What is a sub-genre?
A Sub-Genre is a genre within a genre, a sub genre is a genre that is not widely recognised as a genre within a known genre. e.g. Psychological Thriller.
What makes a thriller a thriller?
A thriller involves elements of suspense, tension and excitement. Without these elements a film would definitely not be a thriller. Thrillers stimulate the viewer’s moods, heightening levels of surprise, anxiety and terror often. Thrillers tend to be psychological, threatening, mysterious and sometimes involve larger-scale villainy such as espionage, terrorism and conspiracy. Although the thriller genre is extremely, varied, within the thriller genre there are several sub-genres, within these there will be a great deal of similarity.
Conventions of a thriller:
kidnapping, hostage, supernatural elements, serial killers, forrest, desolate areas, conspiracy, murder, etc.
Sub-genres of Thrillers:
Conspiracy Thriller
In this sub-genre the protagonist must confront a large, powerful organisation whose threat only he sees. Usually he must do so alone.
- Bourne Ultimatum
- Salt
- Green zone
- The davinci code
Crime Thriller
This subgenre focuses on crime, and is usually from the criminal’s point of view. Physical action and eluding the police take the place of gathering evidence and trying to discover the criminal.
- Pulp Fiction
- Resevoir Dogs
- Seven
Disaster Thriller
In this subgenre a (usually) natural disaster is taking place, and the antagonist is either trying to stop the disaster, the extent of the disaster, or just save themselves before time runs out and the disaster has run its course.
- 2012
- impossible
Forensic Thriller
In this subgenre the protagonist(s) are forensic scientists whose involvement in an unsolved crime threatens their lives.
- Silence of the lambs
- Hannibal
Legal Thriller
This subgenre takes place in and around the courtroom. Usually the protagonist is a lawyer who has found their case threatening death for either them or their client.
- The usual suspects
Medical Thriller
This subgenre involves something usually used for medical purposes becoming a deadly weapon. Often it is a virus that is leaking out to the public. The protagonist or antagonist or both are doctors.
- World War Z
Political Thriller
In this subgenre political relations or the whole government is at stake, and the protagonist is employed by the government to stop the decline. The protagonist may have been low-level before having attracted attention.
Psychological Thriller
In this subgenre a lot of the conflict is mental, rather than physical. The protagonist has become involved in a dangerous situation which literally threatens their sanity. They must use mental prowess to overcome their opponent, whether the battle is inside their own head or it a battle of wits.
- Prisoners
Religious Thriller
This subgenre uses the history and myths of religion. Usually a religious artifact or historical secret is discovered, and different people and groups vie for control.
- Angels and Demons
Spy Thriller
It’s hard to call this a genre mash-up when spy novels almost have to be thrillers. At any rate, this subgenre focuses on the high adventures of field agents. It is usually set against the backdrop of some war.
Erotic Thriller
Supernatural Thriller
In this subgenre otherworldy elements are introduced, usually as an antagonistic force, but just as in the romantic thriller, the plot line and feel or distinctly that of thrillers. Some characters may have psychic abilities and other supernatural novel elements may be present.
CRIME THRILLER SIMILARITIES.
I have chosen crime-thriller as my sub genre to analyse three posters in regards to similarities. These three follow police officers as the protagonists, this can be clearly seen on each poster as their faces are the centre of attention. As a crime thriller the indication to the audience is that there will be a form of violence, and most of the time the narrative will either revolve around the protagonist police officers fighting a certain opposing force (e.g. gang, bank robber crew, drug cartel etc.) or it will follow and empathise with the criminal, tension is either created by the police coming close to catching the criminals and exposing them, or the criminals performing some kind of elaborate act. We only see one antagonist in one of the three posters, and that's because we sympathise with him throughout the film. Two of the posters share the same convention we associate with crime thrillers, and this is weapons. In the bad boys poster one of the officers is pointing his gun at the camera (the audience) and the other pointing his toward the ground. This instantly tells us it is a crime thriller as we are the targets of the gun wielder, we know that the film will be tense and immersive. A similarity between the bad boys poster and the end of watch poster would be that all three police officer with weapons are wielding weapons that you would associate with gangs, Michael Pena holds a golden AK-47 in the end of watch poster which would suggest that there is some form of gang activity in the film due to the gangster-esq style of the weapon.
The point break poster shows a large wave with the caption "pure adrenaline edition" which instantly exhilarates the audience as the large wave suggests that there will be some form of danger, likewise in the end of watch poster Michael Pena is holding his weapon in a way that would suggest he is gearing up for a fight, this creates a sense of excitement amongst the audience and we are drawn to it.
The thriller sub-genre that appeals to me the most is the psychological thriller as it is the sub-genre that my thriller opening sequence would most likely be placed in due to the style of seeing the world through the killers eyes and sympathising with him, seeing his mental struggle and dilemas, in my protagonists case the opponent he wishes to overthrow in order to keep a sense of peace is himself. His doubts of himself and his morales and we question why he really kills throughout the film, does he kill to protect his family or does he kill for his own pleasure? Another genre that would appeal to me and would be most relatable to my opening sequence would be crime-thriller, as we are seeing the world from the criminal's perspective, there may be elements of police officers unfurling the mystery f the deaths and making the connection and inevitably coming closer and closer to discovering the truth about our killer which would be a good source of tension throughout the film.
No comments:
Post a Comment