2. Examples of Films in the genre
Se7en, 1995
Dir. David Fincher
Gone Girl, 2014
Dir. David Fincher
The
Dark Knight, 2008
Dir. Christopher Nolan
3. Film summaries:
A film about two
homicide detectives'
(Morgan Freeman and
(Brad Pitt desperate
hunt for a serial killer
who justifies his crimes
as absolution for the
world's ignorance of
the Seven Deadly Sins.
Se7en Gone Girl
On the occasion of his
fifth wedding anniversary,
Nick Dunne reports that
his wife, Amy, has gone
missing. Under pressure
from the police and a
growing media frenzy,
Nick's portrait of a blissful
union begins to crumble.
The
Dark Knight
It has been eight years since
Batman (Christian Bale), in
collusion with Commissioner
Gordon (Gary Oldman),
vanished into the night.
Assuming responsibility for
the death of Harvey Dent,
Batman sacrificed everything
for what he and Gordon
hoped would be the greater
good. However, the arrival of
a cunning cat burglar (Anne
Hathaway) and a merciless
terrorist named Bane (Tom
Hardy) force Batman out of
exile and into a battle he may
not be able to win.
From reading these film summaries
they help identify the type of genre
the film may be. Highlighting in red
are words that help recognize that it
is a police thriller.
4. Conventions seen in the genre
• Suspicion suspicious of a character and regularly accusing them for a crime they
did not make or someone who already has a criminal background letting the real
criminal get away
• Enigmas usually a person that is mysterious or difficult to understand
• Extraordinary events Events that the viewer was not expecting to happen in the
film.
• Drama Dramatic sequence / story helping to build up the film’s main events.
• Investigation Police usually investigating into the crime o help find the criminal.
• Antagonist in danger Someone being help captive and their life being held in
the hands of the criminal.
• Fast Pace Fast pace editing used usually in action sequences or when something
important in the film is happening.
• Antagonist & Protagonist Antagonist: a person who is opposed to. Protagonist:
is the central character or leading figure in.
• Storyline that requires thinking A storyline that has a deep meaning to it
which gets the viewer thinking often making them view the movie a 2nd time.
• Crime an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law
• Cliff-hanger a dramatic and exciting ending to a film which usually continues in a
5. About the genre
What is a thriller movie?
A type of film known to promote intense
excitement, suspense, a high level of
anticipation, ultra-heightened
expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and
tension
What is a crime movie?
A film that focuses on the lives of criminals. The
types of approaches to a crime film varies from
realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures,
to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-
villains.
Crime Thriller is a Hybrid genre as it contains
more than one genre being crime and thriller.
1. Chinatown, 1974
2. Touch of Evil, 1958
3. Vertigo, 1958
4. Badlands, 1973
5. Rashomon, 1950
6. Double Indemnity, 2008
7. Get Carter, 1971
8. Pulp Fiction, 1994
9. Hidden, 2015
10. Goodfellas, 1990