Sub Thriller Genres

The Thriller Genre has evolved as of late and has expanded into a whole new variety of Sub Thriller Genres. Theese are becoming increasingly popular with the general public because being 'thrilled' is no longer enough.

 Sub-genres

Conspiracy Thriller

This type of genre consists of some sort of hero or heroine (protagonist) who are stereotypically journalists or armature investigators who find themselves trapped in a very powerful organisation. The companies are usually brought down by the protagonist character. This is all about Good vs. Evil. Conspiracy thrillers often play with the secrecy of governments and major organisations in history.
Crime Thriller

The hybrid between crime and thriller has created a more suspenseful account to showing successful and failed crime acts on film. Crime thrillers emphasise action over psychological aspects although there is also a psychological part to this genre as-well. Topics covered are usually double-crosses, heists, shootouts, chases, robberies, killers &murders. Crime thrillers focus more on the criminals and their actives.
Disaster Thriller

This sub-genre follows a certain groups or persons survival in conflict with natural or artificial disaster like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes eruptions. Some disaster films have also had causes of human activity that has brought mankind on the fence of extinction through nuclear disasters which are artificial. This genre is all about the future and what could happen to mankind if such disasters were to happen.
Mystery Thriller

This sub-genre clashes with the crime sub-genre. However it focuses mostly on the efforts of the detective or the private investigator in order to solve the films enigma. The sub-genre looks at the happenings of the enigma or the crime itself in order to try and figure out what the clues add up to. Audiences are made to take part of the search as they usually follow the protagonise and grow a strong bond with them. This brings a more dramatic effect to the films mystery during the investigation.
Political Thriller

This sub-genre looks into the hopes and stability of the government and the reliance on a hero or heroine (protagonist) who must ensure the stability of the government that employs him in order to prevent a bad things from happening. Repeatedly used scenarios are the US presidential elections and the preventions of world wars occurring .
Religious Thriller

This sub-genre looks at the plots closely religious objects, institutions and questions. Many religious related films usually unravel the positive and the negetive points about religion and how it overcomes the bad in films, through a quest to finding out the truth

Supernatural Thriller

This sub-genre often brings an otherworldly element that shows something out of the ordinary happening to a protagonist that had to overcome this powerful factor. Supernatural thrillers are also mixed in with tension and suspense in addition to having unsuspected twist during the film. The hero and the villain usually have a close link to religious thrillers as usually daemons entering the human body, alien life form, apparitions or the possession of a pivotal character is a element of a super natural thriller film
Techno Thriller

This sub-genre is all out the sophisticated technology playing a prominent part in taking over the world, giving the new world order where mankind is then run by robots. This subgenre is mainly based on fictional speculations on life that tend to follow a science fiction trend. There are many common themes that fall well into this category like world wars, action and science fictional occurrences like aliens taking over with a new manipulation of technologies

 

Age Certificates

 All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.

 e.g. Sherlock Holmes - Dressed To Kill (1946)

 All ages admitted, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for young children. May contain mild language and sex/drugs references. May contain moderate violence if justified by context.
e.g. Trapped (1949)

Cinema only. Introduced in 2002.
Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for very young people. Those aged under 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. However, it is generally not recommended that children under 12 years should watch the film. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate swear words, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly indicated.



   Home media only since 2002. 12A-rated films are usually given a 12 certificate for the VHS/DVD version unless extra material has been added that requires a higher rating.
Nobody younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game. The content guidelines are identical to those used for the 12A certificate. e.g The Woman In Black

Only those over 15 years are admitted.
Nobody younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context. e.g. The Grudge 3

Only adults are admitted.
Nobody younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and explicit sex references along with detailed sexual activity are also allowed. Scenes of strong real sex may be permitted if justified by the context. Very strong, gory, and/or sadistic violence is usually permitted. Strong sexual violence is permitted unless it is eroticised or excessively graphic.  e.g. Saw

What is a Thriller Film

A Thriller film is a film that defines the word tension. Thriller films are predominantly about a murder and a chase. they have several codes and conventions, some of these being: a hand held camera and point of view camera angles to give the audience a feel or realism and make them feel involved so that the tension is maximized; iconography which is props and weapons; killers and victims; a hidden identity to scare the audience and create an air of mystery; an isolated location so the audience knows there is no escape for the main character when they are held by the murderer, hit man or criminal.

The opening sequence of the film 'Saw' helps to describe a thriller film because it has a lot of the codes and conventions of a thriller film. the scene begins in a nearly pitch black room in an unknown location. the colour black is often associated with death and so frightens the audience before they have even met a character. the isolated location is typical of a thriller film as it adds to the mystery. We then hear a voice and someone has found a light, when the light comes on we see two men chained to either side of the room, the camera cuts to a point of view shot for each of the characters to increase the sense of realism and make the audience feel what is would be like to be in that situation as we can now relate to the characters because we have seen life from their point of view.

This is film is one that often comes to mind when we think of a thriller film because throughout the film we get nearly every single convention of a thriller film so we can use it as an example to perfectly describe a thriller film.

Analyse the use of sound

Five Minute Sequence from the film “Jaws”

Jaws is a thriller, with one of the most famous film soundtracks of all time. 

The scene I have chosen is when the three men out hunting for the killer shark use a harpoon to fire a rope carrying empty plastic barrels into the shark so they can locate his whereabouts.

There is a feeling of mounting tension between the characters at this point, as they have been waiting for some time to get sight of the shark, and they are all very nervous.  The music enhances this feeling of nervous tension, it is fast paced and repetitive.  Two of the characters are also shouting a lot, as they are on different locations on the boat doing different jobs, so their voices are very loud, but also they are the loud personalities, both of them vying to be better than the other, they are very competitive.  In contrast the third character, the policy chief, is very softly spoken, and works quietly.  Just the tone and inflection in their voices, tells the audience a lot about their personalities.  It all gets to a point where there is an awful lot going on and a lot of shouting, with the captain making fun of the scientist, and the scientist getting frustrated.  As this gets louder, the music gets faster and louder, and sounds more angry and dramatic, giving the audience the feeling that there could be a big row at any moment.  Then, when the engine fails to start on the first attempt, the music is silenced for a few seconds, and all you hear is the ocean, and as the characters become more and more aware that the shark is heading closer towards them, they also become quieter, the silence in a thriller type film is often one of the scariest parts, as when there is silence the audience does not really know what is going on, a bit like being in the dark.  As the engine starts, the captain comes of the cabin with the harpoon, quite carelessly and aggressively, and the music is back taking a sharp change in pitch from before, and creates a feeling of fear in the viewer.  Also, just after this, the scientist rushes to keep up with the captain, and his deck shoes slip, the sound of the rubber soles slipping on the wet boat is quite powerful and makes you jump, again a sharp sound which re enforces the danger of the sharp weapon.  All of the time in background of the shouting, the engine and the music, is the sound of sea, which is very strong and powerful, giving the audience a real feel that these men are totally vulnerable in a very small boat in a big ocean. 

It all comes to a head when the harpoon is eventually fired, it hits the shark, and as they three characters run about the ship loosening the ropes, the music again makes the viewer feel quite anxious and stressful, but all of a sudden the barrels are set free, and the music completely changes, the music sounds almost like a victory parade, really upbeat and free feeling, and gives the audience a feeling of relief that the mission has been successful.

The shark heads off with the barrels for some distance, then the barrels go under with the shark, and all goes quiet, the sea becomes still and quiet also, and this gives the audience a distinct feeling that deep under the water, the shark is lurking, and could come back to the surface and even attack the boat at any time.

Analyse a Scene using Mise-en-scene

The Bourne Supremacy

In the film “The Bourne Supremacy”, there is a scene in which all five elements of mise-en-scene are used.  This is when Jason Bourne is taken into custody in Naples and escape seems futile.

The scene starts with Bourne being questioned in the back room of an airport.  The first typical convention of a thriller film is the setting.  They are in a small isolated room without windows.  This is created so the audience feels that there is no possible way to escape and, when Bourne does manage to do so, it shocks and entertains the viewer.

There is one security guard and an interviewer both wearing dark official looking suits to re-enforce the feeling of no escape.  The security guard is against the wall with a stern look on his face.  This shows that he is not important in the scene and that he is experienced as he is not nervous.  The camera then switches to Bourne.  He is sitting in the middle of the room to show the audience that he is the main character.  He has a straight face and is not talking.  This is to lure the audience into a false sense of security so that when something does happen, they are completely surprised.

The room is painted a grey colour and all of the characters are wearing dark colours.  This is called low key lighting and is another generic convention of a thriller film.  The directors use this because it calms the eyes and thus your other senses are multiplied for when the action happens, you are literally thrilled.