History Of Thriller Genres

History of Thriller Genres 

1920s-30s
1926- a man named Alfred Hitchcock released his third silent called The Lodger, which was a jack the ripper filled with suspense.
1929- he released another thriller film named blackmail which was not only the first film with sound but also the first film with sound in Britain.
1931- the film the chilling german by Fritz Lang was released and starred Peter Lorre in his first film, which was based on a serial killer.
1933- another crime thriller was released called murders In the Zoo, which was based on a murderous zoologist, the character was played by Lionel Atwill. The film was then directed by Sutherland.

There were also others that were well known for directing thriller films within this era such as
                           

-Walter Forde







- George A Cooper





-  Michael Powell








1940s
- Hitchcock, continued to direct thriller films, which became more and more popular.
-1941- Hitchcock released Suspicion which was about a woman who was in danger from her husband. -He then released his favorite of film of them all, called Shadow of a doubt, which was based on a serial killer.
-1944- director George Cukor released two psychological thrillers, one named Gaslight, which was based on a husband trying to make his wife go insane, in order to inherit her inheritance. The second film was called Film Noir, and consisted of a murder investigation.
1946- film based on on people getting terrorised by serial murderers were released.

1950s
- Hitchcock was still directing thriller films, however Technicolour was added to his films.
- He produced more classic thriller films such as 'Strangers on a Train' which was created in 1951, the film is based on two train passengers who have both staged a battle of wits and traded murders with eachother.
- Other films by Hitchcock were made in this era such as; To Catch a Thief(1955) and Vertigo(1958).
-Non Hitchcock thrillers which were also made in the 50s were movies such as 'Niagra' 1953 by Henry Hathaway, this movie starred famous actors such as Marylyn Monroe, who was one of the main characters, who played a wife who planned to kill her husband.

1960s
-Director Michael Powells 'Peeping Tom' was created in 1960, was a storyline based on a psychopathic camera man. This film was released prior to Hitchcocks film 'Psycho', which was about a loner and mother fixated motel owner.
-J.Lee Thompson was released released a production called 'Cape Fear' in 1962, which featured a menace character searching for revenge.
- Stanley Donens stylish thriller of 1963 called 'Charade' which had a variety of twists and plots starring a pair of characters that are on search for hidden loot, which ends up taking them to Paris.
- Roman Polanski in 1965 released his first film in English the frightening and surrealistic 'Repulsion' which featured a young woman who goes increasingly mad.

1970s-1980s
-There was a violent wave of thrillers in this era. In 1972 was 'Frenzy', Hitchcocks first English film in almost two decades.
-Steven Speilburgs low budget early TV movie 'Duel' in 1971
-John Boormans 'Deliverance' followed in 1972
-In this period brought the first film where a character is disturbingly obsessed with their idol, this came in came in Clint Eastwoods 'Play Misty for Me' 1971.
-The 80s approached bringing us 'Dressed to kill' 1980.

1990s
- the 90s started with Rob Reiners 'Misery' 1990 which was absed on a book by Stephen King, then in 1991 came 'Sleeping with the Enemy'.
-'The Hand that Rocks the Cradle' by Curtis Hanson, who was brought to us in 1992, the plot was of a nanny who was seeking revenge against her dead husband patient.
- More thrillers released in this era about obsessions, as they were becoming extremely popular thriller within the film industry.
-Other themes such as FB agents and detectives tracking down serial killers and other criminals, which involve major investigations, is also a popular theme within thrillers.
- David Fincher also released a crime thriller in 1995 and was called Se7en, which was a story based on a major investigation in order to find a serial killer who reinacts the seven deadly sins, which contained many obstacles within the investigation.

Present
- Until this present day thriller films have shared ideas and themes and have similar elements within each which vary but stick to the genre. However, in the recent thrillers that have been made, directors try to maintain the aspect of the genre but also create individuality, by making them stand out from the rest. They do this by adding different themes and other aspects such as gore, horror, violence, blood and brutal behaviour. Thrillers used to be a lot more psychological such as 'Silence of the Lambs' however they are now having more aspects of horror contained in them. Some examples of this are:
1. Eden Lake 2008
2. The Last House on the Left 2009
3. Captivity 2007

 
 
 

 

 

Examples of sub genres of Thrillers

Sci Fi Sub genre Thriller

Source code 2011:  Source Code is based around the antagonist who wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of a experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train. An intense thriller as he only has 8 minutes to complete his mission.

Supernatural Thriller
The Dead Zone 1983; A character played by Christopher Walken who awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds the years have passed and he has now gained psychic abilities.

 

Spy Thriller The Tourist 2010; contains the theme of espionage within a government agency.

 

Psychological Thriller: The Usual Suspects 1995

Sub Genre of Thrillers

Analysis of Memento

                                                    Analysis of Memento

Throughout the opening sequence of memento, all the phycological thriller conventions are explored. 

At the start of this opening sequence, a close up is used to set the atmosphere of the film; while the title of the film is introduced also. Consequently, it also creates many enigmas for the audience as the person is kept anonymous, all you can see is a picture of what looks to be like a murder. Therefore this creates an anxious atmosphere, and makes the audience wonder. The photography which is of  a man dead on the floor and his blood on the floor, establishes several important things about the film. Therefore, it establishes the narrative structure because as the picture is shaken it fades instead of develops. The title is in blue in order to stand out, the connotations of blue are usually trust and tranquility. However this contradicts with the protagonist as he is always confused and unstable with his surroundings. 

Here a close up is used, it shows the colour of the picture has changed. Therefore, this would confuse the audience as usually when a polaroid is taken the picture develops. Consequently this could be a a hint to the plot at the protagonist doesn't have a straight path throughout the film. Also on this frame in the opening sequence a flashing light is used, therefore this creates a mysterious scene. 

This shot is a close up, therefore we can both actions and expressions of the character. Consequently, we can clearly see in this shot that the character has took or is taking a picture. This is suspicious as it makes us ask questions as we don't know who he is taking a picture of or why he is taking it. Also it's a polaroid camera, therefore it could think to the pictures above, meaning he could be investigating a murder, or be a murderer.

Here is a extreme close up of blood dripping down a wall. Consequently, this looks sinister as is also suspicious, as no-one is shown therefore the audience doesn't know where the blood is coming from or who's it is. Also, the pace in the opening sequence starts to speed up when this image is shown, this is to build tension and create a scared/daunting atmosphere.