Monday, May 22, 2017

Nervous Laughter and Alfred Hitchcock



The other day I watched a rerun of an old Dick Cavett Show. His guest was Alfred Hitchcock, and it was a wonderful interview.

I’m probably one of only a few who’d never heard Mr. Hitchcock interviewed. He had an understated and droll wit, and I found myself laughing at his comments. I love a dry humor.

What amazed me is the insight he had into people and what makes them tick. For instance, he talked about fear and that people love to be frightened. He was right. He used a roller coaster ride as an example. People ride up and down at extreme angles and scream throughout the entire ride. When they get off? They’re laughing and giggling. 

Yes, people love to be frightened. Why else would they enjoy reading about haunted houses, ghosts and monsters, and secret rooms? Why else would they watch a horror movie and find themselves talking to the television, saying, “Don’t open that door!” “Don’t go outside alone!”

One time my mother was home alone and there was a scary movie on TV that she wanted to watch. So she called me on the phone and had me turn it on, and then she wouldn’t hang up until the movie was over. I had to laugh at that one, and so did she.

We write mysteries. We’re not directors or actors. However, we can write scenes that will keep the reading audience on the edge of their seats. Interestingly, we can write suspenseful and frightening scenes that will make the reader laugh, regardless of whether it’s nervous laughter or humorous giggling. Our characters can feel the fear that makes them giggle, just like real honest-to-goodness people, and we can include this trait in their reactions.

Like many people, I have a fear of spiders. I once lived in a very old house with a black widow issue. I was cleaning the entryway floor and wearing slippers, and all of a sudden a black widow dropped from the ceiling onto the toe of my slipper. I kicked, trying to throw it off, but as I backed up it followed me. I was being stalked by a black widow! And I started to laugh. I laughed so hard that I cried. Maybe it was really hysteria. Anyway, I finally realized that the spider had attached itself to my slipper with a web, and when I moved, it moved with me. That poor ol’ spider ended up as nothing but a grease spot on the floor. After all, I had two slippers. Maybe it’s not a good idea to mess with someone who’s scared.

Mr. Hitchcock also explained how certain scenes were filmed in his movies. I guess you’d have to call the procedure early special effects. We can include special effects in our books, too, through descriptions.

Remember the shower scene in Psycho? I know a couple of women who, to this day, won’t take a shower. Hitchcock knew how to terrify viewers.

Years ago I read a book written by an author who happened to use the area where I lived as her location. Because I recognized the places and streets she described in her book, it frightened me. It was familiar and scary, and it was about a serial killer who was stalking the small town where I lived. Maybe that’s one of the keys – using a location people can relate to.

Scenes that are too graphic generally don’t make me laugh. It’s the anticipation leading up to a frightening event that can make me chuckle nervously. I have to admit that I’ve read stories in the newspaper that were so bizarre and terrifying that they made me laugh.

How about you? Does fear make you laugh? Did Alfred Hitchcock know how to push your buttons?

Until next time, I hope you have a carefree week with no black widows or monsters to worry about.

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15 comments:

  1. Nice post, Marja!
    I especially enjoyed the paragraph about using a location people can relate to - to create suspense. I used the neighborhood where I lived as the setting for my first three Malone mysteries and I found that people who lived in the area and read the books were the most frightened. Next to me, that is. Because I gave myself "the chills." LOL

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    1. When you can give yourself the chills, Pat, you've got a winner. Love the suspense! Thank you for commenting!

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    2. I don't know about location, because reading Marnie Malone really scared me and I don't even live near her.

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  2. The point about the roller coasters is well-taken. It's true that we love to be scared! My kids hate watching horror movies with me because I get so scared too easily and they find it annoying, to say the least. Glad you're back!

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    1. Thank you, Amy. Honestly? I've never had the nerve to ride on a roller coaster. I do watch scary movies, though. Hitchcock's movies were frightening without being overly graphic. I enjoyed that. Thank you for stopping in!

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  3. I'm probably among the minority in that I don't like roller coasters or the horror genre -- will not read them or watch them, though I do like mysteries and the occasional thriller.

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    1. Like you, Heather, I don't like rides like the roller coaster. I prefer thriller to horror, and I love good suspense. The Hitchcock movies always held my attention. I wish someone would come out with a good old-fashioned mystery at the movies. Thank you for stopping in!

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  4. A good old-fashioned mystery movie... Wouldn't that be nice? Speaking of, did you see another remake of Murder on the Orient Express is coming later this year?

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    1. I heard about the new movie, but I'm not sure if I want to see it. So often the remakes just can't live up to the original movies.

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  5. Alfred Hitchcock was a master of building suspense. Writers can learn much by watching his films. Roller coasters and spiders are both on the list of things that scare me.

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    1. Master is a good description of him, J.R. He brought viewers right to the edge of their seats. Glad to know I'm not the only one with dislikes and fears. Thank you for stopping in!

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  6. I did take showers after watching Psycho, but I NEVER stayed at another of those cheaper - off the road types of Bates Motel every again after watching it. His movie, The Birds - stayed with me too. Bet that was scary to read a fiction story of a serial killer in what you recognize as your neighborhood. Really enjoyed this. Thanks.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. You wouldn't catch me staying in one of those motels, either. Yes, that story really gave me chills. I could even pinpoint a tree she included. Thank you so much for commenting!

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  7. I loved the trickiness in Alfred Hitchcock's stories, and the suspense. But for me there's a difference between suspense, and fear. Liked roller coaster's as a kid, never go near them now. Something changes--maybe my loss... Great post as always, Marja! (small aside, fond of spiders, always rescue and take outside. They like the corners of our old rickety windows. What a pain.)

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    1. I liked the trickiness, too, Madeline. Hitchcock always gave us a surprise. There are certain bugs I'll catch and take outside,but spiders aren't among their numbers. :) Thank you so much for stopping in!

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