One thing that always entertains me as a reader is when a screenwriter adds a shade of mystery to a character’s background. It adds depth, darkness, and imperfection, which in turn reflects the human condition.

While creating mystery behind a character can be challenging — it can also be extremely minimalist. Though we’ve been trained to expect answers as an audience, this is not to say you as the storyteller always have to provide them. Withholding information is definitely an art, so there’s plenty of room to explore.

In fact, some of the most memorable moments on screen include those that resist giving the audience the answers they wanted.

1. Withhold information

V for Vendetta delivered a powerful sense of mystery by not revealing the face behind the mask of V. If we were to see his face, we’d have digested the moment in an instant, thrown it out, and forgotten it before the film even had time to wrap up.

Warning: The clip below contains graphic images.

2. Provide Contradicting information.

Another example includes where the Joker came from in The Dark Knight. However, Nolan is talented and courageous enough to explore a different approach — instead of withholding the information, provide …