Introduction
Mystery movies and thrillers can capture the audience’s attention if they have suspense. However, the art of suspense may be challenging for creators as it is an elusive concept. One of the most recognized thriller filmmakers, Alfred Hitchcock, describes suspense as “[letting] the audience play God” (P1).
This metaphor is explained in his essay, “Let ‘Em Play God,” where he states that audience knowledge is necessary for their engagement. Hitchcock notes that watchers must know the facts to wonder about the outcome and have clear emotions about the characters. Hitchcock’s definition of suspense can be seen in his movies, which use audience knowledge to their advantage.
The Metaphor Analysis
Emotional Engagement
One of the arguments presented in the essay is that knowledge plays a vital role in people’s participation. Hitchcock argues that, without knowing anything about the plot or protagonists, viewers cannot connect to the movie emotionally. They do not know “whether to cheer or weep” if something happens to people on the screen, as these characters are not defined by their actions and words (P4). If the plot revolves around a mystery, suspense cannot be created if the audience does not know what to expect. In contrast, knowledge engages viewers and allows people to become attached to characters or repulsed by them.
Cognitive Involvement
Apart from engaging the viewers emotionally, letting them know everything also increases their attention to details and inspires them to think about the plot. Hitchcock provides an example of the movie Rope, where the main characters kill a person in the first scene. The audience sees and knows every detail of this crime, while only the two protagonists are aware of it in the film because they are the killers. As a result, the viewers watch to discover the characters’ future – “Will the murderers break and give themselves away?” (P11). Knowing what has happened becomes a foundation for speculation and invites the watchers to debate about the ending, which can be considered suspenseful. The viewers do not know what will happen but can make predictions and wait for the answer.
Judgement Encouragement
Finally, Hitchcock’s metaphor implies that the audience takes the role of an all-knowing figure, similar to God, which causes it to form opinions about each event and character. While viewers cannot change the outcome of a movie, they can think about the potential actions that characters can take. Here, suspense is created through the contrast between expectations and reality.
If a character engages with the mystery, whether successfully or not, the audience responds emotionally. In the movie Rope, the chest with the murder victim inside is at the center of a social event, and knowledge of this fact is what causes the watchers to “shout every time one of the players goes near that chest” (P11). Viewers want characters to find the truth, which keeps them enthralled until the final scenes.
Conclusion
Hitchcock’s explanation of how to create suspense is based on the notion that the audience should be a God who knows everything concealed from the characters. This practice produces an emotional connection between characters and viewers, keeping the latter invested. Moreover, watchers are inspired to think about the plot and wonder about the outcome.
Lastly, this knowledge creates suspense by making the viewer want the mystery resolved without knowing how or when it will happen. An informed viewer does not feel confused about characters and their actions. In contrast, a knowledgeable audience is engaged in a story due to the advantage of knowing the secret and waiting for others to learn about it.
Work Cited
Hitchcock, Alfred. “Let ‘Em Play God.” Hollywood Reporter. 1948. Web.
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