My initial thoughts of the thriller genre

So far we have been learning some of the key concepts of the thriller genre. We have looked at the thriller signifiers and conventions. The key signifiers in the plot and narrative include; mystery and intrigue, a twisting and turning narrative, a spiralling narrative, corruption, chases or pursuits and narration by a male protagonist. Thrillers also often have an atmosphere of sleaze, sex, claustrophobia and a sinister or threatening tone. The thriller signifiers of the mise-en-scene include things like bleak settings, urban settings, rain lashed streets, shadows and slanted light, night, enclosed spaces, staircases and chiaroscuro lighting. There are also some very conventional types of characters; these include femme fatales, hardboiled detectives, flawed heroes, a male protagonist and women that are sex objects. The conventional themes of thrillers are things like corruption, mystery, deceit, sexuality and moral ambiguity. Finally, there are also some signifiers and conventions of the cinematography. Examples of these are tilted camera angles, the use of vanishing points, and high and low angle shots.

I tend to watch quite alot of thriller films, as it is one of my favoured genres of film. I would say that my favourite thriller films are Fight Club, Leon, Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, Sin City and The Game. Some of the thrillers that I have watched recently in order to help me with this project are Heat, The prestige, Cape Fear and American psycho. I thought that all of these films were excellent, Heat in particular, but they have all given me different and interesting ideas about thriller films. American psycho, for example, had a very clever opening sequence, and I may end up using that kind of concept for my own work.

So far I have enjoyed this project, predominantly because I am interested in thriller films anyway, and I am really looking forward to beginning the filming of the opening sequence of my own thriller.