How is suspense created in..... MARATHON MAN?

SUSPENSE IN MARATHON MAN

To understand the concepts of using suspense in a thriller film, 'Marathon Man' is a good example of a thriller movie which portrayed suspense in numerous scenes throughout the film. To visualise this clearly to the audience, Mise-En-Scene, Camera, Sound and Editing gave a huge role in signifying the importance of suspense to make the plot seem edgy and exciting.

In the beginning of the film, we are exposed to two elderly men arguing verbally and later, physically against each other suggesting harsh competition between the two.We are placed in an urban city with shops and businesses with people surrounded in it. This allows the audience to be comfortable as they are familiar with the setting. Within their verbal abuse, they are seen to be racing each other where one man has a blue car whereas the other in yellow. The cars show that they are of the 'fashion' in that era and seen to be in good condition. The men are also dressed in loose clothing which could mean that the season may be of spring or summer. The two cars speeding down the street suggests a full outburst of anger which could later bring sadness in the result. A close-up of the fuel tank is displayed where a guy is leading the driver into reverse, the tension is built up here where there is diegetic sounds of people yelling. Once reached its destination with both cars at top speed, they explode in flames where a middle close-up is used to show one of the men dead against the wheel. Whereas, the other struggles to put the key into the ignition proven that the smoke is too much for him, he dies himself. This creates suspense as the struggle with the key, plunges the audience to hope for him but as the key drops from his hand, we are to be sympathised with them showing extremeness of stubbornness in the real world.

An example of suspense used in the film is where a close-up of a worn out doll looking solemn and peaceful in a pram. As placed near a rubbish pile, this toy is seen to be cast-away and left unwanted. However a non-diegetic sound of a clock ticking is heard in the background leading the audience into suspense where they already know what going to happen next. Sinisterly, the eyes of the doll slowly open sending a chilling thrill through most people as it conveys the idea that someone is controlling and watching through it. It also implies that time is ticking away and that there's not enough time left which is conceived to which a man going into the taxi through the remaining ticking sounds. Quickly, the bomb is set off and this is depicting of a man running without knowing it himself. This could relate to the title of the film. This is displayed in a long shot where a couple of people near the explosion collapse as well.

Suspense could also be used to purposefully pace the audience and feel in the character's moods as we become more interacted with them. In view of a long shot, a modern yet vintage house is revealed with scenery of grass and trees showing a rural atmosphere. The man looks scared and frightening as the beckoning sounds of silence allow anyone to kill him at any moment. This creates tension and suspense as the plot keeps the audience waiting and with the accompaniment of eerie, dramatic score non-diegetically, this forces the audience's imagination to play 'havoc' with them as they eagerly want to find what's there just as the character himself.