Thriller Techniques - False Plateau, Bomb Theory and Alfred Hitchcock

False Plateau 

When the audience is lulled into a false sense of security.

suspense builds up so the audience begins to think something shocking or big is going to happen, however nothing happens and is only a false alarm, as a result the audience is relieved and calm. Then the unexpected will come and shock the audience.

Here is an example from the film; The Stepfather (2009)

When this scene started, already we know something was going to happen as she told Susan that David looks like a wanted serial killer. 

Some parts of this scene seemed as if it was films as a pov shot as in the middle image, it looks like someone is watching her from behind, this gives off an eery effect.

By now we already know something bad is going to happen, we just don't know when its going to happen. When the woman goes back into the house and closes her door, just as she turns around, her cat jumps out screaming. Not only scaring the woman but it also made me jump. This was the false alarm. 

When the woman goes to look for the cat, she cat behaved really strangely, probably because it knew that David was in the house. Just as she gets up and closes the cupboard.. BAM! David appears.

He then grabs hold of her and drags her to the basement door and throws her down the stairs.

Starts around 03:15 - 04:50

Bomb Theory

This is when the audience knows more than the actual characters in the film and are made to be more engaged because of this.

For example in the film The Stepfather we were introduced the main character at the beginning and already knew a little of his character. However the mum is not aware of who he really is and what his intentions are whereas the audience does.

Alfred Hitchcock

(coming soon)