analysis of thriller genre texts

1. ANALYSIS OF SIMILAR TEXTS
Thriller Genre

2. PSYCHO ANALYSIS
Psycho is a film that I have chosen to analyse. Although the clip I analysed
was not an opening scene it helped me to establish elements of camerawork
and sound that I can use or chose not to in my own opening scene. To
represent the thriller genre.
Psycho was released in 1960 and was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It comes
under the hybrid genres of thriller, horror and mystery. It is rated age 18,
which means that it must contain some very strong violence and gore. As I
can also see this from the small clip I analysed. I have chosen to analyse this
film because I think the use of camerawork and sound are successful at
showing common conventions of the thriller genre.

3. CAMERAWORK USED IN PSYCHO
The camerawork in this clip is used to create feelings and attitudes that are common in
the thriller genre. For example the theme of danger and death are very common and
this can be seen in the clip from Psycho when the woman is killed in the shower. The
feeling of danger is created when an establishing shot is used, this gives the audience
knowledge that there is a manly figure behind the shower curtain before the woman.
This creates danger because the audience are able to realise that something bad is
about to happen. Another common feeling in the thriller genre is suspense, this is
created in this particular clip through the use of a zoom out shot. For example when
the woman is laying on the floor there is a close up of her eye, as her eye is open the
audience will believe that she is alive. Then it starts to zoom out, that’s when the
realisation comes that she is not blinking and she is dead. This creates a feeling of
suspense because the audience are following the action and they are intrigued.

4. SOUND USED IN PSYCHO
The sound used in psycho is also used to create feelings and atmospheres that
a relatable to the thriller genre. For example in this clip there is a use of
digetic sound. When she is in the shower the sound of the water is loud so it
sets a natural setting. This creates a feeling of realism for the audience because
they feel as if they are there in the situation. This makes the audience feel
scared because they feel empathy for the character of they realise that it could
potentially happen to them. Fear is a common theme in the thriller genre. The
other kind of sound used was non digetic theme music. When the male
character opens the curtain, the music starts playing it is very uncomfortable
along with the sound of the woman screaming. This makes the audience feel
uncomfortable and helpless towards the character and therefore creates a
feeling of tension. Throughout the rest of the film, if the audience hear that
theme music they will think of the man that killed her. Which again triggers
fear and tension.

5. HOW IS THE NARRATIVE SET UP
IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE?
In this opening sequence, the location is located immediately. An establishing
shot is used to show the audience a city setting, full of tall buildings, offices
and banks. During this establishing shot there is a zoom in to one of the
buildings into a window, from the window there is a gunshot which smashes
the window. This shows the audience straight away that there is a disaster. This
portrays to the audience that something bad is going to happen.

6. HOW IS THE NARRATIVE SET UP
IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE?
In the opening sequence the identity of the main character is not revealed to
the audience straight away, however they are following his journey. For
example the first sighting of him is from the back and his face is kept hidden
by a clown mask. The audience is then following his movements from the high
street to the bank as he is in the car. The characters identity is not revealed
until 5 minutes in when he finally takes the mask off. This is creating a feeling
of suspense.

7. HOW ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERS
INTRODUCED IN THE OPENING
SEQUENCE
At the beginning of this clip there are 2 different characters wearing clown
masks and holding guns. These clown masks are consistent throughout the
whole clip and towards the end of the clip an overall total of 6 characters can
be seen wearing them. All of these characters play an important role in the
bank robbery. The use of the guns represent the characters as dangerous
criminals along with the masks to hide their identities shows the audience that
the ‘clowns’ are the antagonists.

8. HOW ARE THE CHARACTERS
INTRODUCED IN THE OPENING
SEQUENCE?
There is a zoom in effect used to show the audience the first glimpse of one of the main
characters. For example there is a man with a with his back to the camera, dressed in black and
holding a large bag. The large bag represents he is the ring leader of the clowns and is most likely
the one to be leaving with money after the bank robbery. The colour black connotes a dark, scary
person which also reinforces the idea of him being the leader of the antagonists. The most
important part in this clip is the zoom into the clown mask he is holding in his left hand. The
zoom represents that this mask is significant and makes it memorable for the audience so they are
able to recognise it later on in the clip. This shows that he is an important character and is
definitely one of the main characters. At the very end of the clip, the man wearing this mask is
seen. After shooting the manager of the bank there is a low angle shot where he removes the
mask. Revealing to the audience he is the character of the Joker. Those who have watched the
first film will know he is the main antagonist in the Batman films.

9. HOW IS THE THRILLER GENRE
ESTABLISHED?
The thriller genre is represented through sound. For example there is a lot of
digetic sounds used, such as glass smashing and gun shots whilst in the bank.
This creates realism and therefore sets a feeling of danger for the audience. As
this makes them feel more involved with the action and they begin to feel
scared because it is a dangerous situation. There is also a use of theme music
to create a feeling of disaster. For example in the very beginning of the clip
there is a climatic theme music used, this same music is used at the end of the
clip when the joker reveals his identity. This means that the audience will
recognise that music the second time and get the feeling once again that
something bad is going to happen. The feeling of danger and disaster is
consistent throughout the genre, this is one of the ways genre is established.

10. CONCLUSION
In this clip I learnt that the location and the idea of something going wrong is
established very quickly. However the identity of the main antagonist is
hidden whilst all of this is being introduced. The conventions of thriller genre
are seen quite consistently in this clip. I found the narrative structure
interesting in this clip, because it challenges Propps narrative theory. This is
because usually in the opening a normal situation will be introduced (an
equilibrium) and then it builds up to a disaster. However in this opening
sequence it starts off with a disaster, which could suggest that it might be a
flashback. I like the idea of a flashback or a disaster before the equilibrium
because it is different. This also makes the storyline more interesting, I think I
will use this idea in my own opening sequence.

11. SHUTTER ISLAND ANALYSIS
I have chosen to analyse the opening sequence of Shutter Island. The film is
set in 1954 however it was released in 2010 and directed by Martin Scorsese. It
has an age certificate of 15 and comes under the hybrid genre of Mystery
Thriller.
This is the hybrid genre I aiming for in my own production, I also have a
target audience of 15-25 years old. This analysis will help me with my own
production.

12. HOW IS THE NARRATIVE SET UP?
In this clip we can see the location through the use of an establishing shot. For
example we are able to see a lake or a river, somewhere surrounded by greenery.
This shows the characters are in a remote place. It is highly protected as we can
see many police officers guarding the area. Therefore the audience are unaware
and intrigued to find out where they are.
We also learn the characters are on a journey to somewhere hidden. This can be
seen through the use of camerawork. For example there are close ups of barbed
wire around the building, there are also POV shots of the car driving up the
driveway. The impact of the POV shots shows the emphasis of how many gates
there are. All the gates are guarded by police officers as well. This shows the
audience that the characters are on a journey to somewhere hidden and perhaps
dangerous.

13. HOW ARE THE MAIN
CHARACTERS INTRODUCED?
In this clip we can see two men that stand out from the rest. They are wearing
hats and long coats, this suggests they are authoritative figures with high paid
professions such as doctors or detectives. We also learn that one of these men
is more important than the other, he is the main character Teddy Daniels. The
camerawork is used to show this. For example there are close ups of his face,
this makes the audience recognise him. The use of two shots also show him as
the more important character. For example in any two shots, Teddy is closer
to the camera or in more focus than the other. This suggests to the audience
that he is the bigger, more important character and therefore the main
character of the film.

14. HOW IS THE THRILLER GENRE
ESTABLISHED?
In this clip the thriller genre is established through the use of theme music. For
example throughout the opening sequence there is a dramatic, mysterious music
being played. This creates suspense for the audience because they are following
the journey of Teddy however they are unaware of where they are going. The
music adds to the suspense. The feeling of suspense is commonly seen in the
thriller genre, dramatic theme music is also a convention of the thriller genre.
The genre can also be established through the Mise En Scene. For example, there
is low key lighting throughout the clip which creates a dark tone. The setting is
scary, the audience can clearly see that anyone inside the building is a threat and
has to be locked away. This can be seen from the barbed wire and multiple
guarded gates, connoting a mental institute or a prison. This shows the audience
that the characters are in a dangerous location and creates an uncomfortable
feeling. The dangerous setting and low key lighting are always found in the Thriller
genre.

15. CONCLUSION
In this clip, the narrative and characters are established quickly however not
completely. The location, storyline and characters remain a mystery to the
audience even though they can be seen. I find the introduction of Teddy
interesting because the audience are unable to tell whether he is the
protagonist or the antagonist. This challenges Toderovs theory because he
believes that there a noticeable differences between characters. This adds to
the mystery element of this film. I like the idea of the audience not knowing
about the character or the plot, so I plan to interpret this into my own
production.