Well, we have looked at Action, then Emotion and swung wildly across the spectrum to Fun, and now we are completing that trifecta by looking at Tension. Tension is one of the most challenging facets of filmmaking because it requires the script, direction, acting, and editing to all work in tandem to evoke the perfect pace. If just one part of that group misses, then an essential part of the film falls apart.
In 2024, we continued to see some excellent use of tension to build mystery, to be the harbinger of the coming dread, or even to tick the clock of inevitability.
Our Highly Commended Films in 2024 are: Abigail, Force of Nature, Kill, The Moogai & Turtles All the Way Down
Our Highly Commended TV in 2024 are: Black Doves, The Diplomat, Dune Prophecy & The Lord of the Rings
So, without further ado, these moments of tension kept us on the edge of our seats in 2024. Be warned that there may be slight spoilers ahead.
And the Nominees are –
A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One’s decision to focus on those first few moments after the attack was the right choice, aided by excellent performances from Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Schnitzel & Nico
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus perfectly captured the vibe of those old films by understanding the terror that comes from not knowing what is hunting you and not knowing if you have been infected or not.
Blink Twice
Blink Twice is the only film this year that, when we walked out of the screening, everyone needed a moment to stop and debrief. Every moment was tense, every choice terrifying, and every action repugnant.
Carry-On
Carry-On is probably the biggest surprise on this list because all the promotions made it out to be a dull film, but the tension in every frame is palpable. Would you break every code you have to save your family?
Civil War
Civil War is a film that goes out of its way to prepare you for what you are about to watch, but it shows that this preparation was a ruse because nothing can truly prepare you for what is about to happen.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith wins the cake when it comes to the most places that could cause tension. Is your married partner about to kill you? Are your friends about to kill you? Is the company that you work for about to kill you? Or is it d) all of the above?
Shōgun
Shōgun fictionally depicts a real-time in Japanese history where power was in a state of flux. There are constant shifts in power; people rise and fall, and if you fall, the likelihood of you ending up with a sword in your body is high.
And the Winner is!!!!! – A Quiet Place: Day One
Directed by – Michael Sarnoski
Written by – Michael Sarnoski & John Krasinski
Based on – A Quiet Place by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck
A choice that helps shift the game in A Quiet Place: Day One is the change of the aliens from a looming presence to a menacing one. While only one or two of them may have landed in the small town in the first film, New York was inundated. This gives the aliens weight and presence in every frame of the film.
In addition, everything that happens in that film is rooted in human behaviour. The motivation of every character feels real, which makes those moments where everything goes wrong hit as hard as they do. For example, the Military knowing they need to get people to the docks quietly but forgetting how much ambient noise a large number of people make by just moving. Also, it does hurt the tension to add a cat into the mix. What are your favourite tense cinematic moments from 2024? Let us know in the comments below.
By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.
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Credits – All images used were created by the respective studios and artists of each film
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