How high-stakes games create tension in films

Establishing tension in films is often credited to the lighting, music and the skill of the actors. However, the setting and narrative are as important in indicating impending problems and creating the perfect pace as you approach a plot twist.

From the nature of their design to the way in which they’re played, discover how high-stakes games are used to create tension in some of your favourite films.

Poker – the psychological battleground

Bluffing is at the centre of any poker game. Players keep their cards concealed and use a ‘poker face’ to give nothing away to one another. Sometimes games are won by those with the worst cards simply because they are so daring in their challenge.

One of the most notable poker games in film is the main event of the James Bond film Casino Royale. Bond and the criminal mastermind Le Chiffre face off across the table during an hours-long session of Texas hold ‘em, with just one break – where Bond nearly dies.

The indulgent pace, during which the camera remains fixed on the players’ faces as they fold one by one, holds high tension between the action scenes.

Roulette – life in the hands of Fate

The power of Fate to dictate our lives has been a popular narrative in storytelling since the days of Ancient Greece. Modern-day directors and scriptwriters often employ the roulette wheel to represent that, as much as we might feel in control of our journey, some elements will always be left to chance.

In the iconic film Casablanca, a game of roulette is an ominous reflection of how WWII refugees risked it all to be smuggled to safe locations, knowing that they could just as easily be captured. The tension is doubled here by the casino owner rigging the roulette wheel to help them escape.

This theme of desperation in the face of the uncertainty of war is echoed in The Deer Hunter which features a highly nerve-wracking scene where an enforced game of Russian roulette dictates whether American soldiers will live or die in a Vietnamese Prisoner of War camp.

Bingo – tension through juxtaposition

Using the convivial setting of a bingo hall to create tension might seem an unusual choice, but it’s this juxtaposition that makes it such an effective tool in the film The Babadook.

Amelia, a grief-stricken mother facing suspected supernatural threats, goes to play a game of bingo. It is a key turning point in the film as her grip on reality starts to slip away.

Director Jennifer Kent also makes use of the format of the game in establishing the atmosphere. The fast-paced and repetitive nature of bingo where numbers are called and marked in quick succession is used to drive the tension to a head, demonstrating that Amelia’s mind is spinning out of control.