Types Of Thriller Films

Aims:-

- To explore types of thriller films: -
                                                        - Murderous passion,
                                                        - Psycho-traumatic,
                                                        - Innocent on the run,
                                                        - Identity,
                                                        - Political thriller,

                                                        - Film noir

- Codes and conventions of the thriller genre.

Panic Room (2002)

- How does this film create a feeling of suspense?

Eerie music is used, with a single-take tracking/panning shot, showing the house and where the people who are trying to break in are. There is no dialogue to begin with, the scene consists of just low, cello-based music. The music itself gives the scene a sense of foreboding.

- What does the audience not know when they watch this clip? What mystery or enigma is set up?

The audience does not know who is trying to get in, or why. We do not know what the criminals' plan is - whether they want to steal something, if so what? Etc. We don't know why they want what they are there for.

- How are victims/heros isolated and how does this make the audience feel?

To begin with, they do not know what is going on and there is only a mother and daughter - they could be portrayed as vulnerable and perhaps not be able to defend themselves against the burglars.


Types of Suspense Thriller

- Murderous Passion: 
Husband, wife, and sometimes either one of their lovers. Someone ends up being murdered. 


Blood Simple

- How does the opening sequence use lighting and conversation to create mood or atmosphere?

The very beginning of the film consisted of shots of different landscapes. When the man and woman were talking in the car, it is very dark, but everytime another car drives past, the light fills the screen to add tension.

There are pauses and awkward silences in the conversation between the man and woman. Their faces are hidden from the camera, which adds a sinister feel, as you do not know who they are - their identities are hidden.

The voice-over at the beginning is very blunt and strong - he makes a point about how different communities operate and the contrasts between a Texan communities and others. 


- Psyco-traumatic:
Main character is so damaged by past events that he/she commits more crimes.

Psycho (1966)

- Describe the use of camera and type of shot in this scene.

The camera does not show all of the woman's body while she is in the shower. Also, when she has been killed and the camera zooms into the plug hole and fades to become her eye, this adds a good effect, perhaps showing that her life is gone?
The camera shots also hide the knife actually piercing the skin from view.

- How is sound used?

To begin with there is just the diegetic sounds of the shower, but when the killer draws back the curtain and begins to kill her, high-pitched, tense music plays. When she is dead, the sound of the shower is the only thing the audience can hear again.

- Is tension or suspense created in any other ways?

Shadows from behind the shower curtain could emphasise that something is going to happen. She isn't aware that someone is behind her. The film, even though it could have been in colour, it is in black and white, this might add to the harsh, morbid feel of it.


- Innocent on the run:
Someone who is accused of a crrim, or is mistaken for someone else, and they have to go into hiding, or get away.

- Thriller based on changes in 'identity':
Characters changing their identities to avoid getting caught, etc.

-'Political' thrillers:
Government conspiricies, assasinations, etc.

- Film Noir:
(made originally in America, 1940s/50s)
Sinister, grim, pessimistic.
- Low-key lighting creating patches of light and dark. Implies that society was grim and gloomy. Creates shadows perhaps emphasising the trapped feeling or situation of a character, or characters.

- Isolation - characters can look isolated by having just one light shining on them, and the background in total darkness.

- Femme fatale - often very dramatic, seductive characters. They usually smoke, to show emphasise their danger. They sometimes get men to commit crimes for money, or they commit the crimes themselves.

- Camera angles can also play a big part in film noir type movies, for example, there are layers and poses involved in various scenes to show superiority, and importance, etc.


Mildred Pierce (1945)

- How is mise-en-scene, including lighting, used tp create suspense and tension?

Dark patches and shadows play a large part. Shadows travel across the walls, ceilings and characters. There are not many lights on in the house, these cast eerie shadows on the rest of the rooms, etc, emphasising the man's isolation, and/or trapped situation - there is nobody there to help him.