5 Techniques for "Unstoppable" Suspense
I missed the movie "Unstoppable," starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, when it first came out, so when it came to our local three-dollar-a-seat theater, I jumped at the chance to see it. And I'm really glad I did - not just because it was, in my opinion, a terrific film, but because it so beautifully reinforced everything I've ever read about creating suspense. Here are five techniques I saw at work in "Unstoppable."
1. Make your viewer/readers care about the characters.
I've seen movies (and read books) where bombs explode, cars crash, and people die right and left, and I felt nothing because I didn't care about the people these things were happening too. In "Unstoppable," you get to know the main characters and their backstories enough that, when it becomes clear that they stand a good chance of getting killed by the runaway train, you can't help rooting for them to make it to safety.
2. Foreshadow
From the moment the film opened, I got a delicious feeling that something bad was going to happen. The film makers took great care to show the mass and power of the trains as well as set up the dumb mistake that gets the whole plot rolling in the first place.
3. Set the clock ticking.
I've heard this rule so many times, but the movie was a great opportunity to see it in action. They kept cutting to the scene in the railroad strategy room, where you could see exactly where the runaway train was on the map and how quickly it was approaching the characters you'd come to care about.
4. Vary the pacing.
When I see movies or read books where it's all action all the time, I get desensitized. "Unstoppable" alternates between high tension scenes and scenes that focus on the main characters getting to know each other. These dialogue-heavy scenes, which are also humorous in places, give the viewer a chance to relax, breathe, and get ready for the next onslaught of tension.
5. Up the stakes.
This wasn't just a movie about two guys who might get killed by a runaway train. It was about two guys who had to stop a runaway train before it got to a highly populated area with a cargo of hazardous materials and crashed into a bunch of fuel tanks, potentially killing tens of thousands of people.
Next time I need some help with my writing, instead of picking up a book, I think I'll go to the movies!
1. Make your viewer/readers care about the characters.
I've seen movies (and read books) where bombs explode, cars crash, and people die right and left, and I felt nothing because I didn't care about the people these things were happening too. In "Unstoppable," you get to know the main characters and their backstories enough that, when it becomes clear that they stand a good chance of getting killed by the runaway train, you can't help rooting for them to make it to safety.
2. Foreshadow
From the moment the film opened, I got a delicious feeling that something bad was going to happen. The film makers took great care to show the mass and power of the trains as well as set up the dumb mistake that gets the whole plot rolling in the first place.
3. Set the clock ticking.
I've heard this rule so many times, but the movie was a great opportunity to see it in action. They kept cutting to the scene in the railroad strategy room, where you could see exactly where the runaway train was on the map and how quickly it was approaching the characters you'd come to care about.
4. Vary the pacing.
When I see movies or read books where it's all action all the time, I get desensitized. "Unstoppable" alternates between high tension scenes and scenes that focus on the main characters getting to know each other. These dialogue-heavy scenes, which are also humorous in places, give the viewer a chance to relax, breathe, and get ready for the next onslaught of tension.
5. Up the stakes.
This wasn't just a movie about two guys who might get killed by a runaway train. It was about two guys who had to stop a runaway train before it got to a highly populated area with a cargo of hazardous materials and crashed into a bunch of fuel tanks, potentially killing tens of thousands of people.
Next time I need some help with my writing, instead of picking up a book, I think I'll go to the movies!