3. History & Context
The thriller genre evolved from a crime film and was developed by Alfred
Hitchcock. The reason why is because many of the techniques used in thrillers are
easy to implement with the presence and pressure of crime. For example the
tension that is created from the threat of killing.
The very first recognised Thriller genre film
was called ‘The Lodger’ (1926). This film
showed the evolution of Thrillers. It was
the fiirst movie to have the typical effects
on the audience which are included in
most Thrillers. The techniques used were :
•Build up tension
• Element of suprise
•Strong emotions
•An intellengent storyline
Most thrillers attract the males and females aged 15-19 because young adults
like the sudden rush of emotions, excitement and keeping them "edge of their
seats"
4. Purpose
• The purpose of the thriller genre is to create suspense and anticipation for
the audience.
• The genre has this purpose because it emphasises the danger that the
central character faces and the tension with the key dilemma is built on
throughout the film and leads to a highly nerve-racking climax.
• The effect on the audience is that it allows the audience to remain
intrigued, keeping them alert and at the edge of their seats.
• However, some films contain conventions of multiple genres.
• Therefore, the purpose of crime thriller subgenre relies on the suspenseful
aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. The plot of a crime thriller is
usually centred on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt.
• And the purpose of the film-noir thriller subgenre is to portray not simply a
sub-genre, but a period for a diverse, stylish type of thriller that was
popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s. With the subgenre film-noir
thriller, it is branded by a black-and-white style with stark lighting effects.
Also, film-noir thrillers rely on a narrative voice and various flashbacks to
explain the complex plot.
5. Classic Films
The 39 Steps
(1935)
12A
Contains of a spy
storyline.
The reason why its a
thriller is because it
contains spy's which is
linked to crime and
murder.
The Third Man
Rear Window
(1949)
12
(1954)
PG
Shadowy, suspenseful
mood.
Spies, a murder,
intense plot.
The reason why it’s a thriller This fits under the thriller
genre as it contains
is because it includes a killer
endless clues which make
and lots of mystery.
audience watch haplessly.
North By Northwest
Frenzy
(1959)
PG
(1972)
18
Government spies.
A serial killer, murder,
police and a twisted
storyline.
The thriller in this film allows
audience to sit at the edge of
their seats as the follow the The thrill of the spine chilling
murder of a distinct woman
journey of a advertising
is mysterious with a
executive.
perverse, captivating
storyline.
6. 20-30 Thriller Film List
(1-10)
Film name
Year
Rating
Subgenre
1. Rear Window
1954
PG
Mystery
2. Carrie
1976
18
Horror
3. Cape Fear
1991
18
Psychological
4. Reserviour Dogs
1992
18
Crime
5. Léon
1994
18
Crime
6. The Usual Suspects
1995
18
Crime
7. Deep Impact
1998
12
Disaster
8. A Perfect Murder
1998
15
Crime
9. The Ninth Gate
1999
15
Religious Mystery
10. The Others
2001
12
Horror
7. 20-30 Thriller Film List
(11-20)
Film Name
Year
Rating
Subgenre
11. The silence of the lambs
1991
18
Mystery
12. Scissors
1991
18
Psychological
13. Sleeping with the enemy
1991
15
Psychological
14. Seven
1995
18
Crime
15. Domestic Disturbance
2001
12
Mystery
16. Kiss of the Dragon
2001
18
Mystery
17. Abandon
2002
12
Mystery
18. Cellular
2004
15
Crime
19. Untraceable
2008
18
Mystery
20. 88 Minutes
2008
15
Crime
8. 20-30 Thriller Film List
(21-30)
Film name
Year
Rating
Subgenre
21. Identity
2003
15
Mystery
22. Red Eye
2005
12A
Action
23. Flight Plan
2005
12A
Drama Mystery
24. Inside Man
2006
15
Crime
25. The Da Vinci Code
2006
12A
Religious Mystery
26. District 9
2009
15
Sci-Fi
27. 2012
2009
12A
Disaster
28. Shutter Island
2010
15
Drama Mystery
29. Prisoners
2013
15
Crime
30. Riddick
2013
15
Action, Sci-Fi
9. 10 Contemporary Thriller Film List
Film Name
Year
Rating
Subgenre
1. Buried
2010
15
Mystery
2. Black Swan
2010
15
Psychological
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2011
18
Mystery
4. Unknown
2011
12
Psychological
5. Blitz
2011
18
Crime
6. Man on a Ledge
2012
12a
Crime
7. Argo
2012
15
Political
3. Side Effects
2013
15
Psychological
4. Prisoner
2013
15
Crime
5. The Purge
2013
15
Sci-Fi
10. Subgenre Analysis
ThrillerA character hits a
woman hard in the
face with a
motorcycle helmet
and hits another
man’s head against
a desk which knocks
him unconscious.
RomanceTwo of the
characters
become intimate,
they kiss
passionately.
Action
There are action
packed scenes
where people
jump out of a
moving plane
and a rugby field
is blown up.
Crime
The people are
sent out to walk
across frozen
water, where they
inevitably fall in
and die.
11. Subgenre Analysis
Action:
Editing – The pace is
really fast and lot of
things happening at
once.
Conventions –
Weapons and explosions.
There is always good guys
and bad guys.
Film- District 9
Year-2009
Rating -15
Sci-Fi:
Mise En Scene-Weaponshigh tech machinery and
spaceships.
Technical ConventionsSpecial effects and CGI.
Exaggeration on diegetic
sounds.
Thriller:
Thriller:
A narrative pattern of
establishing enigma
Creates suspense and thrills the
audience.
Sound – Non- diegetic
score music which builds
up tension.
Mis En Scene- Urban/Suburban
environment.
