This document discusses the psychological thriller film genre and its key audience attributes. It analyzes audience data from YouGov Profiler for films like Shutter Island, The Prestige, and Black Swan. These audiences tend to be affluent, educated young professionals who enjoy being intellectually stimulated. The genre appeals to them because psychological thrillers provide challenging narratives and mysteries that engage their interests in puzzles and new ideas.

1. PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the
main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical.
SHUTTER ISLAND
BLACK SWAN
PRESTIGE
KEY AUDIENCE ATTRIBUTES KEY AUDIENCE ATTRIBUTES
KEY AUDIENCE ATTRIBUTES
OTHER FILMS TO TRY: The Machinist. Mullholland Drive, Insomnia,
Gone Girl, Before I Go To Sleep
AUDIENCE TYPES USING YOUGOV PROFILER
WHAT SIMILARITIES DID YOU SPOT?
WHY DO THINK THIS SUB GENRE APPEALS TO THIS AUDIENCE?
Male,25-39,ABC1
Top region:Central
Scotland,Midland,North East
Profession:Engineering,Media and
publishing, Law
Monthly spare: £125-£499
Hobbies/activities: video
games,board,games,cinema
General interests:
movies,books,video game
Male,18-24,ABC1
Top region: London,North
east,Yorkshire
Profession: Research/research
and de,Business,engineering
Monthly spare: £500-£999
Hobbies/activities:video
game,board games,pub quizzes
General interests: movie,video
games,science
Female,18-24,ABC1
Top region: North
east,London,Midlands
Profession: Travel and
hospitality,Media and
publishing,Accounting
Monthly spare £1000+
Hobbies/activities: reading non-
fiction,scrabble,listening to music
General
interests:music,books,movies
People who watches shutter island and the prestige has the same hobbies and general/niche
interest (video game,movie,watching movie at home)
The Prestige and Black swan audience likes cat and in the same age range
They tend to be affluent and educated.
All are open to new ideas - cultural. Progressive in terms of politics
This audience like to be stimulated - they enjoy interactive entertainment and puzzles,
therefore they enjoy the mystery and narrative manipulation you find in this genre.
The audience are all professional implying higher level education, again backing up the
point about seeking challenging media texts.
It is interesting that the one film with a female lead attracts a primarily female audience.