Research : What Is A Thriller? : Ms Begum

WHAT IS A THRILLER?

What are genres? Why is it important?

  A genre is a way of putting films of different types of categories. The genre of a movie is important to know because it'll help you realise certain codes and conventions that the film should have. For example a romance film should have high key lighting, romantic music and usually has a storyline that is based around a good-looking male and female. The genre is also important so that you know what target audience the film is suited to, an example of this is animation film such as "Finding Nemo" and "Cars" are best suited to young children and families.

 

The Thriller Genre - Definition.



  For a film to be categorised under the definition of thriller it must elements that add up to this. These things usually play with your mind psychologically and they get a physical reaction out of you too. Soundtracks that build up loads of tension is an example of a convention that effects the audience both psychologically and physically. The soundtrack builds tension, this makes you think that something bad is approaching. The soundtrack in the background also has people "sitting on the edge of their seats" and builds up intensity to the point where people are biting their nails.

Example of Thrillers.

MAMA.

The film 'Mama' is about a man called Jeffery who kills his business partners and wife in the year of 2008. After his killing spree he then took his son and daughter to an abandoned cabin and left them there. Five years later they send out a search party looking for the children,
set but by Jeffery's brother and it's successful. When they are found they are appearing to be acting like animals. The uncle realises this and takes them to the doctors. The doctor believes that this "mama" character that the little girl has created drawings of and keeps on mentioning is simply a person that the young lady has made up. It is actually a spirit that had attached itself to her whilst she was in the abandoned cabin and made her to believe she was actually her mother figure. Because of this when the uncle and auntie gain custody of both the children the demon will not let go of the little girl and tortures the uncle's pregnant wife. She does this by playing mind games and creeping around the house. At the end of the film it is definitely clear that the spirit doesn't want to go anywhere, the aunt begs for the release of the little girl and it is given. This film would be classed as a thriller because it would cause psychological discomfort to the viewers. This is because it would not be normal for a demon spirit to be mothering a human child.

WOULD YOU RATHER.


'Would You Rather' is about a group of people who are in need of money, a wealthy man offers to help them out but little did they know it involved playing a game. The whole aim of the game it to torture the other players until there is a winner. The torturing usually ends up in severe injury, blindness or death. Amongst the players of the game there is the main character Iris; Iris needs the money in order to pay for her brothers chemotherapy. That information is not unraveled until the very end of the film. This film would be categorized as a thriller because the fact the audience has to sit there and watch the players stab, whip, drown and electric shock each other would cause a lot of discomfort. The film would have a psychological and physical effect on all viewers. It would have people cringing, covering their eyes and have them thinking how people could actually do these things to each other.

Sub-genres of Thrillers.

A sub-genre is a way of categorizing films. It is when a film has the conventions and themes of two different genres of film. An example of this would be a 'crime thriller', such as the movie 'Seven'. 

SEVEN.

Seven is a film about people who have committed the seven deadly sins. One of the main characters is extremely against what these people have done and gives them what he thinks they deserve. In the end it turns out that he too committed one of the deadly sins; this results in him killing himself. This film would be classified as crime thriller because all the themes of crime film are included throughout the film. Examples of these themes are greed, guilt and family. It also has the themes of a thriller movie such as mystery, assassins, whodunit and conflict.

Audience's Response To Thrillers.

  The audience's response really depends on what type of thriller they are watching. Stereotypical responses would be, nail biting, sitting on the edge of their seats and covering there eyes. Thrillers that affect a person psychologically would leave them to respond in a way that is not physical; being confused, anxious, suspicious and anticipating what will happen next. Even though these films may be discomforting to watch people still enjoy scaring themselves, that is why the thriller film industry is doing so well, because people will carry on paying for the excitement. 

Conclusion: How has it helped with your understanding of Thrillers and Coursework requirements?

  My research has helped me understand that thriller films are not the same as horror films. Thriller films have various contrasting themes and conventions. A thriller film doesn't have to be scary to "thrill" you, the main aim is to play psychological games and cause discomfort to the audiences or to just simply get them thinking. The research I have done has shown me that sub genres are simply two different genres in one film, the themes and conventions from both genres are put together and end up complimenting each other throughout the film. 

  I understand that in the course I have three different pieces of coursework to complete and that they all add up to fifty percent of my grade. I am expected to film a two minute thriller using everything I have learnt from my research. All my research and planning must be inserted onto my own blog and lastly I will have to evaluate all of my coursework.