The mystery/thriller genre originated from detective books and novels in the late 19th/early 20th century, such as Sherlock Holmes stories. One of the earliest mystery films was the 1903 short Sherlock Holmes Baffled. Notable film companies that produce mysteries/thrillers include MGM, New Line Cinema, and Polygram. Famous directors like Christopher Nolan, the Coen Brothers, and Alfred Hitchcock, along with actors like Kevin Spacey, Robert Mitchum, and Anthony Hopkins, are associated with the genre. Awards like the Edgar, Golden Globes, and Oscars recognize excellence in mystery writing and filmmaking. Key elements include a protagonist investigating a crime, with suspects, plot

1. Genre Analysis
BY MISCHA KELLEHER

2. Mystery/Thriller genre
From a historical perspective the origin of the mystery/ thriller genre, and the later
development of it’s various sub-genres was influenced on the whole by old detective
books and mystery novels e.g. The Sherlock Holmes books and Agatha Christies works.
For instance widely cited as the first true detective film and the first film to reveal to
audiences the mystery genre ‘ Sherlock Holmes Baffled’ was a very short mutoscope reel
created between the years 1900 and 1903 .
This is considered the beginning of when books started to really influence film makers
into bringing the creative ideas within many of these books to life.

3. Notable film
companies
 True MGM
 New line cinema
 Polygramed filmed entertainment
 Touchstone Pictures
 Syncopy

4. Notable Directors and Actors
Directors:
 Christopher Nolan
 Ethan & Joel Coen
 Alfred Hitchcock
 David Fincher
Actors and actresses:
 Humphrey Bogart
 Kevin spacey
 Robert Mitchum
 Elliot Gould
 Sea Penn
 Anthony Hopkins
 Russell Crowe
 Gwyneth Paltrow
 Grace Kelly

5. Awards
 The Edgar awards, are usually given to deserved writers within the mystery
genre but the awards can be translated into the context of film and be given
out to screenwriters
 The Golden Globes
 The Academy Awards
 The BAFTAs
 Palme D’or Awards (Cannes Film Festival)

6. Key Features
The key features of this genre of film character wise, would be having a protagonist who would usually
take the form of a detective, private eye or an ordinary person trying to find justice.
Within a mystery film you are always going to find an antagonist i.e a perpetrator of a crime, along with
this there are victims, witnesses, potential suspects and often “Red Herrings”, which are used as
distractions to build up the suspense.
In addition to this there are usually plot twists within the narrative of the film used to heighten the
suspense. The perpetrator of the crime isn’t revealed to the audience until the end of the film. In contrast
in some films the perpetrator of the crime is shown to the audience earlier on with in the narrative of the
film.
Thriller / Mystery genre encompasses “film noir” elements, such as using a complex narrative. The plot of
the film may not always be in chronological order, therefore increasing the sense of mystery, which
requires the audience to actively engage / think within the film.

7. Style
The Director uses various techniques to heighten the mood of a scene. The film can be
visually altered using various lighting techniques, or digitally altered and also the use of
different camera lenses. For instance if the content of the film is harsh or brooding the
director of the film may choreograph the mood of the characters within the scene,
through use of lightening. The ,use of harsh or cold palette of colours for the scenes,
such as greys, cold blues, harsh whites or dull shady lighting, reflects the tone of the
scene.
In the mystery genre suspense and fear can be created by use of certain shots, for
example the camera shot that gives the impression that a character out of frame is
secretly watching another character.