Cliffhanger vs. Fake-Out: When to Leave Your Audience Hanging
In the world of storytelling, few techniques are as powerful—or as risky—as the cliffhanger. Done well, it keeps your audience eagerly turning the page, binging the next episode, or lining up for the sequel. Done poorly, it becomes a cheap fake-out that breaks trust and pulls your audience out of the experience. So, what’s the difference between a real cliffhanger and a narrative bluff? And how can writers avoid crossing that thin line?
Let’s break down the difference, look at examples, and explore how to keep your suspense sharp and your audience satisfied.
What is a Cliffhanger?
A cliffhanger is a storytelling device that ends a scene or episode at a moment of high tension or unresolved conflict. It usually places a character in peril, introduces a shocking twist, or poses a crucial question—but intentionally withholds the outcome.
The key feature of a true cliffhanger is narrative promise: the audience expects that the resolution is coming, and that it will be meaningful when it does.
Example:
At the end of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, half of the universe’s population vanishes. It’s a massive, game-changing cliffhanger that leaves audiences desperate to know what happens next—and Marvel follows through in ‘Endgame’.
What is a Fake-Out?
A fake-out is when a story builds tension or stakes, only to reveal that the setup was misleading, inconsequential, or instantly resolved without payoff. It tricks the audience into investing emotionally, then yanks that investment away.
The issue with fake-outs is that they feel manipulative—like the writer created tension just for shock value, not to move the story forward.
Example:
In a TV show, a character might appear to be shot in a dramatic cliffhanger… only to reveal in the next episode that it was a dream, or they were wearing a bulletproof vest. Done too often, this erodes tension and trust.
Key Differences Between a Cliffhanger and a Fake-Out
| Cliffhanger | Fake-Out |
| Raises stakes and delays payoff | Pretends to raise stakes but quickly cancels them |
| Builds genuine suspense | Feels manipulative or gimmicky |
| Resolution matters to the story | Resolution is trivial or non-existent |
| Audience is rewarded for waiting | Audience feels cheated or misled |
Why Do Fake-Outs Fail?
Fake-outs usually backfire for two reasons:
Broken Emotional Investment: If you make the audience believe something major has happened, only to reverse it instantly, they feel tricked.
Lost Narrative Credibility: When fake-outs pile up, the audience stops believing the stakes are real. That undercuts future tension—even in moments that are genuinely risky.
How to Write a Good Cliffhanger Without Falling Into Fake-Out Territory
Make Sure the Stakes Are Real
The peril or question you end on should have consequences that ripple through the story. Even if a character survives, it should change them or the world around them in some way.
Don’t Resolve It Too Quickly
A cliffhanger deserves space to breathe. If the next scene immediately erases the tension, it was likely a fake-out.
Be Honest With the Audience
Suspense doesn’t require deception. Let the audience feel the tension organically. Misdirection is fine—manipulation is not.
Use Character, Not Just Plot
A good cliffhanger isn’t just about action—it should leave us wondering how the characters will respond, not just what happens next.
Know the Payoff Before You Plant the Cliffhanger
Avoid writing cliffhangers just to create buzz. If you don’t know how it will resolve—or why it matters—you risk delivering an empty payoff.
When is a Fake-Out Worth It?
Sometimes, a fake-out can work—if it serves the story or subverts expectations in a clever, earned way. For example, in ‘The Dark Knight’, the Joker plays with Batman’s expectations (and ours) by switching the locations of two hostages. It’s a deception, but one that fits the Joker’s character and fuels Batman’s arc. It’s not a gimmick—it’s storytelling.
Respect the Audience, Respect the Story
Cliffhangers are a powerful way to keep readers and viewers engaged, but they demand trust. When used with care, they elevate suspense and deepen investment. Fake-outs, on the other hand, risk undermining that trust for the sake of temporary shock.
The difference lies in intent and execution. If your story asks a real question, raises authentic stakes, and offers meaningful resolution, your audience will follow you to the edge—and beyond.
Just don’t pull the rug out from under them when they get there.
—Silviya.Y
