Chase stories

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Classic story types > Chase stories

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

A person gets chased. They nearly get caught many times.

Sometimes there is turn-taking as the chased becomes the chaser for a while.

Car chases are typified by high speeds, sliding around corners, leaping over things, crashing into things and assorted other stunts. Variants include pursuits using boats, planes and other high-speed and novelty vehicles.

People chases involve lots of running. Many chases include shooting.

There are many variants on the chase story, ranging from on foot to assorted vehicles. The chase may involve criminals as fugitives or pursuers.

Example

The Fugitive
Bullitt
The Terminator

Discussion

Chasing plays to a deep need to be wanted, to belong, to be loved and held in high esteem. Chasing may thus be played out in 'Catch me' games.

A variant of the chase is romantic or emotional, where one person seeks the affections of another.

One of the most cynically remarkable thing about high speed chases in movies is that surprisingly few people get hurt. This perhaps reflects the desire for