Advanced Portfolio G324: Thriller Genre

Thriller definition :

Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax.

Mood Board:

Some Thriller Movies I've Seen:

Secret Window	Psychological Thriller
The Day After Tomorrow	Disaster Thriller
The Die Hard Films	Action thriller
We Need to Talk About Kevin	Psychological Thriller
In Time	Action Thriller
Limitless	Psychological Thriller
The Purge	Horror Thriller
Pulp Fiction	Crime Thriller
Leon	Crime Thriller
Copycat	Mystery/Crime Thriller
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle	Psychological Thriller
Let Me In	Horror Thriller
Constantine	Supernatural Thriller
Shutter Island	Psychological Thriller
House at the End of The Street	Horror Thriller
Taken	Revenge thriller
The Human Meat Train	Horror Thriller
The Picture of Dorian Gray	Psychological thriller
The Final Destination Films	Horror Thriller
Chucky	Horror Thriller
Black Swan	Psychological Thriller
Heat	Crime Thriller
The Disappearance of Alice Creed	Crime Thriller
Se7en	Crime Thriller
Into the Storm	Disaster Thriller
Psycho	Horror Thriller
Planet of the Apes	Science Fiction Thriller
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes	Science Fiction Thriller
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows	Crime Thriller
Safe	Action Thriller
Enemy of the State	Conspiracy Thriller
The Strangers	Horror Thriller
Ganger no. 1	Psychological Thriller
The Hunger Games	Action Thriller
Olympus Has Fallen	Action Thriller
Get Carter	Crime Thriller
Mama	Horror Thriller
Would you rather?	Psychological Thriller
The Hole	Horror Thriller
The Woman In Black	Horror Thriller
Jaws	Horror Thriller
Cube	Horror Thriller
Sinister	Horror Thriller
Abduction	Action Thriller
Sucker Punch	Psychological thriller
No Country for Old Men	Crime Thriller

Thriller Sub-Genres:

Psychological Thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on the unstable emotional states of characters, in combination with mystery and thriller. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre. In addition to drama and mystery, many psychological thrillers contain elements of, and often overlap with, the horror genre, particularly psychological horror. Characters are no longer reliant on physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies (which is often the case in typical action-thrillers), but rather are reliant on their mental resources, whether it be by battling wits with a formidable opponent or by battling for equilibrium in the character's own mind. The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters preying upon one another's minds, either by playing deceptive games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state.

Crime Thriller

This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Central topics of these films include serial killers/murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, heists and double-crosses. Some examples of crime thrillers involving murderers include Se7en and No Country for Old Men, both which are my personal favorites.

Spy Thriller

The protagonist is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. The sub-genre usually deals with the subject of fictional espionage in a realistic way. It is a significant aspect of British cinema, with leading British directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed making notable contributions and many films set in the British Secret Service. The spy film usually fuses the action and science fiction genres, however, some spy films fall safely in the action genre rather than thriller (For Example, James Bond). Thrillers within this sub-genre include Taken and Unknown, both including Liam Neeson.

Supernatural Thriller

In supernatural thrillers, often an otherworldly force is introduced as character (usually the antagonist); also many characters in supernatural thrillers often have a super ability, for example being able to fly or read minds. These otherworldly elements can create tension and suspense as the extent of the power/force is unknown and the intentions of the force is unclear. The supernatural power will, in many instances, disrupt the peace and cause conflict. Lighting is a large factor in supernatural thrillers as it helps create the otherworldly effect. Supernatural thrillers can use fast flashes of light and lighting of all different colours to make the supernatural element more realistic hence building more tension. Supernatural thrillers can also fall into the category of or employ similar codes and conventions to religious thrillers, psychological thrillers and even horror thrillers.

Horror Thriller

The use of horrific graphics and/or themes makes the thriller intensely suspenseful and heightens the fear of danger. Horror thrillers use of extreme close up camera shots of the protagonists face highlighting their fear and making the audience even more fearful whilst building suspense even more. Also the common use of the colour red adds to the sense of danger as red has connotations with blood, death and danger itself making the film seem even more frightening. Many horror thrillers also use depth of field to focus on important symbols or motifs while the blurred background can often cause a sense of anxiety for the audience as they can not see what is truly happening. Horror thrillers, very much like the thriller genre itself, use extremely low lighting to create tension like the depth of field effect where the audience can not see what is happening and so causing panic. Horror thrillers films can be edited to have many jump cuts during the time of danger or leading up to a major reveal, this creates a sense of uneasiness deepening the audiences awareness of fear already growing from other factors. Lastly horror thrillers can differ from psychological, as the two sub-genres are very similar, because horror thrillers do not have to include a supernatural element but rather just a horrific character like a serial killer.

Forms and Conventions of Thriller

Audio-Visual Style

Canted Angle

Canted Angles (foreshadow that something bad may happen)
Fast-Paced Editing (panic and chaos)
Slow-Paced Editing to (tension and suspense)
Slow Motion (tension and effect)
Low-Key Lighting (enigma)
High-Key Lighting (realism due to the location setting)
Shadows (mysteries / enigmas) ; film noir
Jump Cuts (panic)
Suspenseful Non-Diegetic Music (tension and suspense)
Upbeat Non-Diegetic Music (chaos, excitement & sometimes panic)
Loud diegetic sounds of guns, explosions etc. (realism)
Diegetic sound of breathing
Establishing shots of location (shows the audience the setting)
Bird’s-eye-view
Shot-reverse-shot (sense of realism in

conversation)
Point of View (Involvement of audience)

Characters

Predominantly male dominated genre
Protagonist
Antagonist
Innocent Victims – Enemy of the State
Police/Law Enforcement (FBI, DEA etc.) - Heat
Femme Fetale – Basic Instinct
Damsel In Distress – House at the End of the Street
Assassins / Hitmen – Leon The Professional
Gangsters / Mafia – Get Carter
Serial Killers – The Bone Collector
Corrupt Cops – Safe
Spies – Salt
Drug dealers - Savages
Criminals – The Silence of The Lambs
Terrorists – Die Hard
Politicians – Enemy of the State

Themes

torture in 'would you rather'

Revenge – Taken
Jealousy – The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Love – The Illusionist
Hatred - Hatred of a Minute
Stalking - The Lives of Others
Crime – Se7en
Terrorism – Die Hard
Political Conspiracy – The Hunt for Red October
Psychological Mind Games – Shutter Island
Assassinations – Leon The Professional
Supernatural Events - Sphere
Blackmail - A Perfect Murder
Corruption - Heat
Drug Dealing - Lucy
Lust – City of Lust
Struggle For Power - Nothing but the Truth
Obsession - Perfume
Greed – Margin Call
Hostage – Don’t Say a Word
Paranoia - Copycat
Mental Disability - Black Swan
Murder – Harry Brown
Mass Killings – Se7en
Torture – Would You Rather
Weather Disaster - Into the Storm

Iconography

Weapons (guns, knives etc.)
Drugs – Limitless
Alcohol – Wake in Fright
High Technology – I, Robot
Masks/Balaclavas - The Purge
Suits (men – gangsters) – Get Carter
Disguises (wigs, sunglasses etc. ) – Collateral
Ripped / dark / long clothes – Perfume
Flashy Cars – Fast & Furious
Money – Margin Call
Isolated Locations (forests, abandoned houses etc.) – Shutter Island
Open Locations / Urban Settings (major cities, hotels, airports etc.) – The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Shadowy Locations (alleyways etc.) – Harry Brown