3 Ways Steven Spielberg Builds Nail-Biting Suspense

This video essay is an examination of three important scenes in Steven Spielberg’s canon of great films. Each scene is a prime example of his ability to build suspense: quietly and patiently.


Every example features a heroic character working delicately with their hands. The risks are different in each film: To catch a shark, to avoid the wrath of a spouse, and to perform an assassination.