Assignment 8:Synoptic Research of Thriller Genre

Patrycia ButrymEsere Simei-Akajagbo

Shivonne WeekesCourtney Buabeng

Genre Decision

History & Context The thriller genre evolved from a crime film and was developed by Alfred

Hitchcock. The reason why is because many of the techniques used in thrillers are easy to implement with the presence and pressure of crime. For example the tension that is created from the threat of killing.

The very first recognised Thriller genre film was

called ‘The Lodger’ (1926). This film showed the evolution of Thrillers. It was the fiirst movie to have the typical effects on the audience which are included in most Thrillers. The techniques used were :

Most thrillers attract the males and females aged 15-19 because young adults like the sudden rush of emotions, excitement and keeping them "edge of their seats"

•Build up tension• Element of suprise•Strong emotions•An intellengent storyline

Purpose• The purpose of the thriller genre is to create suspense and anticipation for the

audience. • The genre has this purpose because it emphasises the danger that the central

character faces and the tension with the key dilemma is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly nerve-racking climax.

• The effect on the audience is that it allows the audience to remain intrigued, keeping them alert and at the edge of their seats.

• However, some films contain conventions of multiple genres.• Therefore, the purpose of crime thriller subgenre relies on the suspenseful aspects

of a thriller with a crime film plot. The plot of a crime thriller is usually centred on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt.

• And the purpose of the film-noir thriller subgenre is to portray not simply a sub-genre, but a period for a diverse, stylish type of thriller that was popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s. With the subgenre film-noir thriller, it is branded by a black-and-white style with stark lighting effects. Also, film-noir thrillers rely on a narrative voice and various flashbacks to explain the complex plot.

Classic Films

The 39 Steps (1935)

12A

Contains of a spy storyline.

The reason why its a thriller is because it

contains spy's which is linked to crime and

murder.

The Third Man (1949)

12

Shadowy, suspenseful mood.

The reason why it’s a thriller is because it includes a killer

and lots of mystery.

Rear Window(1954)

PG

Spies, a murder, intense plot.

This fits under the thriller genre as it contains

endless clues which make audience watch haplessly.

North By Northwest(1959)

PG

Government spies.

The thriller in this film allows audience to sit at the edge of their seats as the follow the

journey of a advertising executive.

Frenzy(1972)

18

A serial killer, murder, police and a twisted

storyline.

The thrill of the spine chilling murder of a distinct woman

is mysterious with a perverse, captivating

storyline.

20-30 Thriller Film List(1-10)

Film name Year Rating Subgenre

1. Rear Window 1954 PG Mystery

2. Carrie 1976 18 Horror

3. Cape Fear 1991 18 Psychological

4. Reserviour Dogs 1992 18 Crime

5. Léon 1994 18 Crime

6. The Usual Suspects 1995 18 Crime

7. Deep Impact 1998 12 Disaster

8. A Perfect Murder 1998 15 Crime

9. The Ninth Gate 1999 15 Religious Mystery

10. The Others 2001 12 Horror

20-30 Thriller Film List(11-20)

Film Name Year Rating Subgenre

11. The silence of the lambs 1991 18 Mystery

12. Scissors 1991 18 Psychological

13. Sleeping with the enemy 1991 15 Psychological

14. Seven 1995 18 Crime

15. Domestic Disturbance 2001 12 Mystery

16. Kiss of the Dragon 2001 18 Mystery

17. Abandon 2002 12 Mystery

18. Cellular 2004 15 Crime

19. Untraceable 2008 18 Mystery

20. 88 Minutes 2008 15 Crime

20-30 Thriller Film List(21-30)

Film name Year Rating Subgenre

21. Identity 2003 15 Mystery

22. Red Eye 2005 12A Action

23. Flight Plan 2005 12A Drama Mystery

24. Inside Man 2006 15 Crime

25. The Da Vinci Code 2006 12A Religious Mystery

26. District 9 2009 15 Sci-Fi

27. 2012 2009 12A Disaster

28. Shutter Island 2010 15 Drama Mystery

29. Prisoners 2013 15 Crime

30. Riddick 2013 15 Action, Sci-Fi

10 Contemporary Thriller Film ListFilm Name Year Rating Subgenre

1. Buried 2010 15 Mystery

2. Black Swan 2010 15 Psychological

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2011 18 Mystery

4. Unknown 2011 12 Psychological

5. Blitz 2011 18 Crime

6. Man on a Ledge 2012 12a Crime

7. Argo 2012 15 Political

3. Side Effects 2013 15 Psychological

4. Prisoner 2013 15 Crime

5. The Purge 2013 15 Sci-Fi

Subgenre AnalysisThriller-A character hits a woman hard in the face with a motorcycle helmet and hits another man’s head against a desk which knocks him unconscious.

Romance-Two of the characters become intimate, they kiss passionately.

ActionThere are action packed scenes where people jump out of a moving plane and a rugby field is blown up.

CrimeThe people are sent out to walk across frozen water, where they inevitably fall in and die.

Subgenre AnalysisFilm- District 9

Year-2009Rating -15

Sci-Fi:Mise En Scene-Weapons- high tech machinery and spaceships.

Technical Conventions-Special effects and CGI. Exaggeration on diegetic sounds.

Thriller:Creates suspense and thrills the audience.

Mis En Scene- Urban/Suburban environment.

Action: Editing – The pace is

really fast and lot of things happening at once.

Conventions – Weapons and explosions. There is always good guys and bad guys.

Thriller: A narrative pattern of

establishing enigma

Sound – Non- diegetic score music which builds up tension.