Genre Research: Thriller

History Development The thriller genre started off in the 1920’s-1930’s when Alfred

Hitchcock when he made his third silent film ‘The lodger’ which was a suspense-filled Jack the ripper story. He then went on to make his

second thriller film ‘Blackmail’ in 1929, and this being his and Britain's first sound film. Thrillers then began to come more and more popular and many of them focused on storylines on solving murders and serial

killers. Most of the time people the killers are often close to home. Hitchcock continued to make more films up until the 60’s which was

also no longer black and white. Then after the 70’s the storylines behind the thrillers became more focused on psychological issues

(such as obsession and paranoia) and also these films included more explicit murder scenes.

AudienceThe target audience for thrillers are usually always 18+. This is

because of the violence and gruesome scenes it contains. It also has many psychological issues which would be disturbing for the

young viewers. The thriller will sometimes be 15+ but that’s if the scenes are not explicit. Thriller films will rarely be open to watch by

anyone under the age of 15. Both men and woman like thrillers I think. Men like it because of the suspense the way you’re on the

edge of your seats and mystery but also for the action e.g. Violence, car chases. Woman like it because of the suspense,

mystery but also for the typical strong male lead.

NarrativeThrillers are often based around the genre of crime but it could be

based on anything, with thrillers a lot of hybrids are involved where its two types of genre or a sub genre, you could have a thriller/horror or a thriller/action so the narrative themes are not as consistent as it mixed with other genres. In a thriller the narrative is restricted so a lot of the information is hidden. There is an equilibrium and then the equilibrium is disrupted and then the equilibrium is restored again.

Thriller’s narrative have often a complex structure, they like to keep the audience guessing on what will happen next and it has twist and turns. A lot of thrillers have a restricted narrative, questions and or

riddles will be left unanswered until towards the end of the film. Also in narrative they can put in false clues a ‘McGuffins’, do make the audience think its gone one way or this certain ‘object’ that was

spoken about was important but really it isn’t.

The Different Types of Thrillers

• Comedy thriller: A genre that combines elements of comedy and thrillers, a combination of humour and suspense or action e.g. Mr and Mrs Smith

• Conspiracy thriller: In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only s/he recognizes e.g. The Chancellor Manuscript

• 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 e.g. Along came a spider

• Erotic thriller: A type of thriller that has an emphasis on eroticism and where a sexual relationship plays an important role in the plot e.g. Dressed to kill

• Legal thriller: A suspense film in which the major characters are lawyers and their employees. The system of justice itself is always a major part of these works, at times almost functioning as one of the characters e.g. silent witness

• Psychological thriller: In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Characters, either by accident or their own curiousness, are dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve e.g. Phone Booth

• Political thriller: In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him e.g. Notorious

Typical Character TypesIn thrillers there are several characters which usually are involved in the plot and narrative, there is almost always a hero type character

who is usually a man and they re store the equilibrium. This person is probably just a normal everyday person who is ‘in the wrong place at

the wrong time’ or a police officer. Another word for this is a Protagonist. Then there is the antagonist (villain) who creates the narrative disruption and is usually psychotic but extremely clever.

Then there is the victim who is usually a female who is most threatened by the villain and they’re usually not really involved in the

whole crime situation. You also have the donor, the helper, the dispatcher and the false hero. Not all of these necessarily have to be the main characters or even in it at all but these are just the usual

type of characters that re in the narrative.

Iconography• Lighting: Thriller films always use low key/dim/dark lighting, this often

makes the scene scarier and hard for the victim to see the villain coming.• Sound: In thriller films sound is always used to build suspense. The noise

of little things such as footsteps will be loudened which is often the killers. The sounds of screaming, creaking etc. all these sounds build up tension and adds to the suspense.

• Props: Masks are often used on the killer to hide their identity which always creates an enigma code for the audience and has them thinking who it is throughout the film and also it is easier to use a mask to make the killer more distinctive from far so they are easier to identify and always gives the victims a chance to run before they get near. Blood and weapons are also used a lot which creates the gruesome/death scenes in the films.

• Setting: Thriller films are usually set in isolated and abandoned areas, this gives the victims no hope of escaping from them.