Concepts
Expectation, suspense and intrigue
Expectation is the urge to know what will happen: suspense anticipates a danger, mystery hides what occurred, and surprise delivers an unexpected twist.
These three mechanisms manage the information the viewer holds. In suspense we know something bad is coming and endure the wait; in mystery we lack information and want to uncover it; in surprise the film hides something and reveals it all at once.
Knowing which one dominates a scene explains how the film hooks us and manages tension across the story.
Example
Jaws: watching the fin approach while people keep swimming calmly = pure suspense.
How to spot it
Ask yourself: “does the film make me think ‘and now what will happen’?”
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between suspense and surprise?
In suspense the viewer knows something the characters don’t and waits; in surprise the information is hidden and revealed all at once.
What is intrigue in film?
It is the sustained interest in discovering what happened or what will happen, managed through suspense, mystery or surprise.