The 3 Essential Elements of Suspense Explained - How Fincher, Carpenter and Refn Create Suspense
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- How to create suspense in film - A breakdown of three different methods using suspense scenes from movies like Zodiac, The Thing, and Drive.
What is Suspense: Elements Explained ►► bit.ly/hd-su
Sound Design & Editing in Drive ►► bit.ly/sd-di
StudioBinder Blog ►► bit.ly/sb-bl
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to Crafting Suspense
00:53 - What are the Elements of Suspense
02:30 - Chapter 1: Suspense with Sound
06:37 - Chapter 2: Suspense with Editing
11:45 - Chapter 3: Suspense with Cinematography
16:23 - Final Thoughts/Takeaways
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HOW TO CREATE SUSPENSE IN FILM
You know those moments in a movie when you hold your breath, your muscles tense up, and you can barely keep your eyes on the screen? There is nothing quite as thrilling as a good suspense scene. And to understand how they work, we have to pick apart their elements. In this video, we’re going to look at some of the best suspense scenes from movies. Specifically, three scenes that each use a different filmmaking element to guide the suspense: sound design, cinematography, and editing.
SOUND DESIGN FOR SUSPENSE
In Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, there are a few white-knuckle scenes. In the pawn shop robbery, the heist happens off-screen as we simply wait outside, in the quiet, with Driver. It is the lack of sound that keeps us on edge. One of the key ingredients in suspense is uncertainty - how will this scene end? And because we hear nothing of the robbery inside, our uncertainty remains high. The gentle but insistent ticking of Driver’s watch reminds us that time is running out but the quietness overall makes it feel like something bad is going to happen. And it does.
EDITING FOR SUSPENSE
Editing is usually the star of the show when it comes to creating suspense in film. Time is another essential element and how long the editor delays the outcome dictates the amount of suspense. In John Carpenter’s remake of The Thing, the iconic blood test scene is a taut and claustrophobic set piece. With very little sound design or music, it is the editing that really builds the suspense. By keeping each shot of the suspects in the same, tight close-ups we get no relief from the tension. Additionally, this consistency of close-ups also keeps our suspicions even across all the suspects. Finally, as MacReady proceeds with the first test, we cut back and forth between the blood and the reactions over a dozen times, delaying the result and tightening the suspense.
CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR SUSPENSE
In our final example, we look at the iconic Zodiac basement scene where Graysmith finds himself in the presence of the potential killer he’s been investigating. Here, it is the cinematography, including the lighting, camera angles, and camera movement, that creates such a terrifying scenario. As soon as Graysmith realizes Mr. Vaughn might be the Zodiac, the lighting seems to shift from even and neutral to high-contrast and horror film-esque. First, he is trapped in a close-up with Vaughn looming in the background. As they enter the basement, the low angle shot brings the ceiling on top of Graysmith, trapping him even more. And the lighting on Vaughn gets more and more sinister until he disappears completely into the shadows.
The best suspense scenes in movies use one or all of these techniques to draw out the time, elevate our uncertainty, and raise the stakes (and our heart rates).
#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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♬ SONGS USED:
"Dream of Arrakis" - Hans Zimmer
"Merlin's First Test" - Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson
"Secret Weapon" - Evgeny Bardyuzha
"Nightcall" - Kavinsky
"Tick Of The Clock" - Chromatics
"The Border" - Jóhann Jóhannsson
"Main Theme - Desolation" - Alan Howarth & Larry Hopkins
"Burn It" - Alan Howarth & Larry Hopkins
"Contamination" - Alan Howarth & Larry Hopkins
"Conspiracy Theories" - Jean Pol Cornelis
"Graysmith Obsessed" - David Shire
"Graysmith's Theme (Piano Version)" - David Shire
"Confrontation" - David Shire
"Kinotrope" - Luke Melville
Music by Artlist ► utm.io/umJx
Music by Artgrid ► utm.io/umJy
Music by Soundstripe ► bit.ly/2IXwomF
Music by MusicBed ► bit.ly/2Fnz9Zq
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to Crafting Suspense
00:53 - What are the Elements of Suspense
02:30 - Chapter 1: Suspense with Sound
06:37 - Chapter 2: Suspense with Editing
11:45 - Chapter 3: Suspense with Cinematography
16:23 - Final Thoughts/Takeaways
I seriously want you to watch Ratsasan and discuss about that movie in your upcoming video. It's the best suspense thriller movie I've ever experienced. It's an indian tamil language movie.
@@jenikprajapati6800 yeah it was one of the finest movie made in india
That 'Zodiac' scene never gets old for me. I've seen the film multiple times, I know exactly what's the outcome, but the suspense is never dulled.
The Zodiac basement scene perfectly conveys this idea of “jumping at shadows”. In other words: no “real” danger, only the perception of it.
It's suspense in its purest form
That's the Fincher direction 💯
funny thats funny i have never seen the film but I have seen so MANY videos talk about this scene, so i have watched the beginning and middle parts of the scene alot, but I have never actully seen the resolution of it untill this video! Now I really just need to watch the film.
One of the greatest films of this century
This channel is becoming goldmines for new generation for flimmakers
That's the plan ;)
I hope to be apart of this new generation
So good, who ever narrates these needs an oscar now
agreed :)
@@StudioBinder Great voice. I'd hire him for a documentary, but I couldn't afford him
@@scottslotterbeck3796 I'm cheaper than you think.
m
@@02087895726 You make everything far more interesting in every studio binder episode.
The whole "Sicario" Juarez sequence is a masterclass on suspense
Love it
The Thing (1982) is a true masterclass in suspense, one of the best horror movies out there in my opinion, it keeps the audience on edge not knowing who is human or who is The Thing creature, the cinematography is just stellar especially when one of the dogs has been assimilated and it's face opens up with tentacles the way that scene is shot with it's low lighting is creepy and atmospheric and the sound design and score just sells that there is an alien threat, plus the creature design is top notch. That scene with the blood test where MacReady is seeing who is human or not made me jump out of my seat and gave me a heart jump when I first watched it on video cassette in the mid 90's as I was anxiously in suspense not knowing who was The Thing creature.
The most incredible part is that not a single use of CGI appeared in the movie. Every thing was done with practical effects.
"Hydraulically-powered jaws would rip the fake torso in half, which would then bite off Dr. Cooper‘s arms. Fake arms were constructed with wax bones, gelatin flesh, and rubber veins.
Filmmakers found a double amputee who’s arms were severed in an industrial accident just past the elbows. Bottin and crew constructed a prosthetic mask of Dysart’s face, and glued the Jello arms onto him."
It's just pure genius
@@camillepetit9623 Oh yes I heard about that too on the making of the movie and it definitely was genius how they did those effects, Practical is always more convincing then any digital CGI effects in which the 2011 prequel looks so artificial compared to the more convincing practical effects of the 1982 movie.
Great direction 👌👌
@@StudioBinder Yes definitely.
My favourite horror movie of all time. Saw it aged 9 in the mid-90s, wasn’t scared but very entertained by the suspense. Pity it didn’t fare well at the box office.
The Zodiac scene is really scary. When I first watched it, I felt like I was in his position. What a relief when he left the home unharmed. ufff. Brillant cinematography and direction.
i can see why critics at the time saw Carpenters The Thing as a gorefest that didnt use other techniques to scare, but if we actually think about it theres only 3 major gory scenes in a movie that mostly focuses on suspense and paranoia during the whole runtime, the whole movie focuses on the dread of not knowing what were dealing with here, it also asks you to be engaged and to point the dots just like the charecters in the film, this movie is proof that you can use both techniques
It's just a great horror film
15:31 the way he walked to the other direction always chills me to the bones, the wah he walked was so fast and sneaky like you feel he's up to something really bad, wow what a professional setting and shooting from fincher and his crew!
The guy who narrates these little masterpieces of instructional videos is the best
He is!
1:00 the jumpcut to the shining was perfectly timed to make it sound like tom cruise splattered at the bottom of his fall down the pit.
The zodiac scene is just amazing. One of the best scenes I've ever seen.
Incredible direction 💯💯
Sicario has one of the greatest suspense scenes ever. I was on the dege of my seat watching them cross the border. Insane.
Something always bothers me is that dialogue in Sicario, 6:54, he says 'compas, compas' meaning 'bros, bros'... not 'con paz, con paz'
Phenomenal scene
My Favorites Suspense Moment in Films are :
-Clarice Starling into the Dark, chasing Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs - 1991)
-Why so Serious !? (The Dark Knight - 2008)
-The Bride awake from her coma and escape from the hospital (Kill Bill Volume 1 - 2003)
-The Final Twist in Psycho (1960)
-The Final Face to Face in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966)
-The Final Twist in Seven (1995)
-The Revelation of Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
-Michael Corleone ready to shoot Solozo and the police officer in the restaurant in The Godfather (1972).
And many other Famous Moment of Suspense in Movies.
great choices
I'd add to this the mexican border scene in sicario
Great choices!
I LOVED THAT GODFATHER SCENE SO MUCH
Every scene is meticulously thought through , and planned before the execution to create suspense. The filmmakers would have run the scene in his mind ,may be 100 times before the execution, or is it just the work of a meticulous narrator of studiobinder to study the chemistry of the each scene, and see things through the eye of filmmakers. Thank you again !!!
Happy filming!
I cant get enough of Studio Binders lessons! It's gold!
As usual, another fine illuminating episode. Another great suspenseful film was 'Duel', based on a short story in Playboy, and directed by an unknown filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. My palms were sweating, watching it in my apartment on a Saturday afternoon.
haha that is a good one
Underrated movie. Absolute masterpiece.
For me the scene that has kept me on the edge of my existence-seat, was the scene from The Walking Dead in the episode "The Day will come when you won't" at the end when Negan forces Rick to do that thing with the axe (getting shivers from writing this) and the music keeps climbing and the framing pushes in and all the while Abraham grows more and more panicked to the point that he's practically screaming. That episode was traumatizing, but my word, the suspense was a work of art and is by the far the best I've seen!
When Michael doen't seem to find the gun in The Godfather. Two seconds, two thousand heartbeats
It was a great idea
Blood test aside, some of my favorite suspense scenes are Crop-duster/Matchbook scene (North by Northwest), Opening/Bar Scene (Inglourious Basterds), and the opening scene of Femme Fatale that's almost entirely without dialog and just music that builds and builds for a solid 10 minutes is one a lot of people don't talk about.
Those are great examples
One of my recent favorite suspenseful scenes was once upon a time in Hollywood, the scene when cliff booth goes into the Mason's house to see if his friend is okay
Great choice!
Great use of "Dream Of Arrakis" track at the beginning, I recognized it instantly
Person of culture ;)
Actually, in The Thing there is a clue to who is the man infected. If you look close you'll see that the guy that has been infected is the only one that doesn't have light reflected in his eyes "catchlight" in that entire scene. His eye sockets are the only ones covered in darkness with no catchlight in the eyes, which is clearly visible on the rest of the guys' eyes.
The zodiac scene analysis was incredible
Glad you liked it!
Studio Binder. Once again, another absolutely brilliant, insightful and hugely interesting piece of work. Thank you.
Hope it helps!
the voice of the narrator is just genius
We love him
9:09 Actually Carpenter did give a tiny clue as to who the Thing might be. Palmer (top right) is slightly in shadow while the others’ faces appear without any shadow.
👌
That scene in the Thing was my favorite part, even though sitting through the tests was so uncomfortable
Brilliant tension
I am gonna add this things to my short film definitely.
After completing my short film I am definitely gonna show you the film
Happy filming!
Now, you probably didn't ask for our favorite suspense scenes., but 2 scenes stand out in my mind: the drunken car business at the beginning of North by Northwest and the climax of Black Narcissus especially the ladder. Kathryn Byron's performance always knocks me back in the chair.
The scenes of suspense are absolutely my favorites. It's difficult to say which I prefer, but I can say that all the Hitchcock's movies are a masterpieces. All the masters of the thriiler/horror have taken from Hitchcock the rules of suspence. The best movies in this sense for me are "Deep Red" by Dario Argento, "Alien" by Ridley Scott, "The Thing" by John Carpenter (good choice speak of it in the video) and "Jaws" by Steven Spielberg (it is my favorite movie of all time). Thank you so much for the video Studiobinder, one of the best channel that teach cinema!
Hitchcock is the GOAT of suspense
Thanks Studiobinder!
Awesome Video as always. Keep up the quality.
I’m literally dropping everything when I get notified. 👍🏼
New one every Monday!
This was the most insightful video yet. I learned so much about how to create a cinematic experience
_"No Country For Old Men"_ 10/10 movie for me 👌 the entire time I'm watching this movie I was on edge ! and it's not even a horror movie WTF 😅
This Video is Awesome!
Creating Suspense is the Key Element in Cinema. 3 Scenes, 3 Filmmakers, 3 Methods and you understand the 3 Elements to create Suspense. Thousand Thanks StudioBinder.
Hope it helps!
@@StudioBinder Of course it helps. 👍
yeah and i like the fincher way the most...
One of my favorites thus far!
Fantastic!
This chanel is international treasure.
And yeah Zodiac basement scene creeped me out (when I watched movie)
play - pause -explanation. Brillant and illustrative! I learned a lot!
We hope so!
Open our minds and creativity!!
The conclusion of the testing scene in The Thing is both brilliant misdirection and brilliant rhythm. It cuts the scene short like a bar of 3/4 music surprising someone listening to a tune that is otherwise in 4/4.
Great practical video, thank you
Hope it helps!
I can't believe this amazing content is free
This is so good that it's impossible not to give a like!
Beautiful work as always
Thanks!
I can't believe I just realized what Zodiac is about. It works because it's not about finding out who's the Zodiac!
This is one of hell good videos out there.. Really love thia channel. A pure diamond mine.. ❤
Always love your vids. Learnt more from you than 3 years of film school :)
Tarantino is a master at this, if he ever decide to make a horror movie it would be amazing.
Taht would be so fun and fresh actually!
Amazing movies!
I got scared watching the breakdown!
Great work
haha happy to help!
Just discoverd ur videos, im lovin it, thx for the content
I love the zodiac basement scene when I watch it always gives me chills
Fantastic!!! Have seen all of them, expect for Drive. Like you said, the scene from The Thing is so suspenseful and have a great jump scare. The Zodiac is also good and really scary. Guys at Studiobinder, awesome video!!!
They're all worth watching!
A Fantastic view and explanation!
not entirely a “moment” but the episode “24/7” from the Sandman TV show is a masterclass in suspense. right from the beginning, when things are seemingly normal theres a sense that something’s… off… just enough for you to be uncomfortable the whole time you watch. even after horrific things start to happen theres never a sense of “oh thank god thats finally over” youre always just waiting for the next thing to happen while knowing its going to be worse than the last
I'm currently working on my short film and I've seen a shot to add to my shot list. Thanks for sharing!
OH MY GOD!!!! Poster behind McReady in the scene is about VD!!! A hidden danger within someone that you can't see. Amazing.
Thanks to this channel am getting ideas in writing my new crime fiction film thanks😊😊
Thanks! This will be very useful when I make my own horror film.
Excellent as always.
Glad you liked it!
Good teaching values
Always good stuff
I love your editing style
Appreciate it :)
Awesome break downs :) Very nice educational content :) Thanks :)
Thanks for watching!
Always amazing.
Happy filming!
Loved the video again
Love that
Great videos studio binder. I just lent a one or two today
Cheers!
The best channel on cinema.
:)
Bro are you into filmmaking??
@@shramantayade3136 Yes
Whenever I’m in a stressful situation…Everything turns into The Thing…When grace is nowhere to be found under pressure and lizard brain is calling the shots.🏴☠️
The Thing is the greatest horror movie ever made.
It's up there!
Wow great video!👍
Glad you liked it!
This was great, but wish you included characters and their personal / story goals. Therefore it'd go Stakes - Time - Uncertainty - More Stakes. That's more in line with a screenplay. We establish the stakes first, then we use time, uncertainty, and building more stakes.
Good one
Glad you liked it!
I love you Uncle StudioBinder
Cheers :)
your videos are amazing
Thanks!
I think in Spielberg`s Munich, there are many smaller aspects of suspense that are less visible but absolutely genius
Agreed!
The Dark Knight's two most breathtaking sequences:
1. The Joker's "boats experiment" and his battle with Batman and the police force.
2. Harvey Dent's last stand and his threat to kill Gordon's family.
I remember that while watching those scenes, I was so on the edge of my seat, and only after they were over I realized that I needed a few moments to breathe normally again🫡
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Your welcome
The Zodiac scene give me the creeps! I love this movie!!!
So good video suspense create
🙏🙏
Could y’all make a video about skateboarding and action sports in general I think it would be a great video
Sports videos aren't our thing, but we'll probably be breaking down action scenes in the future
One of the best suspense scene is in carlitos last chase and the other is the the train station scene in the intouchables
Your video is really a suspense
haha stay tuned
Cuando puedan, pónganle los subtítulos al video, por favor. Y gracias por el video, siempre son excelentes!!
Thanks for watching!
@@StudioBinder Un placer.
Very useful thank u.
Please add subtitles.
What language?
@@StudioBinder English MASTERS.
I was literally about to shitting myself when I saw that "fuckin goddamn" scene from Zodiac (2007). Probably the best suspense I've ever scene in murder mystery movie.
cool i like this video.
Great!
Please oldboy screenplay tips and analysis or "ANDHADHUN"
Thanks for the suggestion!
@@StudioBinder hey please do I have been asking this for 6 months
Thats osam
what's osam?
Zodiac is still my favorite David Fincher film by far.
More about suspense pl!!!
👌👌
these clips beat film school any day
🙌🙌
Zodiac and Drive had best Team❣
For sure 💯
please put the subtitles, I still don't understand you talking.
Ps: your content is the best!!
I'm from Brazil!!!
What language?
2:30 Is... is that the music they used in the Ryan Gosling's Acting Range skit from Funny or Die? LOL
I don't know if that was intentional or not, but if it was... well done. That's a fantastic reference.
Even though while watching Inglorious basterds for n th time, i still fear that Shosanna would get caught by Hans Landa at the restaurant scene. That's the height of suspenseful scene building by QT.
Many great moments like that in the film
My teacher has arrived time to learn😍🥰
Deserves Oscar for narration we take a bow🙏🙏
class in session!
What seems the heights of my curiosity, is 1 - what the Directors idea is with each shot.... if we are dialing in. Do they know exactly what they are capturing and do they need to be a part of the editing to facilitate their direction? Do they pre-anticipate each shot so it makes it easier for the film editor? I think a great topic would be the "Relationship between Director and Editor" and how that plays a key role in film production. Could you talk about this? Is that even a consideration from the Directors perspective....? I think we think less about the Editors role in consideration of the Director' perspective. I would think the Director has a very knitted relationship with the Editors that the Editors interpret the Directors vision down to the clip edits to the purpose of the film. I've used your videos sort of as a confirmation because of the frequency of your delivery which is amazing based on topic but also after I've created a video I still find new videos you put out that speaks to work I have done and drives confirmation..... I have found confirmation in my inexperience.... little tidbits that has helped me expand and let go at the same time if that makes sense......StudioBinder, you validate my inexperience with explanations of what I am actually doing and you provide the labels.... which have refined my perception down to the idea of focus!!!!!!! Which is AWESOME!!!! This is so impactful and confirmation - Every starting-out-filmmaker should know your channel!!!
I'm a bit late, baut '' the fall '' was the best suspense one in my opinion. Many of the classics fil of the 80s are high on my list too
A classic
I've never seen so many ads in a 16 min video
Quiet place movies need an honorable mention.
Can you Guys make 2 more Videos on Camara Movement and the reason behind such as building a emotional tension, realease tension and Dramatic tension. Also, Motivational and Unmotivated Camara Movement.
Thanks for the suggestion!