Inspiration! :)

For inspiration I have been watching the opening 2 minutes to different thriller movies, all of which have been made in different years. I have been paying key attention to the the denotations and connotations of the thriller genre and working out which sub-genre each thriller falls into.


Se7en - David Fincher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-u3fQOOZ34

The Godfather - Francis Ford Coppola
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhy_Se6FNEE


Rear Window - Alfred Hitchcock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTl7i1I_fFE

Goodfellas - Martin Scorsese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ2RofOEAEU

Sin City - Frank Miller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm4YTs_Mr5M&feature=related

LA Confidential - Curtis Hanson
Can't find a clip online :(


Rachel Fradgley :)

What makes a thriller?

Thriller: Noun - One that thrills especially a sensational or suspenseful book, story, play, or movie.

The thriller genre is so vast that it is often categorised into sub-genres that are easier to understand. The main thirteen groupings are;

1. Conspiracy thrillers - Hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognises - Edge of Darkness & JFK

2. Crime thrillers - These films often focus on the criminal rather than a policeman, usually emphasise action over psychological aspects - Seven & No Country for Old Men

3. Disaster thrillers - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster - Earthquake & The Day after Tomorrow

4. Erotic thrillers - Consists of erotica and thriller - Basic Instinct & Dressed to Kill

5. Legal thrillers - Lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives - The Runaway Jury & A Few Good Men

6. Medical thrillers - Hero/heroine are medical doctors/personnel working to solve an expanding medical problem - The Hot Zone & The Expriment

7. Mystery thrillers - Suspense films where characters attempt solving, or involved in a mystery - Identity & Memento

8. Political thrillers - Hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him - The Day of the Jackal & The Constant Gardener

9. Psychological thrillers - Conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical - Strangers on a Train & Blue Velvet

10. Rape and revenge thrillers - Focuses more on the thriller elements such as suspense, tension, some action and fast-pacing rather than scares and the supernatural - The Last House on the Left & Kill Bill

11. Religious thrillers - In which the plot is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions - The Da Vinci Code & The Devil's Advocate

12. Supernatural thrillers - In which the film brings in an otherworldly element mixed with tension, suspense and plot twists. Sometimes the hero and/or villain has some psychic ability - The Skeleton Key & The Gift

13. Techno thrillers - A suspense film in which the manipulation of sophisticated technology plays a prominent part - The Matrix & The Thirteenth Floor

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)


Rachel Fradgley :)

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night!'

When I was told that our coursework task was to create a two minute opening scene to a thriller film, I thought to myself "well this will be sure damn easy", however as I soon worked out it is alot harder than it first looks. When you think of a thriller movie the first things that come to mind are; ghosts, stalkers, fast cars and the Mafia, however when you live in a small village and have a small budget these things are very hard to duplicate. With this in mind Lauren and myself got our 'thinking caps' on and turned to watching classic thriller openings for inspiration!

Rachel Fradgley :)