Thriller Genre
What is the thriller genre about?
"Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety"
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)
My personal opinion would be that it's not something that i would want to watch, solely because it gets me that distressed. But that's one of the effects, the thriller genre has been created to make people jump, make them feel as if they are a part of the movie, make them so nervous that they regret putting themselves in that position. It's one step up from horror, when you get frightened after watching a horror film, imagine the emotions you'd experience throughout and after a thriller movie! Thriller consists of many things that makes it so unique; murders, mystery's, police, international government, secrets, drugs... Clearly it's aimed at a mature audience (15+) which is why it contains such great traits and therefore people are really interested in it. The film Seven has been rated to be the best thriller film which was released in 1995 an it deserves to be the best too... I mean the story of this film is so intense, especially the concept of the seven deadly sins!
- Psycho
- Black Swan
- Saw
- Memento
- The silence of the lambs
- Seven
Characters...
The Protagonist:
Obviously by the term 'pro', you can tell that this is a good character and the main. So this can be either the hero or the heroine.
The Antagonist:
This is the villain. Sometimes disfigured with a background story. Common examples would be drug dealers, rapists, mentally unstable patients, etc.
The Damsel in distress:
This is the girl/woman who always needs to be rescued, commonly the protagonist's weakness which the antagonist will use against him.
The deadly woman - "Femme Fatale":
This is the female character that will use sexual attraction to lure the protagonist to a threat of danger unknowingly...
Thriller iconography...
- Low key lighting
- Knives
- Blood
- Guns
- Drugs, Alcohol and other illegal elements
- Shadows
- Confined spaces
Common themes in thriller...
- Psychological issues
- Links to childhood
- Abuse
- Torture
- Crime
- Seduction
- Politics/government
What do you mean by narrative?
Narrative in context means the main events that take place within a thriller film and is expected by the viewers. For example; murder, car chases, the use of weapons are all expected to be a part of the movie whilst watching thriller films.
Audio/Visual format
When audio/visual format of the movie is mentioned, it is in relation to the format and selection of both sound and camera work that is in place. For example, the sound will either be diagetic or non-diagetic. Diagetic sound is natural, which matches the scene, for example laughter. Non-diagetic is artificial sound which means that it is not a natural sound, for example suspenseful music wouldn't be heared by the characters, it is an additional sound used for effect.
Lighting is another feature of audio'visual format that plays a huge role in creating the typical thriller genre.This is either low key or high key. Low means dark and high means bright. Now, the use of lighting is very effective in creating effects and is why thriller films are shot in mainly low key lighting to give it that 'thrill'.
Another form of audio/visual format is the camerawork, in thriller films you will watch many tracking shots, close-ups, jump cuts, long-held shots, etc. These and many more are used more frequently to build up the tension and fear in the audience's mind. The way camerawork is carried out can heavily impact on the effect that is being created.
Cinematic style
This refers to the whole film; theme, story, camerawork, lighting, mise-en-scene,etc. This is what creates the cinematic style! All these elements work together to complete the cinematic style which is vital in terms of creating/giving effects.
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Thriller Openings analysis:
P Y S C H O - released in 1960, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
I've chosen this film because it is a very famous and popular thriller film that was very successful. It includes excellent examples for my analysis research.
Narrative context:
The story is of a girl who steals money from the place she works in, she leaves town and when she swaps her car, she is being watched by a highway patrolman. She then checks into a hotel where the owner invites her for lunch and we find out that Norman has a mother who isn't allowing another woman to enter their house so she and Norman dine out. Norman tells Marion that his mother is mentally ill. Marion feels bad about the stolen money so decides to go back to Phoenix to return it but when she is in the shower she doesn't know that Norman has been spying on her and she is murdered by a unknown female with a knife.
Enigma codes:
We question ourselves:
Why is she running away - isn't that dangerous with so much cash?
How is she going to get away with it?- having so much cash on her isn't a goof sign.
What will she do?- will she return to her boyfriend?
How are the characters established and represented?
The trailer shows us the main characters; Marion, Norman Bates, his mother and the detective.
The detective is represented typically through is appearance and way of investigating by asking "who is at home?"
Marion is a typical victim, unaware of what is going on and stupid enough to stay at an isolated motel. Her appearance represents a typical 'damsel in distress' who is not rescued and murdered instead. The camera shots of her consist of a lot of close ups that emphasize her facial expressions that create the right atmosphere of the film.
Norman isn't necessarily dressed as a typical villain but he does act like it through his suspicious behavior. The quick shots of him connote that he has something to hide.
Locations:
The typical location that we see is an isolated motel that isn't exactly 'appealing', connoting danger and mystery that makes it a thriller film. The fact that there's barely anybody around implies that she's in trouble and something will go wrong soon!
Camera and editing techniques:
When Marion and Norman are having a conversation in the room, the low angle shots of Norman suggests superiority and obviously, at that point we don't know why and that he is the villain.
The match on action when Norman is spying on Marion in the bathroom implies that he has evil intentions and that he is not safe.
The cut reverse shot whilst Marion is being murdered builds up the intensity of the scene.
Use of sound:
The diegetic sound of Marion's screams as she is being killed builds up the thrill of her murder and the non-diegetic sound of the intense background music gives the scene more of a 'thrill'.
The diegetic sound of the shower running constantly throughout the murder scene makes the location more prominent in terms of how brutally she's being killed.
Titles:
The film starts off with signature intense music that first introduces the director (Alfred Hitchcock), that implies that this would be a good movie as he is a very famous and excellent director. Then the title of the film is introduced with the main characters following with the remaining credit sequence that establishes the start. The fact that the background is black connotes the genre is clearly thriller. The font is standard and doesn't really suggest anything.
Intended target audience:
I think that this film is aimed at young adults because they are entering the work environment and face financial issues that can lead them to steal like Marion. Also, the fact that she is so careless to be roaming around with so much money and stay in an isolated motel implies her low level of maturity, that fits into the typical personality of a young adult. The thrill isn't too intense and therefore suits this audience.
I N C E P T I O N - released in 2010, directed by Christopher Nolan.
I've purposely chosen this film because it's quite recent and contrasts well with psycho and will provide me with more ideas for my film opening. Inception was quite a popular and successful film too!
Narrative context:
Dom and Arthur are "extractors", who use experimental military technology to access the subconscious of their targets and take out valuable information through a shared dream world. Their latest target, a Japanese businessman Saito, reveals that he arranged their mission himself to test Dom for a impossible job: planting an idea in a person's subconscious, or known as "inception".
To break up the energy of ailing competitor Maurice Fischer, Saito wants Dom to convince Fischer's son and heir, Robert, to end his father's company. In return, Saito makes a deal to use his influence to clear Dom of a murder charge, which would allow Dom to return home to his children. Dom accepts the offer and creates his team: Eames , a conman and identity forger; Yusuf , a chemist who concocts a powerful sedative for a stable "dream within a dream" strategy, Ariadne , an architecture student tasked with designing the labyrinth of the dream landscapes, recruited with the help of Cobb's father-in-law, Professor Stephen Miles. While dream-sharing with Cobb, Ariadne finds out that his subconscious houses a projection of his dead wife Mal.
When Fischer dies in Sydney, Robert Fischer takes the body on a ten-hour flight back to Los Angeles, which the team uses as a chance to sedate and take Fischer into a shared dream. At each dream level, the person generating the dream stays behind to set up a "kick" that will be used to awaken the other sleeping team members from the deeper dream level; to be successful, these kicks must occur simultaneously at each dream level, a fact complicated due to the nature of time which moves on much faster in each successive level.
Enigma Codes:
We would question:
Why does Saito plan that mission?
Will Robert agree to end his father's company?
How will Dom convince Robert, because he needs to return home too?
How are the characters established and represented?
In the trailer, we constantly see shots of Leonardo DiCaprio that establishes that he is the main character. His appearance represents a typical working class man but when he is on a mission dressed in a suit we see a hard worker who is determined to get his job done,- a typical trait of a hero. We see how he is trapped with his work and love life; another typical issue for a hero.
Locations:
This film consists of many locations, the fact that it is an action-thriller is proven by the different locations. For example, the streets, construction sites, etc. There is a mixture of low and high key lighting that balances the two genres together.
Camera and editing techniques:
Close ups of Dom during intense scenes denotes his importance and emphasizes what he is saying.
During the action scenes, the editing becomes rapid to connote the pace and tension in the scene, also keeping the audience intrigued.
Use of sound:
The diegetic sounds of the characters fighting with one another contrasts well with the non-diegetic sound of the background music that is building up the tension between both scenes that are being cut back and forth to.
When the dream starts to collapse, and Dom has shot the first person, the background music contrasts well with the diegetic sound of the dream collapsing, again, increasing the tension and stress to see Dom make it out of there in time.
Titles:
The opening credit sequence starts off with 'film noir style', where the company name is in black and white connoting that this is not a typical thriller film. The first actor to be introduces is Leonardo DiCaprio and this is purely because he is the main actor and so famous and popular.
Intended target audience:
This opening seems like it is targeting young men +, because it is action adventure and needs a certain level of maturity to be understood and appreciated. The action thriller genre is always more appealing to men but this is just a stereotype basis.
F I N A L D E S T I N A T I O N - released in 2000, directed by James Wong
I've purposefully chosen this specific film because it is aimed at teenagers which is the same target audience of our film opening, the story is different to others...
Narrative context:
A class of high school students are boarding a flight to Paris. A student named Alex has a vision that the plane explodes, he tries to jump off but has a fight with another student named Carter and they end up being taken off the plane with some students and a teacher. So when the flight really does take off, the plane explodes and Alex's vision proves to be a reality. They are then interrogated by two FBI agents because they suspect they had a link to the explosion.
39 days later... The students attend a memorial service for the victims involved in the plane explosion. That same night, Tod is assumed to have committed suicide when he is found to be strangled by a chain reaction in the bathtub when in reality this just happened...It wasn't suicide and Alex doesn't believe so either. So Alex and Clear sneak into the funeral house to see Tod's body and there they meet a mortician named William who tells them that they have ruined death's plan, - they were meant to die in that plane explosion that day...
Enigma codes:
Why did Alex even get on the plane if he had that vision?
Why would Tod commit suicide?
How could he have died by a chain reaction?
Are Alex and Clear going to believe what that mortician said to them?
What will Alex and Clear do now that they know they were meant to die that day and have now ruined death's plan?
How are the characters established and represented?
Alex is portrayed as a typical teenage boy through is physical appearance as he's dressed in a casual outfit that fits the stereotype of teenage boys. We know that he is the main character as he is given a lot of camera time and is first introduced to the audience.
The class of students are represented stereo typically through their appearance and behavior. We see them 'play fighting' at the airport and how the boys almost tease the girls, etc.
They are typical thriller characters because teenagers are very common to be victims and it's more intriguing to see teenagers because they have low levels of maturity and sense to understand everything.
Locations:
A plane is quite an unusual location for a thriller film to start off with and remains a constant theme throughout the film as the plane's explosion is mentioned throughout too. The climax of the film (when Alex gathers everyone and tries to find a way to escape death) is based on road, in the car...Not so typical but the low key lighting of the night adds thrill.
Camera and editing techniques:
The cut reverse shot of Ms. Lewton handing her hand out increases the intensity of the scene making the audience stress to see whether she'll be able to grab on.
The medium close up of Ms. Lewton screaming as she's handing out her hand creates a restless atmosphere as this scene is about life or death.
The extreme close up of Alex clinging onto the arm rest connotes that there is a big threat/danger ahead...
Use of sound:
The diegetic sound of everyone screaming and shouting as the plane explodes, rises the tension and stress that the audience under go's as they watch this tragedy.
The sudden diegetic sounds of Tod falling, slipping and then trying to shout out for help is almost like a jump because before this, there is barely any sound and then the sound immediately increases to raise the anxiousness within the audience.
Titles:
The opening title sequence starts off with low key lighting, slowly introducing the cast members and production team, etc, establishing that it is a thriller film. When the director is credited, we see that a book reads "This is the end" and then everything fades to leave that phrase and credit James Wong. That specific phrase implies the possible story line and establishes that it is a thriller film.
Intended target audience:
It is quite obvious as to who is being targeted for this film; teenagers. The fact that this film takes a very common and happy event to be a disaster and then haunt the characters, adds realism to the film and directly targets teenagers which makes the film much more intriguing because the majority of students go abroad as a trip and this film has ruined that whole concept through the thrill.
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