How can you create more suspense and tension in your story? Predator

John McTiernan directed three of the best action-suspense thrillers of the last 40 years: Hunt for Red October, Die Hard, and Predator.

Predator (1987) stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, and Carl Weathers, was written by John and Jim Thomas, and was produced by Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver, and John Davis.

There are many reasons to watch and respect this actioner -- such as its directing, casting, acting, cinematography, special effects, and of course its script, including its characters, dialog, setting, and plot -- but for this article I want to focus (briefly) on its suspense and tension.

The premise of the film is simple, but for its time it was new:

A super-powerful alien hunter preys on a team of elite American special forces soldiers on a secret mission in a Central American jungle.

That’s an exciting twist on the old idea of a hunter and it is so well done in Predator that the conflict and tension never leave the screen, or the viewers’ sweaty seats.

Watch Predator and see how every scene is filled with some form of tension. The main form is suspense, especially from the threat of great physical danger to the American soldiers. Notice how we are made to care about this team of combat soldiers and to fear for their lives in these truly terrible circumstances. How can they survive against such a hi-tech, invisible, and cruel opponent? And see how the tension is heightened by the writers/director using dramatic irony, where the terrified audience often see the danger coming or lurking before the soldiers do. Our screams to the soldiers won’t save them.

The Writing Takeaway

If you write actioners and thrillers, Predator is a film that you must study (as well as McTiernan’s other two classics.) There’s perhaps no better way to learn film writing basics than watching and understanding classic movies. Experience Predator and feel the tension. But also think about what’s causing that tension!

See how the story’s concept is new and that its plot situation is intensely dangerous, almost impossible to solve. Also, see how its set up is riveting and tight, while we are made to like and care for these soldiers. Empathy! See how the plot is fairly simple but terrifying as the danger and stakes escalate, while the choices worsen, as the solutions become more creative but riskier. Notice how dramatic irony/superior position is used to worsen the fear and tension. Witness how tension is added to every scene by the cinematography, sound, special effects, and editing to create the anxious and fearful mood.

Predator is an action classic. Learn the writing and filmmaking reasons for this so you can apply them to your own storytelling. You can also work with a story developer or coach to help you make your narrative more tense and suspenseful.

Here is the trailer for the riveting and extremely well-made Predator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1wDBNHYDv8

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