The Flow of Story Information
While the terms narrative pace and pacing are often used interchangeably in film analysis, ‘narrative pace’ places a subtle emphasis on the storytelling aspect—specifically, the speed and sequence in which the audience receives crucial information about the plot and characters. It’s less about the technical speed of the editing and more about the deliberate control of the story’s unfolding. How quickly do we learn the hero’s backstory? How long is a mystery held before a clue is revealed? This deliberate doling out of information is what guides the audience’s journey of discovery.
The narrative pace is a primary tool for creating suspense, surprise, and emotional investment. By slowing down the pace and withholding information, a storyteller can build immense curiosity and tension. By speeding up the pace and overwhelming the audience with new developments, they can create a sense of chaos and excitement. The narrative pace is the storyteller’s control over the audience’s perspective.
Manipulating the Narrative Pace
A skilled writer structures their screenplay with a clear sense of narrative pace, ensuring that key revelations land with maximum impact.
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Slow Burn: A narrative that unfolds at a deliberately slow pace is often called a ‘slow burn’. These stories take their time to establish the world and characters, gradually introducing the central conflict and building a sense of unease or mystery. The payoff for the audience’s patience is often a shocking or powerful climax that feels fully earned. Many classic suspense thrillers, like Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), use a slow narrative pace to meticulously build psychological tension.
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Relentless Pace: Conversely, some narratives are structured to be relentless, with a narrative pace that barely gives the audience a moment to catch up. These stories often begin in medias res (in the middle of the action) and maintain a high level of urgency throughout. The John Wick films are defined by their relentless narrative pace, where each resolved conflict immediately sets up the next, more dangerous one.