094 - That Horror Movies Are Least Scary in Act 3
Today I learned that in horror movies, the least scary moments are usually in occur in Act 3, which is typically when the protagonist finally confronts the monster. I’m convinced it’s because unknown things (i.e., the monster before we truly see it and the protagonist finally engages it) are almost always more frightening than anything known.
The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is the power of the unknown in creating suspense and fear. In horror and other suspenseful, scary genres, keeping certain elements hidden and/or mysterious can heighten tension because it engages the audience's imagination. You can use “the unknown” to build suspense, making the eventual revelation or confrontation even more impactful. (But no, I don’t know how to make Act 3 more scary, maybe because Act 3 is usually supposed to be more action-packed and climactic than scary.)
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