The role of temporal expectancies in the production of film suspense

Abstract

The present paper explores the role of temporal expectancies in the production of suspense in film. It is proposed that both temporal predictability (giving rise to temporal expectancies) and temporal contrast (involving a temporal disparity between an event's actual and expected ending) may add to suspense. It is suggested that temporal expectancies in suspense discourse structures depend, in part, on (1) the temporal relationships as described in the plan schemas involved, and (2) the temporal succession of breakpoints (i.e., the beginnings or endings of the separate events). It is illustrated how the manipulation of the screen duration could be used to manipulate the temporal succession of breakpoints, and therefore also, temporal expectancies. It is hypothesized that higher suspense levels might be reached when the outcome event is presented a little later than expected. An imaginary experiment is presented in which this hypothesis could be put to test.