What Makes a Thriller?

Thrillers Media AS

There are many different genres within the film world.  Some of these are more intense than others. For instance the Thriller genre. Let’s take a look at what makes a good classic hair standing and disturbing thriller.

What makes a conventional thriller Opening:

. Tension

. Fast movements

. Storyline not in chronological order

. Mystery Character

. Antagonist/protagonist

. Low- key Lighting/flashes

. Time (Past, present and future)

. Sound

. Dark and gloomy Colours

. Camera Shots

What are Genres? Why are they important?

A genre is a category a film falls into for example “Norbit” would fall into Comedy

Film Genres are very important to both the film producers and the film audiences because the producers need to engage their target audiences in order to be successful, whilst the film audiences need to be interested and engaged in the genre so that they go and watch the film. Genre theory is used in the study of films in order to put the films into categories. Genre is dependent on various factors such as the story line, the twist to the story line, which the director is who the characters are and the actors of the film and what are the audience expectations. By using this genre theory, it creates short cuts in how we are to describe the films.

Thriller:

A Thriller is a genre that follows a storyline which also includes the conventions that will thrill a particular target audience. For example

. Fast and slow movements

. Airy sounds that are used to build up tension within the target audience

. Mystery Characters

. Lighting (Mainly Low-key lighting and flashes)

.Twists and surprises

. Storyline jumbled up

.Time Warp (Past, present and future)

. Cinematography (film shots)

Example of Thriller Films:

The Grudge

The Grudge first released in 2004 a horror/thriller film set in Tokyo which is based on a curse that is passed down to the victims from a person who has died to re-gain their revenge. The evil curse is then stuck inside the body of a young woman and a little boy who goes around Tokyo killing people for revenge. The grudge has Three Films the first released in 2004 the second in 2006 and the third in 2010.

Dressed to kill

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Dressed to kill released in 1980 is about a mysterious blond woman who murders one of her patients and is witnessed by a prostitute who then later becomes the victim for the woman to murder.

Final Destination

Final Destination first released in 2000 thriller film is based on a group of friends or people who get trapped in situations where the result of it ends up with all of them getting killed by freak accidents. Usually the storyline following the order of the people getting killed. Final destination is followed four more films which make 5 films of Final destination.

Sub-Genre:

Sub-Genre of thrillers: Sub- genre is a Stems of classical Genres combined.

Action Thriller: “Sand Sharks”, “The Girl from the naked eye”

Psychological Thriller: “The talented Mr.Ripley”, “Fatal Attraction”

Comedy Thriller: “The Lady Vanishes”, “Fright Night”

Common Themes:

In every thriller there has to be a common theme to answer the questions of the storyline “Why has this happened” “What do they want?” For example the antagonist is always getting payback by using these common themes murder, revenge, a curse, Family, fights, religion etc. These common themes are usually in the storylines of Thrillers that grow into more and more answers.

The Audience’s response to thrillers

When watching a thriller film there are a lot of different reactions from the audience, different reactions depending on how much you can take in from the film and the type of person you are.

The most common reactions:

. Fidgety/Flinch

. Goosebumps

. Tension

. Uncomfortable

. Funny (LAUGHTER)

. Nervousness

What do you think?

As I watch thriller films I usually get a lot of mixed emotions from these different thrillers. For instance, scenes that use surprises usually make me very uncomfortable and flinch. On the other hand if someone is to fall into a trap of the antagonist due to their stupidity and unawareness I would find it quite funny.

Conclusion: How can this help your understanding?

This has all broadened by understanding of thriller due to the research I’ve done. I am also more confident in understanding the reasons for this genre and how it affects the film and the Audience.

I now Know and understand what conventions in thriller will appeal to an audience and how they will react to the thriller films.