight suspicion. However, when she drops the floorboard
and it makes a noise, the man downstairs suddenly
becomes aware and starts to rush upstairs to find her.

3. The Pan for Clues
• During a sequence where a character is looking for clues a
pan is utilised to show their search from one side to the
other side of the room. At the end of this pan, the clue is
usually found which raises their suspicions. Once they
notice this clue they usually realise they are in a dangerous
situation with them being in a killers house or noticing a
piece of evidence that relates to a nearby killer. An example
of this is in “The Silence of the Lambs” where the police
officer inside a suspect’s house looks around the
room, pans, and notices that there is some stitching
equipment and an insect. She realises that the killer makes
coats from his victims skin and places an insect in their
mouth. These two signs she sees in this guys house
instantly makes her think that he is the killer.

4. Weather
• Rain is used in films to build tension. This is partly
due to its effect of obscuring the audience and
characters vision which makes them vulnerable.
Also when lightning is used it builds up tension.
This is because in the darkness where the
protagonist cannot see, lightning reveals the
enemy/enemies which builds up the fear and
tension in the scene. An example of its use is in
the “Lord of the Rings” where lightning is used to
reveal the orc army as it marches in the
dark, obscured by rain, towards the “Good Guys”
and where the protagonists are.

5. Lord of the Rings
Example:

6. Point Of View
• A point of view shot can be used to create tension. This
is due to the fact that it can be used from the killers
perspective. It can be used to show the killer stalking
the victims and showing the killers position without
actually revealing who the killer is. This is used in the
“Silence of the Lambs” where the protagonist is in a
dark cellar and cannot see but the killer uses night
vision goggles to walk right up to her face without her
even noticing. Another example is in the film
“Halloween” where the killer is stalking his sister and
you dont see his face which adds to the shock of him
being revealed as a child.

7. Close Up
• The close up is used to mainly focus on the victims
facial expressions. This can build up tension in a scene
by not only allowing the audience to see the victims
facial expressions and realise that something is wrong
but also obscure the vision of the audience, so that
when the killer is revealed, their is more of a shock.
Also, close ups can be used to create a claustrophobic
atmosphere and make the audience feel trapped. This
is used in “Silence of the Lambs” where the protagonist
is in a cellar and she cant see, this makes her
essentially “Trapped” and during these scenes the
camera is held close to her face to emulate her feeling
for the audience.

8. Low Angles
• Low Angles can be use to show vulnerability in
characters. This is because the camera is looking
down on them from above which creates this
tension in the scene by making the audience feel
their is someone watching or that certain
characters are vulnerable to attack or targeted.
An example of this is in “The Silence of the
Lambs” where the protagonist is talking to the
killer, the camera looks down on her. This is used
to make the audience feel uneasy and that she
has walked into a danger zone.

9. Pacing of Music
• The pacing of the music can change the
suspense of a scene. This is because slower
music is played during the “Alerted” scenes
where as a faster pace is played during the
“Chase” scenes. This is seen in “The Lovely
Bones” in which a fairly slow pace of music is
heard before becoming quicker as the
paedophile notices someone is upstairs and
chases them.

10. Parallel Editing/Cross Cutting
• Parallel editing and cross cutting is where the
shot cuts to two different events, in different
locations, at the same time. This can be used
to add tension to a scene by showing a victim
and the approaching killer. An example of this
is:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1x6uAD
FtM

11. Framing
• The framing of a shot can add suspense. This
is because it can tempt the audience to search
for clues as to the killers whereabouts in
another part of a scene. An example of this is
in “Scream” where the protagonist is looking
out of a small window on the left side of a
door, the camera has a clear view out the right
side windows into the hallway behind her
which makes the audience believe that’s
where the killer might be.

12. Lighting Contrasts/Darkness
• Having some parts of the room dark makers
the audience believe that that’s where the
killer will emerge. Having the protagonist
move from a light part of the room to a dark
part puts the audience on edge as it makes
them believe she is going into danger. This is
prevalent in “Scream” where the victim moves
from the lit up part of her living room towards
the dark windows.

13. Zooms
• Zooms can be used to show realisation in a
character. This can be used effectively to show
a character’s reaction to them being spotted.
Zooms could also be used to show the
discovery of clues which could start the
suspense in the scene by giving the audience
ideas created by the newly discovered clues.

14. Diagetic and Non-Diagetic Sound
• Using a mix of on scene sounds and added
sounds can bring a reality to a situation and
make a scene feel more real. This can add
suspense by pulling the audience from being a
mere observer of the action to being a part of
it.

15. Jerky Camera/Chase
• Jerky camera movement is used to create
suspense, especially during chase scenes. This
is to show disorientation of the protagonist
which conveys to the audience their desperate
attempt to flee.