Suspense Techniques

Dialogue Means Nothing:
Use facial expressions, have on character not listening to another, dialogue can be a lie.

Keep the Story Simple:
Linear and streamlined, repeated plots in dialogue, single or few settings, story simple - character complex

Characters Must Break Cliché:
Unpredictable characters, realistic characters, ironies in characteristics

Use Humor to Add Tension:
Characters in ironic situations, dialogue that serves two purposes

Two Things Happening at Once:
Distract audience, fit more into screen-time,

Suspense is Information:
Constant reminder of danger, music, focus on antagonist's actions,

Surprise and Twist:
Expected outcome surprises  audience with twist,

Warning May Cause MacGuffin:
Something that is unknown but wanted by many of the characters, drives the story, may be something little or mind-blowing,

Part II: Confrontation Scene in Rear Window
Characters Must Break Cliché: Thorwald is crazed and mad but was previously seen as level-headed and cool under pressure.

Use Humor to Add Tension: Stella speaks in her last line a double-standard and realizes what she says after the fact.  Detectives suggest taking a boat down the river and touring it for the body parts.

Two Things Happening at Once: The battle between Jeff and Thorwald while in the background Lisa, Stella, Coyne, and detectives search Thorwald's apartment.  Jeff is pushed out onto the ledge and the fight between them still happens as his rescuers attempt to stop Thorwald and save Jeff from falling.

Surprise and Twist:  Thorwald attempts to throw Jeff out the window.  The head was in the flower bed all along until Thorwald murdered the dog and dug it out of the ground.