1. Police Crime Thriller Films
This genre includes films that have an
aspect of suspense while solving
crimes or performing the criminal act itself.
2. History
The 1940s saw a new type of crime thriller emerge: post-war films which seemed
to be more dark and cynical. Enter film noir and mystery films.
Film Noir (or black film in cinema) depicts the dark and downbeat look of
America at the time of its tensions and insecurities. These were balanced by the
music used.
These would rarely have happy endings. Film Noirs would contain non-linear
storylines and more corrupt characters and anti-heroes than truly likeable ‘real’
heroes.
Mystery films involve a crime scene which looks unsolvable at the start but tends
to expands. This happens through smaller cases that are solved in relation to the
main case. These cases are solved either by an amateur or experienced sleuth.
Over the years, film noir and mystery grew into their own subgenres along with
several others, and police crime thrillers became their own category often
recognisable by the focus on the police department’s involvement.
The Sherlock Holmes (original and modern) films are prime examples of the
mystery subgenre of the police crime thriller genre, involving an experienced
sleuth independent from the police on a mission to solve one big, complicated
case.
GoodFellas and Sherlock Holmes film posters
3. Genre Background
A police/crime thriller would conventionally involve a male detective (as
the main protagonist) who tries to solve a complicated murder case. The
antagonist is characterised as someone who has high status or lots of
power in society. Some police/crime thrillers revolve around the sinister
actions of gangsters who operate outside the law. It is a broad genre
encompassing most crime-themed films.
Conventions include:
• Having large amounts of police (e.g. SWAT teams)
• A focus on the point of villains breaking the law
• Have villains that are normally intelligent and renowned criminals
• Have faced paced scenes from action/editing
• Sometimes start with abnormal crime and then enter detectives to
solve it
• Character development of the main protagonist is emphasised
SkyFall screenshot
4. In Comparison…
Police/crime thriller films try to emphasise action in (and solving of)
the plot over the psychological aspects. Compared with psychological
thrillers, which have characters use their mental skills to overcome
other formidable threats and characters, police/crime thrillers are
much less personal and much more physical.
These types of films also have central topics of common and/or violent
crimes such as murders, heists, robberies, kidnappings, and shootouts.
In comparison, subgenres like mystery films would have much less
crime in the midpoint of the film in order to build up to a roaring
finale.
Police/crime thrillers also focus more on real life aspects, although
they do exaggerate the crime in the film. This adds fantasy aspects and
creates the perception of a crime that would be impossible to replicate
or solve in real life, glorifying the eventual solving of the case. This is
also used in mystery films to emphasise the urgency of the mystery at
hand and the intelligence of the protagonist who solves it.
Man on Fire screenshot
5. Modern Examples
Inside Man is a modern take of the police/crime thriller genre. It depicts a modern
American bank robbery. This does, however, subvert conventions of the genre because of
its deeper (historical) intentions of performing the heist. This is the film’s unique selling
point (USP) as other films have not had an idea like this. It also involves two black
detectives on the case – a noticeable duo in a society with some discrimination through
class and attitudes. This discrimination is shown within the American police workforce and
the suspects being interrogated.
The Dark Knight Rises presents the character Batman as a masked vigilante who, although
on the good side, is seen as a criminal because of the way he does his job. He is the
conventional hard-around-the-edges detective character, but having the bat-like costume
as opposed to a police uniform singles him out from the rest.
Most police/crime thrillers are for older audiences. Inside Man, for example, is a film
which would attract an older audience because of its plot and content, while the Dark
Knight Rises appeals to a wider group; from original comic book lovers to 12-year-olds who
enjoy some action scenes.
This goes to show that the subgenre of thriller and police/crime films has been modified
not only to become more modern but to also attract the tastes and attention of different
demographics. This is so that they are more suitable and appealing to them and,
ultimately, so that the companies in power can make profits.
