Research: What is a thriller? Miss Begum

What are genres? Why is it important to know this?

Genres help us categories things according to their similarities and similar characteristics. I.e. thriller films are mainly scary, comedy films are funny and rock music is loud. It is important we know this so the audience knows what to expect from the film they watch. Genre also applies to books, music etc. so people know what to expect.




Example of genres of film:
-thriller
-horror
-romance
-comedy
-action
-animation
-drama
-rom-com

The thriller genre – the definition

Definition of thriller is a film, play or novel with an exciting and adrenaline rushing plot usually involving crime but may also involve paranormal activity. The thriller genre usually causes the audience to respond in a dramatic way and feel on edge throughout the plot.




Common conventions of thriller films:
-eerie sound
-low-key lighting
-themes of murder, revenge or obsession
-antagonist characters
-victim characters
-isolated locations
-blood and weapons used
-masks




The thriller audience:
Most thriller films are given the rating of a 15 or an 18 due to the themes that are present that are only suitable to people of this age. Anyone younger, they might be really affected. Some of the themes that appropriate for this age are murder, revenge, torture or religion so it is important that the older people are watching stuff like this and not the younger generation who might be mentally scarred from it.

Examples of thriller films – state why, brief description of narrative

An example of a horror film would be The Black Swan as the film is full of suspense. The film is based upon a very passionate ballet dancer (Nina) who puts her dancing before everything in her life. When the dance company decide to replace the main dancer for the production swan lake, she is first to come to mind. Unlike before, Nina now has competition for the main role from the new comer. Although Nina is perfect for the role, Lilly personifies the black swan. Things start to get suspenseful and dark between the two dancers.

Seven:

About a serial killer who wants to kill people according to the seven deadly sins. Two detectives are after him to solve the mystery and catch him, however there is a twist at the end where the serial killer has a surprise in store for Mills, one of the Detectives.

Scream: A hidden killer is making his way through a group of friends killing them one by one. The audience are left guessing throughout who the killer is and what their motives are.

Sub-genres of thriller films- example

A sub-genre of a thriller film is psychological, and an example is ‘Orphan’ as the little girl is struggling mentally and emotionally.

Another sub-genre is supernatural, ‘what lies beneath’ is an example as it has paranormal activity with in the movie.

Crime/Thriller - Taken as the protagonist has to solve a crime in order to find his daughter who has been kidnapped.
Action/Thriller - This is like a film like Speed where the protagonist has to save people from dying on a moving bus. An antagonist is behind it all as he is seeking revenge to authority figures.
Thriller/Horror - Halloween. A young Michael Myers looks for revenge on people from his past. He wants to harm and kill people along the way.

 Audience response to thrillers

While watching a thriller the audience usually reacts physically and psychologically. When the audience react physically, they may do things like shake, close their eyes, their goose-bumps might go and hairs might raise. This is out of their bodily control. When audiences react psychologically, they will be scared at night, might cross-over on the street etc or want to sleep with the light on.

Why is it a popular genre?

Thrillers are important genres for many reasons that the audience isn’t always aware of. Some watch it because they like thrillers, some watch it because they’re pressured into it, but mainly people watch it because the film they watch excites them and makes them question why things happen like they did. For example films like orphan scares the audience and may even make them scared of every little girl they see. But knowing this doesn’t stop them from watching it because it’s the thrill that there looking for.