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A A thrillerthriller is difficult to define because so many emotions is difficult to define because so many emotions and reactions that come from thrillers are part of the whole and reactions that come from thrillers are part of the whole experience of film. It is a ‘meta-genre’. It includes experience of film. It is a ‘meta-genre’. It includes numerous, often overlapping sub-genres. numerous, often overlapping sub-genres.
Thrillers are set by fast pacing, frequent action with Thrillers are set by fast pacing, frequent action with resourceful heroes who must put a stop to the plans of resourceful heroes who must put a stop to the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains.more-powerful and better-equipped villains.
A thriller relies on intricacy of plot to create fear, A thriller relies on intricacy of plot to create fear, apprehension and suspense in the hearts and minds of the apprehension and suspense in the hearts and minds of the audience. Red herrings… unexpected plot twists!audience. Red herrings… unexpected plot twists!
Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories, but are Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories, but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. distinguished by the structure of their plots.
Thrillers also occur on a much larger scale: the crimes that Thrillers also occur on a much larger scale: the crimes that occur in most thrillers are serial or mass murder, terrorism, occur in most thrillers are serial or mass murder, terrorism, assassination, or the overthrow of governments. assassination, or the overthrow of governments.
What is a thriller?
Spy thrillersSpy thrillers (also a subgenre of spy fiction), in which the hero is generally a (also a subgenre of spy fiction), in which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include The Bourne government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include The Bourne Identity and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24.Identity and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24.
Political thrillersPolitical thrillers, in which the hero must ensure the stability of the , in which the hero must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May by Fletcher government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May by Fletcher Knebel and The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth established this Knebel and The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth established this subgenre in the early 1960s.subgenre in the early 1960s.
Psychological thrillersPsychological thrillers, in which (until the often violent resolution) conflict , in which (until the often violent resolution) conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional rather than physical. The between the main characters is mental and emotional rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Alfred Hitchcock films SuspicionSuspicion, , Shadow of a DoubtShadow of a Doubt, and , and Strangers on a TrainStrangers on a Train are notable examples of the type.are notable examples of the type.
Horror thrillerHorror thriller, in which conflict between the main characters is mental, , in which conflict between the main characters is mental, emotional, and physical. Horror Thrillers can incorporate all of the other Thriller emotional, and physical. Horror Thrillers can incorporate all of the other Thriller elements.elements.
Legal thrillersLegal thrillers, in which the lawyer-heroes confront enemies outside, as well , in which the lawyer-heroes confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives.their lives.
Here are just some of the many types of thrillers that you would find today:
What types of thrillers are there?
Examples of thrillersExamples of thrillersThe Bourne Identity – 2002 – Universal Studios
• Based very loosely on Robert Ludlum's novel, the Bourne Identity is the story of a man whose wounded body is discovered by fisherman.
• He can remember nothing and begins to try to rebuild his memory based on clues such as the Swiss bank account.
• He soon realizes that he is being hunted and takes off with Marie on a search to find out who he is and why he is being hunted.
• This is a spy thriller. He is being hunted by the government but doesn’t know why. He strives to find out why he is a wanted man.
• The plot creates suspense because the audience wants to know why he is being hunted and if he will survive.
The Manchurian Candidate – 2004 – Paramount Pictures
• When his army unit was ambushed during the first Gulf War, Sergeant Raymond Shaw saved his fellow soldiers just as his commanding officer, then-Captain Ben Marco, was knocked unconscious.
• Brokering the incident for political capital, Shaw eventually becomes a vice-presidential nominee, while Marco is haunted by dreams of what happened -- or didn't happen -- in Kuwait.
• As Marco (now a Major) investigates, the story begins to unravel, to the point where he questions if it happened at all. Some very powerful people at Manchurian Global corporation appear desperate to stop him from finding out.
• The Manchurian Candidate exemplifies the political thriller genre in the protagonists attempt to uncover a political cover-up in an attempt to find out the truth about his military past.
• Point blank in the head a man shoots another. In flashbacks, the two men's pasts unfold. Leonard, as a result of a blow to the head during an assault on his wife, has no short-term memory.
• He's looking for his wife's killer, compensating for his disability by taking Polaroids, annotating them and tattooing important facts on his body.
• We meet the opportunist Teddy and the seductive Natalie (a barmaid who promises to help) and we glimpse Leonard's wife through memories from before the assault.
• Memento is an example of a psychological thriller as the protagonist decides to stop the antagonist whilst overcoming a mental and emotional barrier.
Memento – 2000 – Newmarket Films
Why do people like thrillers?Why do people like thrillers?
In many ways the Thriller genre is sadomasochistic and so the In many ways the Thriller genre is sadomasochistic and so the audience enjoys watching the director cause pain and suffering to audience enjoys watching the director cause pain and suffering to characters.characters.
The audience also experiences a sense of ambivalence – it could The audience also experiences a sense of ambivalence – it could go either way. They also feel a sense of sympathy with the hero’s go either way. They also feel a sense of sympathy with the hero’s or victim’s vulnerability. It s this feeling of of off-balance and or victim’s vulnerability. It s this feeling of of off-balance and conflicting emotions that drives thrillers. conflicting emotions that drives thrillers.
People enjoy thrillers because the modern western world generates People enjoy thrillers because the modern western world generates an attitude that means we easily identify with the victims. As well an attitude that means we easily identify with the victims. As well as this empathy with the victim, we can also be tempted to as this empathy with the victim, we can also be tempted to emphasise with the antagonist. As the attitudes of people have emphasise with the antagonist. As the attitudes of people have evolved over time, so the genre has evolved. Thrills come from evolved over time, so the genre has evolved. Thrills come from dread – you know something terrible is about to happen and these dread – you know something terrible is about to happen and these is nothing you can do about it! is nothing you can do about it!
Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood that they exhibit: Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood that they exhibit: excitement. In short, if it excitement. In short, if it thrillsthrills, it is a thriller., it is a thriller.
Our conceptOur concept Our concept is to show the outside of a Our concept is to show the outside of a
perfect street. Giving the impression of perfect street. Giving the impression of undisturbed peace within a undisturbed peace within a neighbourhood. Close up of characters neighbourhood. Close up of characters on the street e.g. washing car/mowing on the street e.g. washing car/mowing lawn.lawn.
The exterior of the protagonist’s house The exterior of the protagonist’s house will give the impression of a typical will give the impression of a typical suburban house. suburban house.
The hidden concept within the sequence The hidden concept within the sequence is that things are not what they “seem”is that things are not what they “seem”
The interior of the house will be highly The interior of the house will be highly contrasted with the exterior. The interior contrasted with the exterior. The interior will be derelict and give off the will be derelict and give off the impression of neglect.impression of neglect.
Within the house the walls are covered in Within the house the walls are covered in photos of people from the photos of people from the neighbourhood, the audience will be able neighbourhood, the audience will be able to make connection between the to make connection between the characters, some photos are crossed characters, some photos are crossed out, suggesting death.out, suggesting death.
A malnourished man sitting watching A malnourished man sitting watching other families videos. other families videos.
New family move in (removal van), he New family move in (removal van), he puts up new photo of them.puts up new photo of them.
StrengthsStrengths Doesn’t follow the typical thriller format.Doesn’t follow the typical thriller format. We have a street that can be used to present the We have a street that can be used to present the
typical suburban street.typical suburban street. Work well together as a group.Work well together as a group.
WeaknessesWeaknesses
Unstable plotUnstable plot WeatherWeather How to present passing of timeHow to present passing of time ActorsActors Relating family photos to actorsRelating family photos to actors
Key ImagesKey Images Perfect streetPerfect street
Perfect housePerfect house
Imperfect interiorImperfect interior
Depressed manDepressed man
TV- home videosTV- home videos
Photos on wallsPhotos on walls
Other InfluencesOther Influences Desperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives Stepford WivesStepford Wives American Beauty – opening tracking shotAmerican Beauty – opening tracking shot One hour photoOne hour photo
Production RolesProduction Roles Dan - Camera ManDan - Camera Man Dan/Georgia - Director/Edit/CostumeDan/Georgia - Director/Edit/Costume Livy - Continuity Girl/Edit/CostumeLivy - Continuity Girl/Edit/Costume Georgia – Locator/SoundGeorgia – Locator/Sound
