What is a Thriller?
When thinking about what a thriller film is there are many different things we need to consider. One of them being how is a thriller different to a horror film. Well, a thriller film is different to a horror film because in horrors you see a lot more blood and guts whereas, in thrillers there is a lot less blood and they are more psychological as they play with your mind. Thriller films are full of clues that make sense right at the end of the film.
Overall the definition of a thriller film is:
Thriller films are a genre of film that uses suspense, tension and excitment as the main elements to engage the audience. Thrillers include fast paced and frequent action with resourceful hereos. The sub genres of thriller films are psychological, mystery and crime. Thrillers are mostly categorised by an atmosphere of violence, crime and murder although they often appear to have a 'happy ending' where the villians are killed or arrested. When thinking about thriller films the first person that pops into your head is Alfred Hitchcock as he was the man who made the worlds most well known Thriller, Psycho. Without Alfred Hitchcock making amazing films like Psycho then the definition of a thriller film could be very different to what it is now.
What is the difference between a thriller and a horror film?
Many people get confused with the difference between a thriller film and a horror film and many people even believe that thrillers and horrors are the same genre. Well they are completley different. The definition of a thriller film is just above. So what is a horror film? Horror films are films that include a lot of blood and gore which contrasts with thriller films. Horror films like the audience members to feel fear and become extremely jumpy when they are watching the film. Horrors also use a lot of graphic images and clips within the film as it makes the audience scared. For example: Sweeney Todd is a horror film as you see graphic views of the demon baber of Fleet Street cutting of his 'patients' head. the one way that you can remember the difference between a thriller and a horror film is that thrillers tend to play with your mind and horror films use a lot more blood and gore.
What is the difference between a thriller and a horror film?
Many people get confused with the difference between a thriller film and a horror film and many people even believe that thrillers and horrors are the same genre. Well they are completley different. The definition of a thriller film is just above. So what is a horror film? Horror films are films that include a lot of blood and gore which contrasts with thriller films. Horror films like the audience members to feel fear and become extremely jumpy when they are watching the film. Horrors also use a lot of graphic images and clips within the film as it makes the audience scared. For example: Sweeney Todd is a horror film as you see graphic views of the demon baber of Fleet Street cutting of his 'patients' head. the one way that you can remember the difference between a thriller and a horror film is that thrillers tend to play with your mind and horror films use a lot more blood and gore.
Callum Cole's Top 5 Best Selling Thriller Films.
The Top 5 list is based on the selling revenues.
1. The Town.
‘The Town’ is only just recently been on the 24th September, but has already won its spot as the number one on the top thrillers list. The reason why this film has made its way to the top of the chart is not only because of the interesting storyline and the big names fronting the movies, but the camera work and the work on the cutting room floor is what has made this thriller so popular. Below are two links to reviews about the movie:
2. Inception.
‘Inception’ has earned its slot in the top five best selling thriller films as it uses many of the thriller film conventions, such as; playing with your mind, plot twists etc. Many people criticise the fact that the film is classed as a thriller as they don’t believe it fits in to the basic stereotype of these films. But this is because the film is a Sci-Fi Thriller, which means the film doesn’t follow the basic structure of the classic thriller films. The film is popular with the audience as it gets the audience thinking and lets them have their own thoughts of what is going on. Below are two links to reviews about the movie:
3. Machete.
I personally do not see how ‘Machete’ is classed as a thriller as I would say it would fall more into the action genre. The reason it may be classed as a thriller as it plays with some of the conventions used in thriller films. The lighting and cutting of certain films helps create the thriller essence about the film. Below are two links to reviews about the movie:
4. Predators.
Once again I personally do not believe ‘Predators’ should not be in the top five thrillers list as it involves more elements of other film genres. I can see what makes classes it into the thriller category as it uses mind tricks and does not show that much blood and gore. Lighting, sound and the cutting work together to class it in the thriller genre. It would be successful with the audience as it is a film that would have you on the edge of your seat. Below are two links to reviews about the film:
5. Let Me In.
‘Let Me In’ has easily made its wat onto the top five list as it uses the key concept of thriller films. The film plays with your mind and leaves the tension to the way the film is edited. The quick cutting, music and use of different camera shots all accumulate to make this film successful. The film may be about a vampire and the murders but it does not focus on the blood and gore road it could of taken. Instead it creates suspense and tension by the editing playing with your mind. This would be successful with the audience as it follows the typical thriller film format yet has twists to the plot to keep the audience’s attention. Below are two links to reviews about the film:
Although these five films would not go down in my top five thriller films, I can see how they have made themselves stand out in the crowd and work their way to the top of the best selling list. I believe if films such as Psycho, The Birds or any of the other Hitchcock classics where realised today they would be straight at the top of the list.
Georgie-May's Top 5 most successful Thriller Films.
Number 1: Psycho. 5 stars
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| Psycho poster |
number one most successful thriller of all time. This is because Alfred Hitchcock didn’t just make a film, he also made the audience feel as if they were actually there, he would not permit you to enter the auditorium after the film began and also made sure it was dark when you walked in. Hitchcock also would not have his main actors, Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, talk to the press or radios as he did not want anyone to know anything about the film. Psycho is also number one as Hitchcock was the first person to make a thriller film where you saw a woman’s body as this was not allowed in the 60’s. I would also say that Psycho is the top thriller film because of the famous shower scene. Nothing this gory was seen on film before so Hitchcock set the standards for thriller films to come in the future. Psycho is the number 1 top thriller film because it was a one of a kind and thriller films that have followed in the future have not been as engaging. Also, Psycho is so successful because of the box office gross it received which was $32,000,000 and that was the USA alone. The music in Psycho also makes it the most successful thriller film as the shower scene is accompanied by bone chilling music and you start to become very scared. The camera shots used in Psycho also make it effective because they are quick and short so they keep your attention as you don’t want to miss anything. Also, the trailer for Psycho was 8 minutes long and consisted of Hitchcock going round the movie set describing what happens. This is effective as you get an insight into the film and is why I believe the film was so successful and is still watched today.
I read two reviews about Psycho and the first one was from movieeye.com This was a high-quality review as it explained all the amazing things about Psycho and also told you about the plot. Here is a useful extract from the review that I found quite intriguing:'If for nothing else, "Psycho" will always be remembered as an assured step in the right direction for cinema. With its bold subject matter and depictions of murder and dementia, the film caused uproar of both positive and negative viewpoints, and paved the way for other filmmakers to express their vision without the so-called moral limitations put upon them by the public.'
The second review I read was from filmsite.org. This was a good review as it told you all about the film and about the censorship rights. Here is an extract from what I read: Psycho also broke all film conventions by displaying its leading female protagonist having a lunchtime affair in her sexy white undergarments in the first scene; also by photographing a toilet bowl - and flush - in a bathroom (a first in an American film), and killing off its major 'star' Janet Leigh a third of the way into the film (in a shocking, brilliantly-edited shower murder scene accompanied by screeching violins).
Number 2: Se7en. 5 stars
The film Se7en is rated as number 2 because from the start of the film you are engaged and there is not one point in the film where you turn away from the screen and think ‘what’s the time, I’m getting bored now.’ Se7en takes you on a psychological journey through the se7en deadly sins and each sin is shown completely differently and the they way are shown is so horrific that you can’t believe your eyes. Se7en is an all star cast and is one of the reasons why it is so successful because the way they act is faultless. Kevin Spaceys performance of John Doe is unbelievably amazing. The main reason why I believe Se7en is so successful was because of the twist at the end of the film as you were not expecting it to happen. Se7en is also number 2 as the lighting that is used in the film really sets the scene as you are in the dark throughout the film but at the end it comes out into the light and you find out what has been happening. Se7en takes you out of your comfort zone and by the end of the film you really do take a look back at your life and think about what you have done. If you have committed any of the 7 deadly sins…
One of the reviews I read was from Empire online and was a useful review as it describes why the film is good and how everyone should see it. Here is an extract from the review: ‘You come away reeling, emotionally and mentally, shaken and most definitely stirred, muttering to yourself that they couldn't possibly have done that. But they did. Oh boy, did they. For the ending alone, this is simply unmissable.’
The second review I read of Se7en I read was from moviegazette.com and was useful also as it gave you an in depth insight to what the film is about and also gave you a bad point in the film. Here is an extract: The only part of ‘Se7en’ I continue to find irksome, after repeated viewings over the years, is its ending. It’s often regarded one of the most memorable climaxes in cinema and, though that is probably true, it just doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the film. I’d even go as far as to call it a bit of a cop out. But maybe that’s just me.
Number 3: The Sixth Sense. 4 stars
‘I see dead people’. Probably one of the most famous quotes from any film and is why Sixth Sense is number 3. Bruce Willis is an amazing actor and once you have seen this film you will understand why. Throughout the whole film he doesn’t realise what has happened to him and the fact that as an audience member you can’t see this is superb. The twist at the end of the film is one of the most un predictable endings ever and is why I say it is number 3 as the ending is the most important factor in any thriller film as it ties up any loose plots and explains completely what you have just been watching. Another reason why the Sixth Sense is number 3 is because the dead people within the film look so scary that when they appear out of nowhere you jump out of your skin. Also, it is so successful because Haley Joel Osment was such a good child actor that you believed every word he said, even when others thought he was ‘weird’. It is also a successful film as in the opening weekend in 1998 the film grossed an amazing $26,861,262 which is a lot of money over only 2 days. I feel that without the twist at the end of the film then The Sixth Sense would not have been as amazing as what it is and is still watched today because it is so unexpected and you would never have thought about it. One of the reviews I read about The Sixth Sense was from empireonline.com and here is an extract from this:There is an unnerving but emotionally satisfying maturity to The Sixth Sense that makes it so much more than a beautifully worked parlor trick. It's a ghost story about being human.
The second review that I read was from plume-noire.com and here is an extract:
Bruce Willis's acting is surprisingly sober and more clever than you may think. He knows perfectly how to stand back and at the same time create a presence that is not too erased.
Number 4: The Silence of the lambs. 5 stars
Silence of the lambs is number 4 as in the film there is a full star cast who are all faultless for their amazing acting. When watching them on screen they keep you engaged in the film and you never take your eyes off of the screen. Jodie Foster was the star of this film as she was amazing and she kept you engaged in the film from start to finish. Also, it is one of the most successful films because it won the top 5 academy awards including best actress, best actor and best picture, which proves that it is very successful. Also, this film is successful as Hannibal lector scares you so much that you are hanging on to the edge of your seat. It is also a very successful film as it grossed an amazing $272,742,922 and is an incredible amount of money. The Silence of the lambs is a very dark film and is also why it is a successful thriller film because it keeps you wondering what else is going to happen.
One of the reviews that I read for The silence of the lambs was from reelsview and here is an extract from it:It is a dark psychological thriller - the kind of movie that occasionally receives a Best Picture nomination, but almost never takes home the statuette.
The second review I read was from Squidoo and here is an extract: Not only is the acting first rate, but Silence of the Lambs has managed to capture five Academy Awards. The very thought of having to get into the mind of a serial killer in order to capture another serial killer is horrifying. The movie does a great job of bringing serial killer Hannibal Lector to life in all his glory, and you feel as if you're literally in the room with him.
Number 5: Inception. 5 Stars
Although Inception is a new film I believe that it is the 5th most successful as it is an all star cast including Leonardo Dicaprio, Michael Caine and Ellen Page. Inception is the perfect thriller film because it keeps you guessing and you are not sure what is going to happen. Inception is the type of film that if you blink you will have missed something important. If you watch Inception in the cinema you can’t go out to get some more popcorn because I assure you when you get back you will be too confused. Inception is an action packed film and is very psychological. The director uses a lot of fast paced camera shots and is why Inception is successful as you are continuously being taken somewhere else. The way the director takes you into the dream world of a character is amazing as it gets so in depth that by the end of the film you are wanting more and you wish that you could actually intercept people’s dreams. The special effects that are used are out of this world as buildings are moved upside down. The film was also filmed in 6 different countries so that you could have the real effects of how the characters are feeling and you also get the sense of realism. The story behind the story in Inception is also why it is such a good film because you do not expect what happens. Going into someone’s dream has never been done before and is why it’s successful because it is new and it intrigues you.
The first review I read for Inception was from the Telegraph and here is an extract:
The real novelty of the concept is the layering of dreams within dreams, yielding addictively vertiginous sequences of parallel action. The physics of each level get destabilized by what’s happening above: when Cobb is dunked in a bath to wake him up, a flash-flood hits him in his dream world.
The second review I read was from Empire and here is an extract:With physics-defying, thunderous action, heart-wringing emotion and an astonishing performance from DiCaprio, Nolan delivers another true original: welcome to an undiscovered country.
One to watch in the future: Buried 4 stars.With only one character in the film Buried is definitely a film to remember. Ryan Reynolds (Paul Conroy) is an amazing actor who engages you from the beginning to the end of the film. It is an extremely dark film as Paul is buried in a box and the only light in the film is a torch running out of batteries, a lighter and a Mobile phone, which is running out of battery. Although the film is cliché in the way that he has a phone but it’s running out the film is still amazing. When watching a film with only one character you expect it to be dull half way through, but when watching the film you stay engaged and are always wanting more. I feel that people will remember this film as it really makes you feel as if you are buried alive…
Conventions of a Thriller Film.
-Plays with the audiences mind
-Doesn't include blood and guts
-Jumpy
-Fast paced/ high pitched music
-Quick cuts
-Psychological fear
-Full of 'clues' that sum up at the conclusion of the film.
-Plot twists
-Cliff-hangers
-Has audience on the edge of their seat
-It has a climax to the film
-The killer has a 'troubled' past
-Full on suspense and tension
Below I have included some spider diagrams showing the conventions of a thriller film:
Edit Transitions.
Editing is selecting and combining a selection of shots into a sequence. It involves adding effects and cutting shots to suit your target audience and end up with the finished product.
Cut.
The point where two shots come together, used to create manipulate suspence or pace. Thriller films usually use quick cuts to create tension and spark fear into an audience.
Dissolve.
The blending of two shots, used to show the pass of time or location. This could be used in a thriller to show a characters background.
Fade.
Its similar to a dissolve, shwoing a change in time or lacation, but this technique is less harsh and more emotional.
Clock wipe.
The shot sweeps from one to another in a clockwise direction, it is shown to indicate time has passed.
Jump cut.
A jump cut is used to dissorientate an audience. It is not contiuous and is used to pass time.
Cross cut.
It is used to establish action happening in two locations at the same time.
Iris.
An iris is mainly used in comedies and cartoons, but can be used in other genres. It is used to focus your attention to a certain point of the scene.
Zoom in.
This is used to focus on a certain point of the scene that could be considered important to the storyline.
Zoom out.
When zooming out of an object lets the audience establish the location in where the scene is shot. This is useful in thrillers as its helps the audience see the whole situation to fully create tension etc.
Codes in thriller films
Codes are the signs that the media wants us to think and recognize without us having to be told them. Codes are the secret meanings. An example of a code is a heart. When you see a heart you automatically think of love and the director hasn’t told us this.
One of the typical codes that you see in a thriller film is blood. When the audience sees blood they automatically know that something bad has happened, usually death.
Another code is a cross. A cross has a secret meaning of the devil and religion. It shows hell and is where evil people go after doing something bad.
Another code is bad weather or rain. This is a code as it insinuates that something bad will happen. Usually someone will get hurt. There could be a death, kidnapping etc.
Dark lighting is also another code as it sets the scene for something bad to happen. Dark lighting is used as it shows that it is late at night and only bad things happen at night.
Newspaper clippings are also another code for thriller films because they usually show some information about possible serial killers, deaths etc, and show that someone or people are on the loose and someone is going to get hurt.
Another code in thriller films is stringed or heartbeat music. This type of music is not what people usually hear so when it is played people know something is going to happen as it gets your heart racing and you are on the edge of your seat.
Another code in thriller films is quick cuts. Quick cuts show that the film is very fast paced and that there is a lot of action that will happen. It keeps the audience on edge and lets them know that something is going to happen that will be bad.
Ideologies in thriller films
Ideologies are a dominant set of ideas that present themselves as common sense or truth and power relations are reinforced through ideology. Ideologies are when you see the same thing as someone else but you interpret it differently. There are many different ideologies but the ideologies that there are in thriller films are:
Crime and punishment:
Crime and punishment is definitely one of the main ideologies used in thriller films as different characters interpret it differently. The antagonist in the film interprets crime and punishment as something bad. They do not like the police as they are always doing something wrong and they do not want to get into trouble for what they are doing. The police however see crime and punishment as a good thing as they want to put the antagonist behind bars as they are putting peoples lives in danger.
Gender:
Gender is another ideology used in thriller films. Women in thriller films see men as aggressive and dominant as they are usually the people who are causing trouble and are the people who are hurting the women. Women are seen by men as defenseless and an easy target as men always go to hurt women. Men see themselves as the dominant characters as they can control women in thriller films.
Feminist:
Feminism is an ideology seen within thriller films as feminists see society as male dominated and in thriller films males do dominate as they are usually the villains and dominate what happens within the film. Feminism shows that it is harder for women and in thriller films it is as they are seen as weak by men. Also, women are always targeted by men so it is harder for them to beat the antagonist.
Camera Angles
When researching thriller films we have to first look at the camera angles that are used in thriller films and why they are used. There are a variety of camera angles used in thriller films and they all have a different meaning behind them.
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| Example of an extreme close up |
Extreme close up – ECU: The director uses an extreme close up as the audience can feel the emotions that the character is feeling. You feel as if you are with the character in this scene. An ECU is mainly to highlight a certain part in close detail. An ECU is used in a thriller as you can see into the characters mind and what they are plotting. You can see the anger and if they have any blood on their face or if they have been hurt.
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| Example of a big close up |
Big close up – BCU: The director uses this shot so you feel as if you are spying on the character and as if you know what the character is feeling. A big close up is used in thriller films to see the whole of the characters face and to see if they are hurt or what they are feeling or planning to do next.
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| Example of a close up |
Close up – CU: The effect of a close up is that you can see the persons facial expressions and how they are feeling. You know exactly what they feel but not in detail like an ECU. A close up is used in thriller films to show scared expressions from the victim in the film as the audience feel sorry for them and don’t want anything bad to happen to them.
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| Example of a medium close up |
Medium close up – MCU: The effect of an MCU is to show how the character is feeling but you can also see the characters shoulders which have the effect of how they feel through their posture. This shot is used in thriller films as you can see the characters emotions and see how they are feeling by the way they are standing e.g.: bent over means they are in pain.
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| Example of a medium shot |
Medium shot – MS: A medium shot has the effect as if you are talking to the character. You feel as if it is very life like. In a medium shot you also see what type of person they are as you can see what clothing they are wearing and what stereotype they belong to. Thriller films use medium shots as they can show the audience what type of lifestyle they lead by their clothing.
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| Example of a medium long shot |
Medium long shot – MLS: A medium long shot is used to show that you are becoming more distant to the character. The effect of a medium long shot is to make the audience relate to how the character is feeling and you feel empathy for them.
Long shot – LS: The effect of a long shot is that you know more about as you can see their socioeconomic status as by their clothes you can tell how wealthy they are and what class they belong to.
Very long shot – VLS: The effect that a VLS creates is that you see the person from a distance so you do not feel as if you are connected to them. They are just a stranger to you. You feel that they are very mysterious as you can not see their facial expressions.
Two shot: A two shot gives you the effect that the two people are very close with each other and creates closeness between the characters and the audience. You can feel both of the characters emotions.
Over the shoulder shot: An over the shoulder shot creates mystery for the audience as you can not see one of the persons face. It also create realism as that is how people have conversations and it makes you feel as if you are eavesdropping in on the conversation.
Interviewee looks into space in the frame: This shot is used so that the audience knows that a conversation will soon follow and you know that some action is about to happen.
Moving subject walks into space: This shot creates mystery as you do not know who the character is going to talk to although you find out the characters socioeconomic status.
High angle shot: This shot is used as you feel small like the person in the shot. This shot is used to make the person look small and usually results in the person they are talking to are of a higher power than them. You can also interact with them and how they are feeling.
Low angle shot: This shot makes you feel scared when you look at the character because you know they are of a higher power than you and they make you feel very uncomfortable. You also know that something bad might happen as they have a higher status than other characters.
Tilted frame: When looking at this shot you feel disorientated as everything is at an angle and is not ‘normal’. You know that something bad will happen as the screen is not as it should be.
Film Titles.
The titles in a film are very important as they tell the audience mainly, who created the film and who is staring in it but it also gives the audience a insight on what the rest of the film is about. There are certain conventions on what we expect to see in the titles of any film, there is also a order that is common in most films. Below i will list what what xpect to be in the titles and in the order that is usually followed.
- Institutional marker
- Production company
- Title of the film
- Names of the major actors
- Casting director
- Music director
- Costume
- Visual effects
- Editors
- Producers
- Director
- Is it based on another text/ book/ story?
There are also a few golden rules to making successful film titles in a student film:
- Have a production company.
- Choose only ONE type of titles.
- Use music wuth the title sequence.
- Use the titles to seperate the different sections of teh story.
- Font needs to fit the genre/story of the film.
- Put the titles in the standard order above.
This is what makes film titles successful.
We analysed some samples of film titles, below is a timeline of what happens where in the title sequence.
Spiderman film titles:
The purpose of film titles is to introduce you to the story and give you an overview of what will happen. The order that the film titles are in are very important because they tell the audience who made the film, who the actors are that star in the film, who directs the film and so on.
The order that the titles go in for the film Superman are as follows:
- Columbia sony pictures enertainment company - Institutional marker
- Marvel
- Columbia pictures presents
- A Marvel enterprises production
- SPIDER-MAN
- Starring - the main actors names and there was 12 of them
- Casting by
- Co-producer
- Music by
- Costumes designed by
- Visual effects designed by
- Edited by
- Production designer
- Director of photography
- Executive producers
- Produced by
- Based on the Marvel comib book by
- Screenplay by
- Directed by
With any film the titles are generally in the same order but it depends on the budget of the film. If the company has a little amount of money then they may not be able to design costumes so the costume designer would not be mentioned in the titles. However, the larger the budget of the film is, like Spider-Man there will be a lot of different jobs and people that will need to be mentioned in the titles.
Level 4 theories:
Miller: He was a theorist who said that when choosing the genre for a film you have to make sure that you organise and make sense of your experiences and is in a way that says something about us.
Dyer: He said that you had to recognise conventions and narratives of genre so they become utopias, makes genre pleasurable and desirable experience for the audience.
By loooking at these theories it can help us to make our thriller film as these theories tell us that when we are going to make our thriller films we need to make sure that the film will be pleasurable and desirable for the audience. Taking this into consideration we need to make sure that our film is going to cause the audience to feel something after they have watched the film.
How to create a successful thriller:
One way to create a successful thriller film is too make the audience unsure of what is happening so that their attention is drawn into the film and are going to watch more of it. Another way to make a successful thriller film is to make it unconventional as you want to make the audience see things that they are not expecting to see so it is a new experience for them. Another way to create a successful thriller is to have an exciting storyline that includes many twists in it and causes the audience to feel a lot of tension whilst watching the film. When editing the film there should be sound and music that is appropriate to the genre of the film so in this case the music would have to be creepy so that it makes the audience feel on edge. There also needs to be mysterious characters that are interesting and will keep the audience wondering who is the killer and what the characters are going to do next.
- Marvel
- Columbia pictures presents
- A Marvel enterprises production
- SPIDER-MAN
- Starring - the main actors names and there was 12 of them
- Casting by
- Co-producer
- Music by
- Costumes designed by
- Visual effects designed by
- Edited by
- Production designer
- Director of photography
- Executive producers
- Produced by
- Based on the Marvel comib book by
- Screenplay by
- Directed by
With any film the titles are generally in the same order but it depends on the budget of the film. If the company has a little amount of money then they may not be able to design costumes so the costume designer would not be mentioned in the titles. However, the larger the budget of the film is, like Spider-Man there will be a lot of different jobs and people that will need to be mentioned in the titles.
Level 4 theories:
Miller: He was a theorist who said that when choosing the genre for a film you have to make sure that you organise and make sense of your experiences and is in a way that says something about us.
Dyer: He said that you had to recognise conventions and narratives of genre so they become utopias, makes genre pleasurable and desirable experience for the audience.
By loooking at these theories it can help us to make our thriller film as these theories tell us that when we are going to make our thriller films we need to make sure that the film will be pleasurable and desirable for the audience. Taking this into consideration we need to make sure that our film is going to cause the audience to feel something after they have watched the film.
How to create a successful thriller:
One way to create a successful thriller film is too make the audience unsure of what is happening so that their attention is drawn into the film and are going to watch more of it. Another way to make a successful thriller film is to make it unconventional as you want to make the audience see things that they are not expecting to see so it is a new experience for them. Another way to create a successful thriller is to have an exciting storyline that includes many twists in it and causes the audience to feel a lot of tension whilst watching the film. When editing the film there should be sound and music that is appropriate to the genre of the film so in this case the music would have to be creepy so that it makes the audience feel on edge. There also needs to be mysterious characters that are interesting and will keep the audience wondering who is the killer and what the characters are going to do next.
Questionnaire
We asked a group of 10 people a set of questions to get a rough sense of what they like about thriller films. It also helped us decided on what target group to aim our film at and what stuff we should include to make it successful.
1. Age:
14-18 50%
19-25 20%
26-35 10%
36-45 10%
46+ 10%
2. Gender:
Male 50%
Female 50%
3. Do you like Thriller films?
Yes 100%
No 0%
4. Is yes, what sub genre of thriller films do you like and why?
Psychological 70%
Crime 20%
Sci-fi 10%
Other 0%
I have included some of the reasons why below:
" I like psychological because it makes you more engaged with the storyline as you tend to think what is going to happen next!"
"Crime is my favourite as you work out crime along with the characters and makes you think about whats going on and keeps you on the edge of your seat."
5. What do you like to see within a thriller film?
Unconventional storyline 40%
Twists and secrets 30%
Stereotypical characters 20%
Happy ending 10%
6. What is your favourite thriller film from below?
Psycho 20%
Taken 20%
Kill Bill 10%
Matrix 10%
Buried 10%
Paranormal Activity 30%
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