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The Thriller Genre

►What are the codes and conventions of Thrillers?

►Why is genre so important?►What films do I know about?►What directors do I know about?

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Generic conventionsGeneric conventions► A film genre is defined by its A film genre is defined by its

codes and conventions and codes and conventions and these must be present to make these must be present to make a film a genre film but should a film a genre film but should involve some aspect of involve some aspect of innovation, subversion and/or innovation, subversion and/or inflection (otherwise it becomes inflection (otherwise it becomes a formula film)a formula film) Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene SettingSetting Visual styleVisual style ThemesThemes IdeologyIdeology StarsStars Character-types Character-types NarrativesNarratives IconographyIconography CinematographyCinematography Special effectsSpecial effects Sound/musicSound/music

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Definition? James Patterson, June 2006, "Introduction," Thriller

► ..There are all kinds. The legal thriller, spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, police thriller, romantic thriller, historical thriller, political thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller, military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job.

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What is a Thriller?► Uses suspense, tension and

excitement as the main elements► Includes many sub genres: Mystery,

Crime, Psychological, Political and Paranoid.

► Atmosphere of menace, violence, crime and murder.

► Society is seen as dark corrupt and dangerous

► Literary devices like plot twist, red herrings, and cliff hangers 4

Words►Look over the words you have►Come up with a definition (use the

internet, other people to help if you are not sure)

►Write that definition on coloured paper►Give an example if you can

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Thriller Methods and Ideas?►Crime: ransoms, captivities,

heists, revenge, kidnappings►Mystery: investigations,

‘whodunit technique’►Psychological: mind games,

psychological themes, stalking, confinement, deathtraps, horror of personality, obsession

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Narrative Techniques►Plot twists and

turns►Multiple lines of

action►Flashbacks►Narrative

retardation►Red herrings

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►Mis direction►Deadlines►Principle of

concealment►Chases/pursuits►Making the

audience work

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Thriller Characters?►Criminals, Stalkers, Assassins,

Psychotic individuals, escaped cons

►Menaced women, innocent victims, private eyes, world weary people,

►Cops, people involved in twisted relationship

►Characters are often not black or white (bad or good), grey is dominant! 8

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Techniques► Use of tracking► POV► ECUs/CUs► Reveals (track in/

zoom in)► Dramatic angles► Eerie, tense music► Off screen sounds► Low key lighting► Chiaroscuro

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► Strong directional lighting► Over exposed or colour

manipulation► Fast paced editing esp for

chase scenes► Jump Cuts► Parallel editing► Obtrusive Editing► Silence► Exaggerated sound► Disorientation of

time/space

Lets put it into practice!►Watch the opening of Shutter Island

(look out for Thriller Codes and Convention)

►As small groups write down what you noticed……

►Try to explain the EFFECT/MEANING

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What Thriller Films can you think of?

►You have three mins to make a list of as many Thriller films that you can. In Silence

►Pair up with one person and compare/add to this list

►Get into small groups and compare/add to the list

►Sharing with the class – which group has the most….

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Thriller Films► Inception► Fight Club► Psycho► Silence of the

Lambs► Memento► Dark Knight► The Shining

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► The Departed► The Prestige► Bladerunner► Se7en► Reservoir Dogs► Bourne Identity► North by

Northwest► The Usual

Suspects► Shutter Island► Taken

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Thriller Directors► Alfred Hitchcock► Brian de Palma► Stanley Kubrick► David Fincher► Orson Welles

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► Roman Polaski► Ridley Scott► M Night Shyamalan► Steven Spielberg► Quentin Tarantino► Christopher Nolan► Tony Scott► John Carpenter► David Cronenberg► Jonathan Demme

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Activity► Write a 50-100 word “advertisement” for the thriller film

genre, trying to mention the most important conventions eg For Romance Genre: Wanted: Love story. Do you love

candles and dancing in the rain? Must have the ability to resolve problems between couples and reach a happy ending. Experience with kissing, telephoning and acting hurt essential. Must have ditsy friend, handle lots of misunderstandings and be willing to accept a ring at the end. Empathy with young women an advantage. Your job will require chatting up people and you will have to work in bedrooms and in moonlight as well as big social gatherings, especially weddings.

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