Hey guys, I’m dabbling in a new genre of screenwriting for me, the mystery thriller. I’ve got to say it’s been quite a struggle, I’ve found you have to almost outline these types of scripts backwards and then try to hide elements to make each twist and turn a surprise for the reader without being completely random and uncalled for. This is my first attempt using multiple twists and I’ve got to say, I’m having a hard time. I’m curious to know if anyone else has taken on a twist plagued script and what your strategy was. It’s definitely a hard thing to do when you have no idea how a reader will react, what they will predict and how much to give away before the final reveal. If anyone has any scripts to suggest that tackle this well, let me know. Thanks!

Try these:

http://www.imsdb.com/Movie%20Scripts/Girl%20with%20the%20Dragon%20Tattoo,%20The%20Script.html

http://www.imsdb.com/Movie%20Scripts/Sherlock%20Holmes%20Script.html

^ I would deffo suggest The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo script.  Give it a read :)

-- Curt

I've done the multiple twist thing with a couple of my shorts and the trick is to focus the reader's attention on the character you want to implicate.   You have a degree of control over the reader so exercise it.  Remember that you are taking the reader where you want them to go - not the other way around.

The likelihood is that a few readers will say they expected the outcome.  You aren't going to fool 100% of the people all of the time, so you just give it your best shot then tweak if the number you haven't fooled is too high for your tastes.    

As far as outlines go, you have to remember that a twist is a plot component.  Plot and structure are two different components.  Think of structure like a "gate" that the plot (along with your various twists) must pass through in order to be effective when it is revealed to the audience. It's up to you to dictate at what points it seeds itself into the structure.

A great twist isn't always unexpected, you must reward the audience as well.  If you can tune the twist with what the audience has invested in, but delivered in a way that is unexpected, it will resonate more than something coming out of left field.

Johnny

I just finished a script right along the same lines as what you're attempting.

My advice is…

Take your time with it.

First write it the way you see it in your head. Write it out “raw”

Then go back and ask yourself…

What if he/she did this instead of that?

Then send it to your closest friends…

Let me rephrase that!

Send it to some friends who know screen writing and are not afraid to tell you what’s wrong with the story.

And you better listen to them.

Re-write it with your new information…

And again…take your time.

Twist and turns are either…

In your face easy to see

Or out of left field.

Guess which is better?

Be prepared for it to be one of the most challenging scripts you’ll ever write

But it’s also one that you’ll learn a ton from.

Shawn…..><

Thanks a lot guys, that helped. I should have thought to check out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, great suggestion, I'll give it a read.