Suspense is a powerful tool to keep your audience engaged and curious about what will happen next in your film. It can also create tension, emotion, and anticipation that enhance the impact of your story. But how do you create suspense with visual and audio cues? Here are some tips to help you master this skill.
One way to create suspense is to use camera angles and movements that suggest something is hidden, threatening, or mysterious. For example, you can use low angles to make a character or object look more dominant or menacing, or high angles to make them look more vulnerable or isolated. You can also use zooms, pans, tilts, or tracking shots to reveal or conceal information, create a sense of movement or direction, or follow a character's gaze or action.
You got to have final film on your head before you even shoot. After that it’s just assembling the pieces. Strong story is the key.
To create suspense especially with the horror genre use long takes... The longer the take the more you can up the suspense factor until the reveal or the jump-scare...
Another way to create suspense is to use lighting and colors that create contrast, mood, or symbolism. For example, you can use dark or low-key lighting to create a sense of danger, mystery, or fear, or bright or high-key lighting to create a sense of safety, clarity, or irony. You can also use colors to convey emotions, themes, or clues. For example, you can use red to signify blood, violence, or danger, or blue to signify cold, calm, or sadness.
That’s a very straight forward one. Light and color create atmosphere. Also don’t forget about wardrobe and set design. It’s all goes hand to hand.
A third way to create suspense is to use sound effects and music that create atmosphere, emotion, or tension. For example, you can use sound effects to suggest the presence of something unseen, unexpected, or alarming, such as footsteps, whispers, or screams. You can also use music to create a sense of rhythm, pace, or tone, such as fast, slow, loud, or quiet. You can also use silence to create a sense of anticipation, surprise, or shock.
A fourth way to create suspense is to use editing and transitions that create continuity, contrast, or surprise. For example, you can use editing to control the duration, order, and frequency of your shots, such as long, short, or rapid shots. You can also use transitions to connect or disconnect your scenes, such as cuts, fades, or dissolves. You can also use techniques such as cross-cutting, parallel editing, or flashbacks to create a sense of relation, comparison, or memory.
Don’t use any cheesy cross cuttings and other nonsense. Crossfades look cheap in most cases. Straight cuts. Period. Don’t be like a cheap youtuber
A fifth way to create suspense is to use dialogue and narration that create curiosity, conflict, or revelation. For example, you can use dialogue to reveal or conceal information, create a sense of mystery, or build tension between characters. You can also use narration to provide context, perspective, or commentary, such as voice-over, text, or subtitles. You can also use techniques such as questions, hints, or twists to create a sense of intrigue, suspense, or surprise.
A sixth way to create suspense is to use genre and style that create expectations, conventions, or subversions. For example, you can use genre to establish the rules, tropes, and themes of your film, such as horror, thriller, or mystery. You can also use style to create a distinctive aesthetic, tone, or mood, such as realistic, surreal, or comic. You can also use techniques such as parody, homage, or metafiction to create a sense of humor, irony, or criticism.