Thoughts On Tone

I fully intend to work on my latest script today. However, I'm faced with a question worthy of a blog post, and that question is:

"Why don't audiences like drastic shifts in tone during movies?"

The question came to me as I was reading critic reviews for Kevin Smith's latest film, Tusk. The general consensus was that the film changes tone from absurd comedy to disgusting horror film, and as a result the movie fails to be good at either. Now I haven't seen Tusk yet, but when I do, I'm sure I'll love it for the same reason some critics dislike it.

Because personally, I'm amazed when movies unexpectedly alter their tones without warning. It shows that a story isn't going to be another cookie cutter genre piece, but rather a whole new experience, and one hopefully, you won't soon forget. It's a device I love so much that I use it in my own work regularly. It's adventurous to me, and it's the gateway to true originality and freshness. It beats being confined to basic genre and storytelling tropes where a writer runs the risk of telling a story that's been told a million times before.

And I do understand that tonal shifts can disorientate the average viewer for reasons they can't describe. And it IS a risky maneuver for any writer that attempts it. So what is the key to doing tonal shifts right?

I believe the best way is subtle, almost subliminal clues to that shift throughout the moments leading up to it. A couple seemingly throwaway lines, introduce a prop to be utilized during the shift. Basically toss a shitload of Checkov's Guns in there to justify the existence of the story's shift. That way if a viewer gives the movie a second chance, they'll discover some of these clues which will make the second watch better than the first in their eyes.

Anyway, just a thought. I wanted to address it because I'm sick of movies being criticized for "inconsistent" tones, when what they really have is a unique flavor that sets them apart from most movies out there. Different is not synonymous with bad. If I'm watching what seems to be a romantic comedy turn into violent suspense thriller, that's a movie I'm going to remember, and celebrate for having the balls to defy convention.