This document discusses the history of psychological thriller films from the 1950s to the 2000s. It highlights several influential films from each decade that exemplified elements of the psychological thriller genre. Rear Window and Psycho from the 1950s-1960s, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, focused on the mental states of characters and generating suspense. Films from later decades like Dead Ringers and The Mist continued exploring themes of identity, perception and humanity contending with dark forces both external and internal.

1. History Of Thriller Films

2. Psychological thriller is a sub genre of thriller and can be differentiated by the heavy
focus on the unstable emotions of the characters within the movies. Psychological
thrillers still incorporate the common elements of mystery and drama but emotional
status is the main focus within the genre. Horror is a genre that can overlap with
psychological thriller; creating psychological horrors.
The mental state of the character is more important than the physical nature of the
characters in psychological thrillers and it is often the case the character is battling
with their own mind. The story can be told in the form of a first person narrative of
the character going over the events in the story or in essence, talking to themselves,
this could also be a convention of a psychological movie and this emphasizes the
mind state of the character further.
There are set themes within the psychological thriller genre that include: black
comedy, identity, death, mind, perception, reality and existence. These main themes
shape the characters in the psychological thriller

3. 1950’s
Rear Window was a key psychological thriller from the 1950’s, directed my Alfred Hitchcock. After
breaking his leg photographing a racetrack accident, professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies
(James Stewart) is confined in his Greenwich Village apartment, using a wheelchair while he
recuperates. His rear window looks out onto a small courtyard and several other apartments. During a
summer heat wave, he passes the time by watching his neighbors, who keep their windows open to
stay cool. During the film he witnesses his neighbor murdering his wife.

4. 1960’s
Psycho, directed again by Alfred Hitchcock, was a highlight of the 1960’s. The
film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes
to a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's
disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and the aftermath of
their encounter. This film has included one of thrillers greasiest scenes, this
would be the shower scene, where we see Marion showering to which a shadowy
figure greets her, and she is then stabbed to death. Psycho is now considered
Hitchcock’s greatest film after mixed views on the film were reviewed and it won
multiple awards.

5. 1970s
Night Flight from Moscow is a French
thriller made in 1973. It was produced
and directed by Henri Verneuil. The
main plot entails: In this convoluted
spy thriller, a Russian ambassador
places his life on the line when he
steals classified documents and defects
to the U.S. The papers he carries could
rock the free world. Unfortunately, the
C.I.A. must first prove that they are
real.

6. 1980’s
Dead Ringers is a
1988 psychological drama
film starring Jeremy Irons in a dual role
as identical twin gynecologists. This was a
highlight film of the 1980’s, directed by
David Cronenberg. The Mantle brothers are
both doctors - both gynecologists - and
identical twins. Mentally however, one of
them is more confident than the other, and
always manages to seduce the women he
meets. When he's tired of his current
partner, she is passed on to the other
brother - without her knowing. Everything
runs smoothly, until an actress visits their
clinic, and the shy brother is the first to fall
in love.

7. 1990s
Stir of Echoes was a
supernatural horror-thriller
with aspects of a
psychological thriller. The
movie was directed by David
Koepp and the plot is: After
being hypnotized by his
sister in law, a man begins
seeing haunting visions of a
girl's ghost and a mystery
begins to unfold around her.

8. 2000s
The Mist was amongst one
of the best rated films of
the 2000’s, directed by
Frank Darabont. A freak
storm unleashes a species
of bloodthirsty creatures on
a small town, where a small
band of citizens hole up in a
supermarket and fight for
their lives.