Movie Club: What Makes a Good Plot Twist
Zack is our Student Ambassador in Myanmar, running the Movie Club.
One of the most powerful tools that a writer can use to leave viewer in shock, intrigued or even confused is a plot twist. If delivered properly, mediocre writing can transform into a bamboozling piece of art. But this tool can turn into a double-edged blade if not implemented well. It can turn a well-crafted story into a horrid piece of writing as viewers will be able to predict the twist. So, the question is, what makes a plot twist well delivered?
Here are the main points that makes a plot twist good:
1. A Surprise with Plausibly.
What this means is that instead of making the viewers think “what on earth this makes no sense”, a good twist should make the viewers think “Oh my days! This kind of make sense”. A plot twist that is delivered out of the blue without any prior hints or clues can break the flow state of the viewer. Thus, breaking the immersion of the viewers which lower ratings. Instead, a good plot twists should have foreshadowing and clues that the viewers wouldn’t realized until the time of the twist. A good plot twist will make the viewers feel as if all the clues, hints and foreshadowing hit suddenly all at once.
2. Character Consistency
A good twist should somewhat align with the true nature of the character, align with the motivations and the reasons of the characters and beliefs. A random sudden change in behavior will make viewers feel the intention and plot twist is forced instead of delivering it smoothly. Instead of that, when a character acts according to their characteristics and traits, even when the plot twist is extremely surprising, the action will feel natural and it would have a huge impact on the writing.
3. Impact
A plot twist is not just about how surprising or jaw dropping the twist is, it is also about how much the twist impact the story and how much it can shift the story. Especially when twists are implemented in the climax of the story or in areas that could create heated tensions. Plot twists that are off the story’s trajectory will make the viewer feel as if it is only for a side gimmick or a filler that doesn’t impact the main story. Furthermore, a good twist must also be memorable. How does one achieve this? A memorable plot twist must evoke some sort of emotion within the viewers. It can range from shock, joy, anger to dread and sadness. Writers can also achieve this by connecting the twist with the character’s goals and ambitions to furthermore make the twist more memorable. The emotional impact is what makes a plot twist, twist more inside a viewer’s mind.
4. Time and Pacing
Timing is one of the most important aspects of delivering a good plot twist within a story. If a twist is implemented too early, it could lead to the loss of potential heated tensions the characters would have had. Furthermore, if a twist is delivered too late, it could cause confusion. The best time to deliver the twist would be in moments of high tension or moments where the heated tensions are about to occur. This point of the story is where the viewers are most interested in and waiting for. Thus, maximizing the impact of the plot twist.
5. Subverting Expectations
A good twist can make viewers assume that the outcome will happen and even somewhat guides towards the outcome. Then all of a sudden, subverting it and thus creating a memorable and satisfying shock for the viewer.
In conclusion, plot twists combine a surprise with plausibly, character consistency, emotional impact, timing, and a good subversion. When done well, it deepens the story, makes the story better, and make the viewer
feel like they want to flip the page to find out what will happen.
This article was written with the assistance of GEN AI.