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.