One of the most powerful weapons in the horror director’s arsenal is the hidden terror that’s not explicitly stated or shown. When the threat is lurking in the shadows and the viewer isn’t certain what it is, it can be hugely effective.
Building anticipation towards an eventual climax can keep viewers engaged and involved in the story, and a good reveal at the end can make a film more memorable.
Audiences Love the Power of the Reveal
The power of the reveal is a technique that’s prevalent across the whole entertainment industry, from iGaming to television series. One of the best examples of this method of audience engagement is in scratch off cards, which can now be found at online casinos. These come in different themes, such as Yahtzee and Cash Pong, and have a virtual scratchable surface that reveals symbols underneath. Players enjoy the anticipation that comes with scratching, and the reveal when they eventually see the results.
This concept of revealing hidden information is even more powerful in storytelling, and it’s something that’s often used in long-running television series. Writers know the direction that the story is going to take, but viewers are constantly kept guessing. There are loads of amazing instances of cliffhangers at the end of television seasons, with Deb finding out about Dexter’s murderous nature at the end of Season 6 of Dexter up there with the best of them.
The Best Iconic Horror Reveals
The horror genre is one of the best places to see reveals used to full effect, as they can occur in different ways throughout a picture. There can be small aspects concealed from audiences, such as ghosts or monsters lurking in the shadows. There can also be large reveals, such as a final plot twist at the end of the movie.
One of the greatest twists of all time was in The Sixth Sense, where it was eventually revealed that Bruce Willis’s character was a ghost. M. Night Shyamalan is famous for endings like this, with viewers now expecting something similar in all his movies. That’s a powerful tool, as whenever someone watches one of his offerings, they are always trying to second guess the plot.
Shyamalan may be known for his twists, but he’s not the only pioneer of this technique in the horror genre. Indeed, there were numerous iconic reveals long before the 54-year-old got into the industry. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho had a few incredible moments that came completely unexpected, such as the infamous shower scene. The final reveal was the most impressive, though, as it came to light that Norman Bates had been impersonating his mother all along.
There’s no doubt that the best horrors in the business build suspense over time, rather than show their cards all at once. Directors know the power of generating anticipation and revealing things later. This keeps viewers on their toes, and engages them in the storyline because they are trying to figure out what’s going on.
