Sub-genre

1. Genre Research

2.  Is a popular sub-genre of thrillers with heavy focus
on characters. It often incorporates elements from
the mystery and drama genre along with the typical
traits of the thriller genre. In addition, psychological
thrillers contain elements of and often overlap with
the horror genre, especially seen in psychological
thrillers.
 Characters are no longer reliant on physical strength
to overcome their enemies but are reliant on their
mental resources by battling for equilibrium in the
characters own mind. The suspense created by
psychological thrillers often comes from two or more
characters preying on one another's mind. E.g.
Playing deceptive games.

3. Themes
 Psychological thrillers tend to follow
certain themes which is the centre of the
story. Some of them as follows are:
 Death
 Reality
 Identity
 Existence
 Purpose

4. Conventions of a physiological
thriller
 The conventions of psychological thrillers will include things like:
 Low level lighting- shadows to create fear/tension.
 Quick edits & changes in camera angle- increase the feeling of fear
and shock. Often used during significant scenes.
 Music- high tension, eerie, silence.
 Flashbacks- time disorientation confusing the audience or showing
the past to give an insight into why the characters are the way they
are.
 Black and white colouring- increase effectiveness of shadows.
 Claustrophobic spaces- entrapment of the mind, planes or house.
 Font/colour of title- may be written in a certain way to emphasise the
theme of the film.

5. Directors of Thrillers
 Alfred Hitchcock - also known as the 'Master of
suspense' uses these conventions to an extent that
its so effective and really encapsulates the
audience. You can find it in one of his best films
'Psycho' which does this really well.
 David Lynch - is a surrealist director whose
mysteries are usually puzzles of the mind. The
audience and the characters themselves must figure
out what is real and what isn't. E.g. Mulholland drive.
 Martin Scorsese - director of 'The Departed' &
'Shutter island'.