MAJOR PROJECT: SUSPENSE

As I develop my script a clearer and clearer vision begins to appear of how I want the film to look and feel. This is largely inspired by directors who I admire and follow with interest, but also directors who relate to the style of story I want to tell.  

Denis Villeneuve

Villeneuve is a fairly new director on the scene having really come to prominence in the past 5 years. His most well known films are 'Prisoners' (2013, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal), 'Sicario' (2015, starring Emily Blunt) and released this week 'Arrival' (2016, starring Amy Adams). 

I watched Arrival this past week, the film depicts an unexplained alien arrival to earth. The protagonist Amy Adams who plays a renowned linguist has to try and communicate with the aliens to see what it is they want. With a looming military presence looking over her shoulder she must find a way to calm the situation and prevent any violence.

 The story can be related very easily to a clash of cultures in our world. The aliens can be a very effective metaphor for immigrants, who by very definition can be called aliens in a foreign land.

Amy Adams in 'Arrival' (2016)

The main thing that inspires me about Villeneuve is the way he creates suspense in his film. Which I see as an important aspect to making my film effective, I have to make sure there is that tension inspired by what Villeneuve does. The viewers have to realise the severity of the situation if the driver of my lorry or the two immigrant brothers get caught by the police. 

His previous film 'Sicario' (2015) was Oscar nominated in large part due to Villeneuve's directing ability. The scene perhaps most memorable in the film takes place at the border between Mexico and the US. Emily' Blunt's character is a part of a sting team that is returning from Mexico, they are stuck in Gridlock on the border and as they edge forward there is a looming threat of violence from gang members. 



Mark Kermode renowned film critic for The Observer, Sight & Sound and Kermode & Mayo's Film review describes this scene as 'One of the tensest traffic jams I have seen' (Mark Kermode, on Kermode & Mayo's film review). I would agree, Villeneuve takes what could be one of the most mundane daily activities for most people and makes into an utterly riveting 4 minutes of pure cinema.

However after watching a video from US based Youtube channel 'Cinefix', I realised how important the entire 40 minutes leading up to this point have been in creating tension. The film stays on its theme and doesn't brake it building up with a few payoffs, from the start all the way through to the end.

Exploring suspense in film

When it comes to suspense in films the first name that pops into my head and doubtless many others heads is Alfred Hitchcock. Sometimes called 'The Master of Suspense' Hitchcock was renowned for creating suspense in his films throughout is esteemed career.  

One scene from Hitchcock that stands out in the memory is from his 1959 thriller 'North by NorthWest'. The scene in question involves the protagonist Roger Thornhill played by Cary Grant being dropped off on a road surrounded by nothing but barren fields. As he waits the tension builds from nothing as a crop duster can be heard in the distance and the occasional car drives past. The payoff is when Thornhill gets chased down by the crop duster, but that doesn't happen until well after he is dropped off.



The crop duster scene immediately follows the end of the above video ending in an exploded fuel tank lorry.

Cary Grant in 'North by NorthWest' (1959)

This scene is one of many and you could say the whole film is filled with tension leading up to its Mount Rushmore climax. A film of his which keeps you on your toes throughout is 'Rear Window' (1954). When I watched the film I was never quite sure which way things were going as the protagonist sat helpless in his wheel chair. It is a film that uses suspense as a tool throughout to make the viewer uneasy and really feel a part the film.

The above films and directors all aid to inspire my project further stylistically and thematically. But especially for my third act the world suspense will be a word to keep in mind during filming as well as the editing process.