CONNOTATIONS OF THE THRILLER GENRE BY OLIVIA GRACEY

WHAT IS THE THRILLER GENRE?

The Thriller genre is mainly based around the idea of suspense, wonder and anticipation. As I am a huge Thriller fan, I have always been lead to believe a theory of the individual who has maybe committed a crime or blamed for a disappearance is never the person who it truly is. The element of surprise is a huge aspect of the Thriller genre as it keeps the audience guessing and on the edge of their seat to find out the truth of the film. The connotations of a Thriller genre are usually a protagonist of whom is trying to solve a crime or try and restore the equilibrium an example of this usually a family member is abducted or they have to go against all odds to overcome the disruption of the equilibrium. The climax is hugely stressed and the protagonist almost fails until they realize along with the audience how to succeed.

EXAMPLES OF THRILLER

TAKEN/TAKEN 2: Daughter is abducted and her father tries to find her

Dream House: The main character is blamed for killing his family and suffers with Schizophrenia.

Prisoners: A fathers daughter is abducted with her friend and the father stops at nothing to bring his young daughter home.

Silence of the Lambs: A police officer develops a relationship with a serial killer to access information which will help her solve another crime.

Stereotypical Characters/Props

I have researched this particular genre and have found that the plots of Thriller films are to keep the audience on the edge of their seats so the use of weapons would be highly used to create suspense I hope that the protagonist will succeed in restoring the equilibrium. Thrillers usually contain areas of action to rescue or restore their name. stereotypical characters include children or young people who have families who will stop at nothing to have them home safe, by using children it makes the audience route for them to be safe as well as the Antagonists be taken down and punished for their crime. There is usually a main character who is the protagonist who the audience follow on their quest, an example of this is ‘Taken’ where the father who is a trained special agent stops at nothing to find his daughter and kill the men who sold her into prostitution. By using ideology like prostitution or child molesters being suspects in films such as ‘Prisoners’, the audience route for them to be found.

WHY HAVE I CHOSEN THE ACTION THRILLER

GENRE?I have chosen the Action Thriller genre based upon the fact that I am a huge fan of this type on genre so therefore I can influence my passion for the genre as well as the various examples of this genre I have personally viewed. I believe this genre will allow me to present my skill in camera work as well as costuming and character development as I can show stereotypes of this genre and present to the best of my ability with as much originality as possible. I believe as I have viewed so many Thriller films, it will give me an advantage to create a good opening sequence.