Bomb Theory and False Plateau

Bomb Theory
Bomb Theory is a phrase coined by Alfred Hitchcock to explain his method of creating suspenseful cinema.
Bomb Theory is the method of putting the audience into a state of suspense by making them aware of certain facts, of which the characters in the film are unaware of. One example of this was found in the film The Stepfather a thriller that we watched in class. The antagonist in the film is a serial killer, we are shown this at the very start of the film. He kills his victims by integrating himself in their family and then, after a period of time he murders them and takes on a new identity and a new family to murder. The family he joins is unaware of him being a serial killer, this keeps the audience in suspense as we know he is going to try and kill them. The only thing is we don't know how his actions will manifest; only that it is inevitable.

False Plateau
False Plateau is a technique used to draw the audience into a fake sense of calm before a surprise. This is accomplished by making it seem that the initial 'fake surprise' was in fact the resolution to the previous suspenseful imagining of the audience. However it is then that the real action occurs, just as the audience falls in to a state of calm. In the film The Stepfather, multiple false plateaus were used in order to surprise and shock the audience. One of which was when an old lady returned home, immediately the scene was given a sense that something is not right, the audience is also already expecting the lady to be murdered, as it was hinted at in previous scenes. As the old lady In-counted her basement door the audience was led to believe that the murderer was right behind her. However after a quick shock to the audience it was seen to be only a cat. This resolved the suspense and allowed the audience to fall into a false sense of calm. just as the real murderer attacked the old lady.

Thriller Inspiration: Final Destination 5

Whilst watching Final Destination 5, I noted down several things throughout the film that could be used within our opening.

I like the use of stylized graphics in the opening credits. I think it allows clues to be given without given too much away. It's also more interesting to watch.

I like the use of interesting point of view shots. They add to the visceral effect of the dramatic opening and carry their own sense of foreboding.

The use of diagetic clues was interesting to me as the song used in the film becomes associated with danger and death. I think we could use this in our opening.

Another shot that caught my eye was this close up of the water. I like that the camera isn't on the character but instead her reflection. 

The use of extreme close ups could be beneficial for our opening as they allow detail and exaggeration which could be useful as we have a short time to get our point across. 

False Plateau and Bomb Theory

False Plateau

A false plateau can be defined as a 'false start' to a film. Commonly used in openings, false plateaus trick the audience into expecting one thing, only to relax before the real action occurs. For example, in the opening of Jaws (1975), the audience is tricked into believing there is a shark in the ocean, whipping the entire beach into a frenzy. However, it is revealed that the shark is in fact just a hoax pulled by two young boys. This lulls the audience into a false sense of security as the action slows down, but only until the audience realises there is a real shark in the pond with the protagonists son. The visceral effects of a false plateau add to the viewers experience as the audience experiences several different emotional states within the first few minutes of the film. False plateaus are just one way of creating a successful thriller opening.


Bomb Theory
Alfred Hitchcock's bomb theory is another device used in films to increase the
viewing experience and to heighten tension felt by the audience. The term 'bomb theory' is used to describe a scenario in which the audience knows more than the characters involved; two characters having a conversation at the kitchen table, oblivious to the bomb underneath it, for example. In the film The Stepfather (2009), the audience is aware from the very beginning that the main character has killed his family. However, when he works his way into a new family, the characters in the film remain unaware that he is planning to murder them. This allows the audience to really feel the suspense when the Stepfather -"the bomb"- shows signs he is going to explode. It also helps them to connect to the other characters as they seem to will them to get out alive. The bomb theory is another successful way to increase suspense and tension in a thriller film.

Shot by shot remake: comparison to original

Shot One: Wide shot of restaurant
Pros: Good shot set up
Cons: Forgot to track the camera

Shot Two: Over the shoulder
Pros: Correct angle used
Cons: Camera a little close

Shot Three: Over the shoulder
Pros: Rule of three used successfully
Cons: Too zoomed in

Shot Four: Wide shot
Pros: Good character positioning
Cons: Slightly wrong angle/distance

Shot Five: Close up over the shoulder
Pros: Correct angle achieved
Cons: Rule of three could be tighter

Shot Six: Wide shot
Pros: Correct positioning
Cons: Location affects accuracy

Shot Seven: Close up over the shoulder
Pros: Good angle
Cons: Could be tighter shot

Shot Eight: Mid shot
Pros: Correct angle
Cons: Mid shot not achieved due to location

Shot Nine: Close up
Pros: Angle of prop almost correct
Cons: Too close

Shot Ten: Close up over the shoulder
Pros: Good positioning of characters
Cons: Not tight enough

Shot Eleven: Close up over the shoulder
Pros: successful over the shoulder shot
Cons: Not close enough/ wrong hand used

Shot Twelve: Over the shoulder
Pros: Correct angle/height
Cons: A little close

Shot Thirteen: Over the shoulder
Pros: Actions matched well
Cons: Wrong height/forgot to pan/character positioning wrong

Shot Fourteen: Close up
Pros: Hand can be seen
Cons: Wrong angle/lack of feet

Shot Fifteen: Close up from the side
Pros: Both characters in shot/succesful panning
Cons: Wrong angle/height/out of focus not achieved

Shot Sixteen: Close up from the side (Change in focus)
Pros: Both characters in shot
Cons: Focus change not achieved

Shot Seventeen: Close up
Pros: Closer than last two shots
Cons: Angle too low/focus change not achieved

Shot Eighteen: Close up
Pros: Good angle
Cons: Not tight enough

Shot Nineteen: Close up
Pros: Expression matches
Cons: Angle too low