Linda Aronson
Connect With Linda
  • Home
  • Linda's Work
    • More endorsements
    • Author >
      • 21st Century Screenplay
      • Screenwriting Updated
      • Television Writing
      • Writing With Imagination
      • Script Mechanics
    • Screenwriter
    • Plays >
      • Dinkum Assorted
      • Reginka's Lesson
      • A Night with Robinson Crusoe
      • Miss Bilbey
    • Novels
  • COURSES
  • Practical Writing Advice
    • Which Type of Parallel Narrative Suits My Story
    • Parallel Narrative
    • Six Types of Parallel Narrative
    • Should I use conventional three act structure?
    • Characters in Search of a Plot
    • Double Narrative Flashback
    • Reminders about Parallel Narrative
  • Consultant, Teacher
    • Consultancy
    • Teacher & Mentor >
      • Mentorships >
        • Mentorship FAQ
      • Teaching
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Linda's Work

The Sixth Sense and how the term "Cheap Suspense" is illogical

3/13/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve just come across someone referring to ‘cheap suspense’ in films,  ‘cheap suspense’ defined as when a crucial fact in the story is withheld so as get impact. You and I would probably call it ‘a twist’.  Fascinatingly, the example given of a film thus ‘cheap’ was The Sixth Sense, and it was argued that a final twist like this was often the sign of a writer who didn’t know how to end the film. 

1) The Sixth Sense was an enormously popular film, so clearly ‘cheap suspense’  (the final twist)  is attractive to a lot ofaudiences.  We already know this from Agatha Christie novels, which also speciliase in the crucial last minute reveal.   No professional writer ignores massive audience approval.  

2)  The final twist is, I would suggest, usually well-planned. It is certainly not easy, as the term ‘cheap’ suggests.  To mislead the audience so that the majority never pick the final twist is very clever indeed.  

What fascinates me  that a value judgement  on a narrative structure is being passed off as valid criticism.  Suspense cannot be ‘cheap’.  Suspense is suspense until it’s proven to have been unmerited.  You can criticise a film that sets up great suspense then doesn’t pay it off. Fine.  But moral judgements?  I don’t think so.

2 Comments

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Author

    Linda is a screenwriter, novelist and playwright. As well as teaching and mentoring writers around the world, she regularly consults on screenplays at the highest level in the US, UK and Australia.

    Picture

    Subscribe to Linda Aronson's Craft Skills Newsletter

    Archives

    June 2017
    May 2017
    September 2015
    June 2015
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    Advice For Actors
    Advice For New Writers
    Advice For New Writers
    Advice For Writers
    Advice For Writers
    Agent
    Brainstorm
    Brainstorming
    Cell Phone Movie
    Characters
    Christopher Vogler
    Cliche
    Creating A Storyline
    Creating A Storyline
    Difference Between Film And Fiction Writing
    Dinkum Assorted
    Double Journey
    Double Journey
    Double Narrative Flashback
    Double Narrative Flashback
    First Act Turning Point
    Flashback
    Flashback As Detective Story
    Games Writing
    Getting Ideas
    Getting Into Film And Tv
    Ghost
    Hero's Journey
    Lateral Imagination
    Linda Aronson
    Linear
    Magnificent Seven
    Motivation
    Multiple Protagonist
    Multiple Protagonist Films
    Multi Protagonist
    Multi Protagonist
    Multi Protagonist
    Multi-protagonist
    Mystery
    New Writer
    Nonlinear
    Non Linear
    Non Linear
    Parallel Narrative General
    Pay It Forward
    Pitching
    Radio Writing
    Scriptwriting Software
    Shakespeare
    Short Film
    Sitcom
    Slumdog Millionaire
    Tandem Narrative
    The Great Gatsby
    The Hangover
    Three Act Structure
    Three Act Structure
    Thriller
    Tootsie
    Tv Series And Mini Serials
    Tv Writing
    Vertical Imagination
    Women Characters
    Writing Dialogue
    Writing Fiction

    Note: Hi everyone. For RSS feed from this blog, you'll need feedly.com or theoldreader.com. Thanks, Linda

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.