introduction to thriller films

Thriller - A broad genre of literature, film and television. Thrillers stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high levels of suspense, excitement, anticipation and terror. Successful examples of thrillers are the films of Alfred Hitchcock which we studied earlier eg. Rear Window. Thrillers generally keep the audience on the "edge of their seats" as the plot builds towards a climax.

Thriller conventions 
The antagonist ensures the protagonists in an increasingly complex web, until the protagonist feels isolated and helpless.

The narrative centres upon a crime eg. theft, murder. The protagonist is fallible and has an Achilles heel that is exploited. 

Theme of identity are common. mistaken identity, amnesia and dopplegangers

Other themes that reoccur in thriller films
-Theme of seeing, reflection and mirroring - manipulation of perspective
-A series of enigmas are set up - only to be solved at the end 
-The audience is placed in the ambiguous position of "voyeur" 
-protagonist will be in danger
- the narrative presents extra-ordinary things in ordinary situations/settings
- the micro elements are used to build suspense and tension throughout the film 

Some examples of Thriller films are : 
*Gone girl, Shutter Island, The town, Black swan, Nightcrawler, The purge, Source code, Only god forgives, Drive, Side effects.