Psychological thrillers is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller and horror genre. However it incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, in addition to the typical

traits of a thriller.

Psychological Thrillers

Literary Devices/Techniques and Themes

Renowned and Influential Directors

• Brad Anderson: The Machinist • Darren Aronofsky: Black Swan• David Fincher: Se7en, Fight Club • Alfred Hitchcock: Psycho • Stanley Kubrick: The Shinning, Eyes Wide Shut, A Clockwork Orange• Christopher Nolan: The Dark Knight, Inception• Martin Scorsese: The Departed, Shutter Island• M. Night Shyamalan: The Sixth Sense, Signs

All of the following directors are renowned for being influential directors, whom work effectively in the psychological thriller/horror genres. Mysteries are often created by these directors, which are often very psychological in nature. With the protagonist’s past actions and history holding purpose in their present actions and decisions through the film. They all significantly explore these genres, by focusing on the horrors of our mind. The storylines can often make issues of the mind explicit, by incorporating motifs of doubling and splitting in the characters mind. These are what trademark the directors films as ‘harsh paranoid’ thrillers. These dark and ominous films which generally revolve around the psychology of men, are characterized by a formal visual style and attention to detail. Often combining elements of surrealism and expressionism that give the viewers a feeling of discomfort. The main aim of this is to usually puzzle the mind, meaning that both the audience and the characters themselves must figure out what is real and what is not. Their narrative structures often reflect the mental construction of the characters, by focusing on themes of isolation and alienation.

Common Codes and Conventions

Psychological Thriller

Characters are no longer reliant and cannot feasibly possess the physical strength to overcome their enemies mentally. They are forced to rely on their own mental strength, and use the as their main resource in battling for equilibrium in the character's own mind. The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from one character who is most likely psychology challenged, preying on the protagonist’s mind. This is often apparent though playing deceptive games with the protagonist or by even merely trying to completely destroy the other person’s mental strength.

Conventions of a Psychological Thriller

Low level lighting, shadows, rapid editing, sudden changes in camera angle, high tension music, flashbacks, use of photographs/images/articles and black and white coloring. Shadows are closely related with low level lighting and are used as a convention of a thriller film; they are used to represent the fear and horror within beings, and can also add to the tension that is created.

Rapid editing is used frequently in thriller films to increase the feeling of fear and shock; it is often used during important or particularly ‘thrilling’ scenes. Flashbacks contribute to a sense of time disorientation in a thriller and this confuses the audience; it is also a convention of a thriller film because it can display what has happened in the past to give the audience an insight into why the characters are the way they are. It could also display the sense of the character being confused and psychologically unstable. Black and white coloring is another convention of a thriller, because it increases the effectiveness of shadows, and can often appear quite scary because you can’t see what’s hiding in the shadows.

The main aspect which changes the genre from a Thriller to a Psychological Thriller is the lack of brute force and the particular emphasis on phobias or something most people fear even though it may not be particularly harmful. (EG: Tight spaces + Darkness = Claustrophobia)

In thrillers, the credits are often specially designed for the genre. The text will normally have an effect which heightens fear and makes the viewer’s feel like something bad is imminent.