Fictionmachine aims to rigorously discuss the making of motion pictures, and as a result the discussion of plot elements in each film will be necessary. As a result, readers should be aware that individual long-form essays may ‘spoil’ story elements and plot twists. If you, as a movie viewer, are sensitive to plot spoilers, it is recommended that you watch a featured movie before you read the article about it. The film’s inclusion on this website in essay form may be taken as a general recommendation that it is, in one way or another, worth watching.

The shorter reviews will endeavour to keep information about specific plot elements rather light, so readers concerned about spoilers may rest a little easier there.

Readers may also be interested in a 2011 study by the University of California San Diego, which found that knowing key plot elements in advance actually enhanced surveyed readers’ enjoyment of a fictional text rather than diminished it.