Thriller Sub-Genres:
Thriller can be seen as a broad genre based on suspense, danger, and tension so to better prepare for my brief I researched thriller sub-genres to narrow down the type of film I will be creating, I will be breaking down psychological thriller, and action thriller and going into the specific conventions of each of them.
Psychological Thriller:
Psychological Thrillers make use of the tension created by the atmosphere and mise-en-scene to prolong the anxiety and stress by making the viewer uncertain about the reality of the film and playing mind tricks to confuse and manipulate the viewers' perception of the film.
This is done through many ways such as an unreliable narrator, using an unreliable narrator can make something that is usually a way to ground the film's reality but by making the narrator not always be accurate it creates a sense of distrust and unease which keeps the audience on edge.
Psychological thrillers include little action scenes and incorporate quiet and still scenes with long shots with minimal cuts with slow build ups. Additionally, psychological thrillers use a lot of closed and claustrophobic framing and shots to create a sense of discomfort that goes on all throughout the film,
lack of sound also adds that sense of unease that is quintessential to psychological thriller.
It is known for being about subjects that may not be traditionally scary but are manipulated to show them as such. Some major themes of this sub-genre include trauma, obsession, and manipulation.
Action Thriller:
Action thrillers are based on fast paced actions scenes where the tension comes from immediate danger, a time constraint, or proximity to a threat. In action thrillers, tension can be observed whether it can be heard or physically seen. There is a known threat to the safety of the characters' lives or goals.
Unlike psychological thrillers where conflicts are mostly internal action thrillers rely on external conflicts often directly tied to survival, stakes are usually set high and are known throughout the film and are simple and set for the duration of the film.
Relies on sequences of danger such as car chases, shootouts, or combat which grow tension and can alter a plot's trajectory and are when the stakes are the highest.
Typically follows a 3 act structure where in the first act the main characters are introduced the world that they are a part of and high stakes conflict is introduced, then transitions to the second act where tensions escalate greatly and stakes are the highest the antagonist or danger gets an advantage this makes the audience anxious and gives them that feeling of unease where the main characters get close to failing, then the third and final act where the characters are tested and forced to make a decision and the threat is avoided.
Reflection:
After researching sub-genres, I have increased my understanding of the thriller genre and the specific ways directors, producers, and writers work together to implement conventions to allow for a film that fits the genre and excels by using common tropes to appeal to audiences.
I will now begin thinking of a storyboard with my team to prepare for the brief, and I will choose if an action thriller, a psychological thriller, or even a different sub-genre will be the best for me and my team.
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