Twists, reversals, turning points...

This is a superb example of a reversal from one of my favourite movies, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

Spielberg and the writers manage to subvert expectation, pulling the rug from underneath the audience, creating one of the best one-shot twists in film.

Just when you think Indy has escaped the villain's clutches, they reveal in a succinctly visual way that Indy has fallen into yet another trap. The hero moves from a position of power to a position of weakness. The scene goes from a positive to a negative in one single shot. Superb writing, superb filmmaking. 

When writing your story, you should always look to subvert expectation as it helps ensure your tale stays unpredictable, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Twists, reversals, turning points, cliffhangers - call them what you will - are essential devices when creating an entertaining story. 

Has your story got enough of these? Are they appropriate, reasoned and not arbitrary?

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