Filmmaking / Directing : 5 Techniques to Build Tension in Your Film by Vincent Weberink

Dramatic irony (the audience knows something the character(s) doesn't know) can build tension, Vincent Weberink.

Great list, Vincent Weberink! These are all fantastic ways to build tension and keep audiences engaged. I’d add:

6. Pacing & Silence: Sometimes, slowing down a moment or using extended silence can create just as much (if not more) tension as fast action or loud music. That lingering pause before something happens keeps the audience on edge.

7. Limited Information & Perspective: Keeping the audience in the dark or restricting what they see/hear to a character’s perspective can heighten suspense. Think Jaws- we don’t see the shark for a long time, which makes it even more terrifying.

8. Misdirection: Setting up expectations and then subverting them at the right moment can be incredibly effective. Whether it’s a false jump scare or a character doing something completely unexpected, this technique keeps the audience guessing.

Tension is such a powerful storytelling tool. I love this discussion! Which of these techniques do you find most effective in your own work?

Thanks for the ideas!

Thank you Vincent Weberink for bringing this subject! I want to write a thriller feature and this comes in handy:)) Ashley Renee Smith I love Pacing & Silence, it’s a smart key note for building tension! Thank you all!

This is great, Vincent Weberink ! For me, I'd add editing for suspense -- let the audience know information that the characters don't. For example, Hitchcock's mentioning the "bomb under the table" in a restaurant scene.

Thanks, everyone, for your fantastic insights.

Maurice Vaughan – Dramatic irony is such a powerful tool. That moment when the audience knows something the characters don’t... it’s like tightening a spring that’s bound to snap. Love it.

Ashley Renee Smith – Absolutely agree. Silence and pacing can be just as effective as action, if not more. And misdirection—such a great way to keep audiences guessing. That false sense of security before the big reveal? Perfect.

William Joseph Hill – Yes, editing is often an unsung hero in building tension. The way a scene is cut can completely change the level of suspense. Hitchcock’s "bomb under the table" example is legendary for a reason.

Sandra Isabel Correia – A thriller feature? That sounds exciting. Hope these techniques help shape your story into something gripping.

Hannah Woolmer – Glad you found the ideas useful.

Curious to hear—what’s a film that absolutely nailed tension for you? Let’s keep the conversation going.

Nice tips! Thanks for sharing

This is an awesome post and thread. Love Hitchcock's "bomb under the table" example. I would always add ticking clocks. Like in the film DOA, a character getting poisoned who has 24 hours to find and take the antidote - every passing moment becomes more tense. How many times has James Bond saved the world as the timer on a bomb clicks down. It's a great source of tension.

GET OUT absolutely nailed tension for me, Vincent Weberink.

Mariia Kukkakorpi – Thanks, Mariia! Glad you found them useful. Do you have a favorite film that really nailed tension?

Sam Sokolow – Ticking clocks. That’s a fantastic addition, Sam. That race against time makes every second count. DOA and Bond are great examples—high stakes, constant pressure. Any personal favorite ticking clock moment in a film?

Maurice Vaughan – I’ve heard GET OUT is a masterclass in tension, I just watched the trailier. What specific moment stood out to you the most? I definitely need to watch it—sounds like a film I shouldn’t miss.

There's a lot of moments that stood out to me the most, Vincent Weberink, but I don't want to spoil them. And there's a lot of symbolism in GET OUT, US, and NOPE.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning train sequence was amazing!

Maurice Vaughan You’ve got me intrigued. I’m definitely going to watch GET OUT soon :)

Sam Kesler The Dead Reckoning train sequence was intense. They did an incredible job of keeping the audience on edge with high stakes and non-stop movement :). Another film that absolutely nailed tension for me is No Country for Old Men. The gas station coin toss scene alone is a perfect example of slow-building suspense—minimal music, just pure, unnerving dialogue. Have you seen it?