Thriller Genre & Narrative Themes

1. Thriller Genre& Narrative Themes Genres in part can be defined by how the narrative disruption is presented, for example a murderer on the loose in a horror/thriller or a drug baron taking over an area in a gangster area. Thrillers are often based around the genre of crime but it could be based on anything, with thrillers a lot of hybrids are involved where its two types of genre or a sub genre, you could have a thriller/horror or a thriller/action . Other sub genres could be medical, eco/disaster thriller, a romance ‘gone bad’/stalker or a serial killer. A thriller sub genre that has become popular is the political thriller genre after the assignation of President Kennedy Narrative is defined as “a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship occurring in time”. An unrestricted narration narrative is when it has no limits to the information that is presented for example a horror film where we know more than the victim. In a thriller the narrative is restricted so a lot of the information is hidden. There is an equilibrium and then the equilibrium is disrupted and then the equilibrium is restored again. Thriller’s narrative have often a complex structure, they like to keep the audience guessing on what will happen next and it has twist and turns. A lot of thrillers have a restricted narrative, questions and or riddles will be left unanswered until towards the end of the film. Also in narrative they can put in false clues a ‘McGuffins’, do make the audience think its gone one way or this certain ‘object’ that was spoken about was important but really it isn’t.

2. Thriller History Alfred Hitchcock who made very famous thriller films such as ‘Psycho’ said his intention was “to give the public a good healthy mental shake-ups”. Alfred Hitchcock also popularized the use of a ‘MacGuffin’ with his 1935 film ‘The 39 steps’. A MacGuffin is used sometimes in the first scene to make the audience feel it means something and is part of the narrative plot but then later in the film its importance isn’t acknowledged any more and its used to lead the audience astray.

3. Narrative Themes • Thriller’s narrative have often a complex structure, they like to keep the audience guessing on what will happen next and it has twist and turns. A lot of thrillers have a restricted narrative, questions and or riddles will be left unanswered until towards the end of the film. Also in narrative they can put in false clues a ‘McGuffins’, do make the audience think its gone one way or this certain ‘object’ that was spoken about was important but really it isn’t. • Tzvetan todorov’s Theory of Narrative • He suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages: A state of equilibrium so for example in Collateral you see Max’s everyday life as a taxi driver. Then a disruption of the equilibrium by some type of action or happening. A recognition that there has been a disruption. An attempt to repair the disruption, so in classic thriller the films the Protagonist has to fight of the antagonist for the reinstatement of the equilibrium.

4. Narrative Conventions • Thrillers are often based around crime but not always, for example taken is under the genre of a thriller but is not based around crime. It almost always has a complex structure, it can have a lot happening at once and some information is only found out right at the end of the film which sometimes leads to the audience understanding the whole film. They can make the audience on edge the whole time, making them ask questions, guessing what is going to happen next – suspense. • Different Levels • There can be the psychological experience so you can feel a wide range of emotions varying from sad, happy, anxious all in one film. • You can feel the thrill of the film so the action and the violence and the danger can make you feel thrilling and excited because it doesn’t happen in your everyday lfie. • Then there is the extraordinary happening in the ordinary so place/objects/people all can become dangerous and thrilling filmed in a way to create fear and suspense and excitement.

5. Characters • In thrillers there are several characters which usually are involved in the plot and narrative, there is almost always a hero type character who is usually a man and they re store the equilibrium. This person is probably just a normal everyday person who is ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ so for example in collateral the taxi driver is just in the wrong place or a police officer, another word for this is a Protagonist. • Then there is the antagonist (villain) who creates the narrative disruption and is usually psychotic but extremely clever. • Then there is the victim who is usually a female who is most threatened by the villain and they’re usually not really involved in the whole crime situation. You also have the donor, the helper, the dispatcher and the false hero. Not all of these necessarily have to be the main characters or even in it at all but these are just the usual type of characters that re in the narrative.

6. Sound and Editing

7. Sound • Volume – this is the level of sound so it could either be high or low. If it's an intense but in a movie the volume might be quite low to make it feel quite chilling and se the mood where as if its ‘happy’ movie the volume might be quite high to show how up beat it is. In thrillers typically low volume will be used. If music is quite loud it takes away the suspense of the thriller where as low music can create a tense atmosphere and sometimes scary. • Pace – this is the speed of the music. So for example if its an action movie and there is a high speed car chase the pace of the music would be quite fast just to match what is happening on the screen. But if its in a film and it’s a sad scene the pace of the music might be quite slow to bring down the mood of that scene. In a thriller if its leading up to something big the pace could be quite fast and to make the audience feel like it’s leading up to something and feel excitement. • The pitch describes the range of the sound • Timbre/tone describes the texture • Silence can be as a powerful to create a mood as sound. Having silence in a film can be really intense and un-nerving especially in a thriller. You’re nervously waiting for the next thing to happen, this can be a really good technique to draw the audience in.

8. sound • I looked at the opening title sequence of Donnie Darko and studied the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds and why they’re there. Starting off with diegetic at the start of Donnie Darko you hear birds which people most commonly take notice of when you first wake up, it’s also quite a peaceful soothing sound. There is some music in the opening title sequence which is non-diegetic, at first it’s quite low and slow and it sounded quite dark so it gives the audience maybe the impression it’s going to be a dark movie but when he gets on his bike this slow type piano starts playing but in an upbeat way. So it’s quite confusing as to what the genre of the film is and what it’s going to be about. • Diegetic is natural sounds that occur in everyday life. • Non-Diegetic is sounds that have been placed in the edit for example music.

9. Editing • Editing is a clever process of placing separate shots together because its so well done most of the time you rarely even notice that it has been edited, unless the director has done this intentionally. When the director does do this its usually to create effect or emotion. Sometimes editing is used to tell the audience something in the narrative. Continuity editing • Continuity editing helps the plot of the film rather than dominate it. It also gives the impression that these edits are motivated, like its leading to something. Almost all films use continuity editing. The Batman begins tumbler scene, loads of different shots of the action cut together and makes up about 10 seconds of the filming but you get to see all of the action taken place. Editing Content: • A graphic match is where there is a similar relationship between the two shots to make it look smooth. • Graphic contrast is when the next shot it in contrast to the last show to create impact.

10. Editing Match on action • This is when the cut is made on the action, for example when someone jumps from one building to another the camera is on one side of it and then the next shot is taken when the person lands on the other building, its unlikely for the audience to take notice because its part of an action scene. Parallel Editing • It cuts from two different scenes that are going on at the same time but in different places. For example in silence of the lambs when you think the police are going into the Killers house but really they get an empty house but as they’re ringing the doorbell of that house, the killers doorbell is also going off so it gives you false information about who is actually at the door.

11. Mise-en-scene and Cinematography

12. Mise en scene is a term which describe the design features of a film production. It basically means ‘telling a story’. So for example you have the setting, location and set design and then props, costumes, make-up, figure expression, facial expression, lighting and colour all contribute to what makes up Mise en Scene. • In thrillers a lot of the things like for example the location/setting can make it typical of that genre, so it can be anywhere but of urban space so cities/towns. In the Film ‘Brick’ in the opening scene of the film there are parts of it in a school, and school is meant to be a safe environment, some where you feel secure and this can also make your mind up about the characters, maybe they will be young adults studying at high school, • just from one shot it sets the scene and • gives the audience answers . • Another Mise-en-scene you typically find in • thrillers is the way the lighting/colour is. • Again in Brick the colour of the film is de-saturated, • blue and there are a lot of shadows and light and shade, low key type of colours. It creates a dull depressing mood as well as it creating a black type of atmosphere, almost mysterious and eerie which is crucial in a thriller for it to feel like that. Mise en Scene

13. Mise en Scene Costumes and Makeup - In Brick the clothes that the people are wearing are quite bland and not very colourful which tells you about the character and again about the mood. The guy who receives the notes from his girlfriend wears quite boring clothes which could also mean he is a bit of an outcast from other people at his school, not really ‘in fashion’. It also does bring down the mood in the film, if they’re wearing bright colours it brings quite a happy mood. Props – In films props can really contribute with the narrative and in thrillers It can not only contribute to the narrative but get the audience asking questions. It could be a briefcase that is shown or a folder that is past over to someone, something that obviously has significance to the film. In Brick a note is in the guy’s locker from his girlfriend telling him to meet him somewhere, it gets people asking questions as to why she can’t just phone him or talk to him face to face, yet she has to give him a note as a way of contact.

14. Cinematography • Shots that are typically used in a thriller is the extreme close up shot, because with the person or object being so close up to the screen, right into the viewers faces it can create suspense. With it being an object you know that it could have significance to the main narrative of the film. Or with it being a person, you can see clearly their emotions, which usually if it’s a thriller could be fear. And with that character filling all the screen it can make the audience watching it feel that emotion too. • For example in Collateral in the opening scene there is an close up shot of Vincent (Tom Cruise) and it shows the audience that he has no emotion on his face what so ever. You get a clear look of him and it also is for the audience to clearly see his a key character in the film. He is wearing sunglasses which could mean he doesn’t want to show emotion, and I think they do this shot to give the audience clues as to what character he is going to be. • Then you have the tracking shot, with this is can make the audience feel part of the film, this shot is usually used when a big moment or dramatic scene is happening, its good because it keeps the audience intrigued and interested and part of the action, for example if the character is running and the shot is used so it looks like the audience is running with the character into danger.

15. Cinematography • A camera shot that is used a lot in thrillers is POV/APOV, what this does it puts the audience in the shoes of the protagonist/antagonist. You basically see everything that they see, and you get a feel of what they are feeling. They do this in collateral where Max looks down at a photo and as he does this you get the angle of what he is looking at, and you see a photo, this photo could imply importance, and maybe important for the audience to know his character, he could be a dreamer, or someone who works towards a goal. • There are different uses of camera angles, you have the high angle shot, this can be used a lot in thrillers to make a target or even the criminal getting caught look weak and defenceless. It can again make the audience feel like the powerful one, because the camera is looking down on the person who is defenceless. You then have the low angle which shows you a view from below the person. The camera is looking up at the person/object and it can make whatever that is look more powerful and strong and the one in control. • Unconventional angles is gives the audience an uncomfortable view, this can be used a lot in thrillers because they’re meant for the audience to sometimes feel uncomfortable and on edge.

16. Thriller Audiences

17. Typical Thriller Target Audience • Gender wise both Men and Women enjoy thrillers, they each have similar and different aspects that they enjoy from thriller films. The Target audience would be starting from young so around 15 – 30 year olds and then from middle age so 30-50 year olds, I think typically enjoy thriller films the most. Reason being that I think older people will not enjoy these type of genre of films, they might even find it offensive. Men enjoy thrillers I think for the suspense the way you’re on the edge of your seats and mystery but also for the action e.g. Violence, car chases. They find excitement in this maybe because its not in their every day life. Woman I think enjoy thrillers because of the suspense, mystery but also for the typical strong male lead. E.g. Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio. They like a break from reality. I think this goes the same with teenage boys and girls but obviously everyone has different opinions on why they watch thrillers but I think this is the typical view. • Because most thrillers are rated 15-18’s the target audience does start at 15. Sometimes thrillers are 12’s but because thrillers do usually involve a lot of graphic violence which some young viewers aren’t suitable to watch. Also they can involve a lot of swearing and possible sexual nature. These are usually above the rating of a 15 but if its not frequent it can be rated a 15. • I think Men maybe prefer the thrillers such as The Dark Knight rises because it does hold a lot of action and violence and the thrill of that, but personally woman do enjoy those type of films as well but I think they prefer the more crime and mystery films such as Drive and Taken. Again men do enjoy these films as well.

18. Taken Sub genre  Taken is an action/crime/thriller film. Certificate  15  Drugs Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. Taken – The woman who are taken by sex traffickers are put in drugs to make them tired. Violence Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification. Taken – The violent scenes in taken are strong and there are a lot of them, most scenes do involve some type of violence, a lot of the violence isn't majorly graphic and horrible but there are a few scenes where it can be quite uncomfortable to watch e.g. when he is electrocuting the man in the chair.

19. The Dark Knight Rises Sub genre  The Dark Knight Rises is an Action/Crime/Thriller film. Certificate  12A Violence Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification. Dark Knight Rises – There are a lot of scenes of violence in Dark Knight Rises but it isn't constant through out the whole film and a lot of the violence isn’t amazingly graphic. Language Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent. Dark Knight Rises – There are a few scenes in The Dark Knight Rises with strong language but this is infrequent so it’s acceptable for this movie rating.