Exploring the cinematic allure of chance and risk

When it comes to cinema, we are all fans of something a bit risky, whether that be a taboo story being told or something more literal, such as a bank heist movie. What makes these movies so alluring? And what are some of the best examples of risky movies? Let’s find out.

What is the allure of risk within cinema?

Why are we as audiences so intrigued by the nature of risk and chance when it comes to movies? What makes them so great, unavoidable, engaging and fun to watch? Well, as a narrative device, a character taking a risk is an easy way to further engage the audience with that character. Of course, this isn’t a cheat code that you can use to automatically get your audience to care; your characters need to already be able to stand on their own. However, it can act as a great way to further the plot, especially in the third act, as something of a crescendo device.

Audiences will likely be engaged as the thrill of whether they may pull it off often has our eyes glued to the screen provided the situation and the characters are developed enough.

Online risks and how to avoid them

While watching these movies, it can be easy to get swept up in their allure. You may even want to try your hand at an online casino. This can be a great hobby, but there are some things you will need to take into consideration before diving in.

To make sure that your money is safe, it is a good idea to look forcasinos that take PayPal payments as PayPal is a secure payment option. Using PayPal at an online casino is recommended as it adds an extra layer of protection as payment details are not shared directly with the platform. That can be incredibly beneficial for the gamer, as worrying about the safety of your funds should not be on your mind when you are enjoying a gaming session.

The Shawshank Redemption

One of the most famous examples of a film that involves a big risk is The Shawshank Redemption. This prison break movie will easily have you on the edge of your seat asking: “Is he going to do it?”. I won’t spoil the plot here, of course, because the journey is well worth the price.

It achieves something many movies fail to do as it sustains that feeling of risk and chance even on rewatches, even though you know what is going to happen. Your heart will still be pumping, and your eyes will remain glued to the screen.

The Big Short

A movie that is certainly of a different pace but still worth watching is The Big Short. The risk here is rather different, of course; rather than an intense prison escape story, the risk lies within whether the main cast of characters are correct in their assumption about the housing market.

It goes without saying that the risk factor in this one depends on whether you have a basic understanding of the 2008 housing crash or not. It manages to create a very tense atmosphere that is sure to keep you engaged.

Ocean’s Eleven

This classic casino heist movie follows a very effective formula, which pays off. This formula clearly lays out the plan for the cast to follow in the second act, which prompts the viewer to follow along in the third act as to whether things are going according to plan. This can create a great sense of tension if the plan gets changed mid-movie as something goes wrong. As the viewer, you know exactly what the characters are trying to do and if they are doing it correctly. This makes for a very fun viewing experience.

The Substance

With a slightly different type of risk, the thriller/body horror The Substance has the lead Elisabeth, played by Demi Moore, take a mysterious drug in order to revert her appearance to the more youthful Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. This drug-taking is presented in an interesting way to the audience. Viewers know they are watching a body horror, so this risk is almost certainly not going to pay off. The tension comes from the reasonable assumption that something will go wrong, with much of it coming from where it’s going to go, and how bad it is going to get. I won’t spoil anything here, but it certainly gets rather bad.

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is often misinterpreted as a grand adventure that shows how exciting money and hedonism can be. However, at its core, it is a cautionary tale of how taking risks, of the illegal variety, can cause irreparable damage to your life.

Sitting at a run time of just under three hours, this movie might seem like a bit of a slog to get through. That surprisingly is not the case though. It is paced rather well, taking you on a high-octane journey through Jordan’s life.

The risk here is presented somewhat differently. It doesn’t create a sense of tension; rather, it creates separation and distance between the viewer and the protagonist. This adds to the feeling of waiting for a man to ruin his own life and watching all the things that played a part in his downfall.