The Creation of Suspense in Different Film Genres

The Creation of Suspense in Different Film Genres

We humans demand a lot nowadays where a film is concerned. No longer

do we want simple, traditional storylines (well at least I don’t!),

but instead we expect big explosions, top-notch special effects and

quality acting. Film directors have a tough task keeping its audience

happy; however the more suspense they create in their films, the more

appreciative we will be of it. A classic horror or an intense thriller

tends to leave us all on the edge of our seats and this is how

suspense affects viewers; what will happen next? This is the only

question we want to know the outcome of.

I have decided to study three different genres for this article: an

animation, a sci-fi thriller and a late western. All three have many

elements of suspense in them, some more obvious than others and are

portrayed under these ideas:

* Chicken Run- The Escape

* The Matrix- The Chase

* Unforgiven- The Shoot-Out

*****

‘Chicken Run’ is a witty parody which takes the clear set of

conventions from ‘The Great Escape,’ but uses them to form comical

moments and to keep the young audience glued to their sets! Directed

by Nick Park, the plot is set at a repressive chicken farm, where

Ginger and her friends decide to rebel against the evil Mr. and Mrs

Tweedy, in order to escape from certain death.

The very first scene immediately introduces symbolism. You see the

image of the moon as symbolising freedom and hope, but as the camera

pans down you sense the contrast and harsh reality of the chicken

world. An image of barbed wire comes into focus encapsulating ideas of

imprisonment and en...

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...s being similar and also different. Chicken

Run mainly focuses on the variety of shots available in an animation,

with the odd bit of parallel editing; The Matrix focuses on lighting

and also bullet time photography to maximise the action in an intense

scene by manipulating time, either by slowing it down or speeding it

up; Unforgiven focuses heavily on setting and characters in order to

build up its suspense. As far as I’m concerned ‘The Matrix’ is the

most effective at this, as it totally left me on the edge of my seat

at the first time of watching it. ‘Chicken Run’ is more light-hearted

therefore allowing its audience to relax a little bit more, which is

why it’s aimed at children. ‘Unforgiven’ just does not leave me

feeling as edgy as the other two do, yet I feel it has many good

points in building up its suspense.